Stephen Root Shouts Out Fellow Emmy Nominee Harrison Ford As He Lands First Statuette For ‘Widow’s Bay’ Role

Stephen Root has won his first Emmy for his role in Apple TV breakout Widow’s Bay.

Remarkably, Root’s nom tonight was just the second of his career, following a 2019 nom for HBO’s Barry. He’s amassed nearly 200 credits in television during his nearly four decades as a screen actor, having played notable roles in everything from NewsRadio to The West Wing, Boardwalk Empire, The Man in the High Castle and Perry Mason, where he appeared opposite Widow’s Bay‘s Matthew Rhys.

“Holy cow, the money store,” Root said in his acceptance speech. “I’m thrilled and delighted, but the reason I’m up here is Katie Dippold and the brilliant Hiro Murai, who shuttered us through 10 amazing shows. But I have to say it is Matthew Rhys and the brilliant Kate O’Flynn, and the comic stylings of these two are the best thing in the 21st century.”

Root continued, “I was so happy to be included in this incredible journey that we had today. Thank you, all the nominees. You are all unbelievable. I’m a huge fan.”

He went on to single out Shrinking‘s Harrison Ford, specifically, saying: “Thank you, Harrison Ford. Because my son came running up to me and said, ‘You’re in a category with Harrison Ford!’ Thank you, sir, for all your many years of great, great, great, great acting.”

Root’s other competitors for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series included Shrinking‘s Michael Urie, as well as Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons), Paul W. Downs (Hacks), Nick Offerman (Margo’s Got Money Troubles) and Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary).

In closing out his speech, the actor said, “Thank you everybody on Widow’s Bay. We’re so thrilled that we’re being represented by so many people. Thank you so, so much.”

The most recognized new show on TV this season, Widow’s Bay scored a total of 19 nominations in its freshman run. Root’s co-star O’Flynn won Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series earlier in the evening. Previously, Betty Gilpin was recognized for her guest turn at the Creative Arts Emmys, which also brought statuettes for the show’s music supervision, production design, sound editing mixing, music composition, casting and cinematography.

Created, written and showrun by Dippold, Widow’s Bay is set on a mysteriously cursed New England island, where a relentlessly optimistic mayor (Rhys) tries to turn the isolated community into the next Nantucket while ignoring its superstitious residents’ warnings of impending doom.

Root plays Wyck, the grizzled local fisherman and boat captain who warns the mayor that his island is cursed.

Widow’s Bay premiered in April and has been renewed for a second season; creator Dippold inked a multi-year overall deal with Apple as that came about. Also starring Dale Dickey, Kevin Carroll and Jeff Hiller, the show is exec produced by Dippold and Murai, who directed the pilot, as well as Claudia Shin, Carver Karaszewski and Rhys.