You may know him as Seth Milchick from “Severance,” but actor Trammel Tillman is a Jackson State University alumnus who made history Sunday night with his first Emmy win.
Tillman, 40, became the first Black man to win outstanding supporting actor in a drama series when he heard his name called during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. When taking the stage, he applauded the scores of Black actors who came before him, including the late Andre Braugher and Michael K. Williams.
“I’ve been taken by their work for years and I’ve borrowed from them, so I’m just honored to be in the class,” Tillman said.
Tillman, a 2008 graduate of Jackson State, also gave a shoutout to his mother who was in attendance with him at the awards show. Tillman’s mother and father – who raised the now-Emmy winner in Largo, Md. – urged him to transfer from Xavier University of Louisiana to Jackson State after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He subsequently switched areas of study from pre-med to mass communications and later geared toward becoming an actor.
As he’s done in the past, Tillman once again credited his mother for giving him his first acting role at the age of 10 when she volunteered him to join her in their church’s Christmas play.
“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,” he recounted as his mother’s acting advice. “My first acting coach was tough, y’all, but all great mothers are.”
Tillman, holding the statuette high, added: “This is for you. I am full, I am humbled, I am honored.”
Tillman’s alma mater also wasted no time giving props to the star.
#JSUAlums: ‘Severance’ star and JSU Alum, Tramell Tillman, just became the first Black actor to win an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama series! 🏆
Congratulations, Tramell, for making history! #THEEStandard
📸: Kevin Winter, Getty Images#JacksonState #Emmys pic.twitter.com/kDenRC2Qxx
— Jackson State U. (@JacksonStateU) September 15, 2025
In the “Severance” season 2 finale, Tillman even channeled his HBCU experience when leading the Lumon Industries marching band as all hell broke loose inside the company’s headquarters setting up a highly-anticipated season 3 of the Apple TV series.
“I graduated from Jackson State University, and their band is the Sonic Boom of the South, the best marching band in the entire world,” he told TV Guide in March. “This was an opportunity to highlight my culture, to highlight the significance of HBCUs – the marching bands, the showmanship, the pageantry, the discipline, the excellence, the Black joy.”
I know this is the finale but can we get a bonus episode of Milchick just vibing with the Lumon marching band for an hour? #Severance pic.twitter.com/YO6UVmZwUi
— adam (@adamofavalor) March 21, 2025
Tillman wasn’t the only “Severance” star to hear his name called for an Emmy. Britt Lower (Helena Eagan/Helly R.) won the award for lead actress in a drama series and Merritt Weaver (Gretchen George) for outstanding guest actress in a drama series. Adam Scott (Mark Scout) came up just short in the outstanding lead actor in a drama category, while Ben Stiller’s unnerving, innie-outie world that is the entire show fell to “The Pitt” in the category of outstanding drama series.
Mississippian Parker Posey was up for outstanding supporting actress for her role in “The White Lotus” with that Emmy instead going to Katherine LaNasa of “The Pitt.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
