Severance tell the imaginative tale of people who undergo a brain procedure that enables them to do mysterious tasks during the day, then leaves them with no memory of their office life when they’re away from work (and vice versa). As Seth Milchick, supervisor of these “severed” employees, Tramell Tillman embodies the plight of a middle manager stuck in a sci-fi corporate reality: He’s required to pressure his subordinates to meet their goals while simultaneously being judged by sinister management representatives who closely monitor his actions. In recognition of his nuanced performance in the Apple TV+ show, Tillman took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 77th Emmys on September 14.
He attended the show with his mother, Jae Tillman, and addressed his acceptance speech largely to her. He began by sharing her advice: “You remember what you want to remember. You make time for what you want to make time for. Do the work, show up and, most importantly, for the love of God, don’t embarrass me in public.” As the audience in the Peacock Theater took that in, Tillman put her words into context, saying, "My first acting coach was tough, y'all, but all great mothers are."
As Severance's second season explored Milchick's foreboding work environment, Tillman's role expanded. His character coped with workplace pressure by engaging in subtle code-switching that exacted a personal toll. When he advised another team member on the necessity of "eradicating from your essence childish folly" — a lesson he later addressed to himself in a mirror — Tillman demonstrated a chilling intensity that clearly resonated with Academy voters.
Severance took home eight Emmys in 2025, including wins for Britt Lower as lead actress and Merritt Wever as guest actress, as well as a historic win for Jessica Lee Gagné as the first woman to win for cinematography for a series (at the previous week's Creative Arts ceremony).
Tillman, the first Black winner in this category, proudly shared his winning moment with his mother, who beamed with pride: "Mama, you were there for me when no one else was and no one else would show up. Your loving kindness stays with me, and this is for you."
This article originally appeared in emmy Magazine, issue #12, 2025, under the title "Moment of Frolic."
