20 decades in the past at the Emmys: That time two mobsters shook fingers on phase

Direct actor Emmy Award winners are generally veteran actors, but where by they earn those people veteran performing stripes varies extensively. And at the 56th once-a-year Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sept. 19, 2004, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the lead actor winners of the night included just one expert Tv favored picking up his fourth award, a person movie-turned-Television star earning his first Emmy — and one famous Oscar winner on his very first nomination and gain.

Cherry on the top of a prolonged Television operate

At the time, Kelsey Grammer was actually a Tv set titan, acquiring played Dr. Frasier Crane in a few individual Television sequence: “Cheers,” “Wings” and “Frasier” (all NBC). He gained four Emmys for participating in Crane, in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2004, the calendar year the collection wrapped up (right up until its 2023 reboot).

Also in the managing: Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” HBO), who has two Emmys for “Seinfeld” (the two 1993) but none nonetheless for “Curb” Matt LeBlanc (“Friends,” NBC), nominated three situations for the function but never ever received Tony Shalhoub (“Monk,” Usa), who would win in the following two yrs for that purpose and as soon as far more in 2019 for “The Great Mrs. Maisel” and John Ritter (“8 Very simple Guidelines,” ABC), who experienced died in 2003. Ritter had just one Emmy for “Three’s Company” from 1984.

The “Frasier” star approved the award from presenter Conan O’Brien. He begun his speech by indicating Ritter would be “missed not only for his kindness but also his work.” He additional that “‘Frasier’ was a reward in my everyday living … and this is just the cherry on major.”

‘Practice’ makes best

James Spader got his start in film, but his overall performance as Alan Shore in “The Practice” (ABC) gave his occupation fresh new lifestyle in tv. He obtained his initially Emmy nomination and gain in 2004, and would go on to acquire two more for the part (though the other two would be on “Boston Legal” in 2005 and 2007).

His competitors, by distinction, experienced a raft of Emmy expertise: James Gandolfini (“The Sopranos,” HBO) experienced three Emmys for his position (2000, 2001, 2003) Anthony LaPaglia (“Without a Trace,” CBS) had a person acquire for a visitor role on “Frasier” in 2002 Martin Sheen (“The West Wing,” NBC) had a person win, for a visitor actor component on “Murphy Brown” in 1994 and Kiefer Sutherland (“24,” Fox) received two in 2006 as that show’s Jack Bauer.

Spader accepted the award from presenters Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes with a speech that confirmed he was riffing: “I must have prepared one thing down,” he chuckled. He complimented the audience: “You’ve all made wonderful selections in shoes and dresses tonight” and wrapped by singling out the crew “who do the hair and make-up, I want to thank them most of all.”

Halo to an Oscar winner

“Angels in America” was on a tear that night, in the long run selecting up 11 wins from its 21 nominations and sweeping the miniseries or movie performing categories. Oscar winner (1993, “Scent of a Woman”) Al Pacino acquired his initial Emmy (and to start with nomination) for participating in Roy Cohn. He’d go on to get a 2nd Emmy in 2010 for “You Really do not Know Jack” (HBO).

His fellow nominees involved Antonio Banderas (“And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself,” HBO), who was on his 2nd Emmy nomination and James Brolin (“The Reagans,” Showtime), who gained his sole Emmy in 1970 for “Marcus Welby, M.D.” (ABC). Yasiin Bey (then Mos Def) was an Emmy rookie, competing against his “Something the Lord Made” (HBO) co-star Alan Rickman, who experienced a single Emmy from 1996 for “Rasputin: Darkish Servant of Destiny” (HBO).

Pacino received his Emmy from presenters Edie Falco and James Gandolfini, and in shaking Gandolfini’s hand he built the dreams of mobster-loving film and Television set present supporters appear true. But it was his rambling speech that was an evening spotlight: He sent out congratulations to anyone he could assume of, including: “It was extended ago and I was a blond you operate on [shows] and then they arrive out and it is yrs [later] but I try to remember the emotion was seriously superior all around there.”