Emmys 2017: Sterling K. Brown Wins for Lead Actor in a Drama Series

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Sterling K. Brown was a surprise winner for Lead Actor In a Drama Series for his role in the Emmy nominated drama This Is Us.

Read More: Complete coverage of the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards

Brown, who won an Emmy last year in the Outstanding Supporting Actor In Limited Series for his portrayal as Christopher Darden in FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, beat out fellow This Is Us actor Milo Ventimiglia, Anthony Hopkins (HBO's Westworld), Bob Odenkirk (AMC's Better Call Saul), Matthew Rhys (FX's The Americans), Liev Sherieber (Showtime’s Ray Donovan) and Kevin Spacey (Netflix's House Of Cards) for the statuette. 

Brown is the first African-American to win an Emmy in the category since Andre Braugher won in 1998 for his role in Homicide: Life on the Street. 

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.