Actor Tom Pelphrey took home his first Emmy Award on Monday. He won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award for his performance as Robbie Prendergrast in HBO’s Task at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Pelphrey bagged the honour in a competitive category that included The Pitt stars Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy and Gerran Howell, Billy Crudup of The Morning Show, Jack Lowden of Slow Horses and Carlos-Manuel Vesga of Pluribus. The Television Academy lists Pelphrey as the 2026 winner for his portrayal of Robbie Prendergrast.
Tom Pelphrey dedicates Emmy to Kaley Cuoco
Perhaps the most emotional moment of Pelphrey’s acceptance speech came when he turned his attention to his fiancée, actor Kaley Cuoco, who was there at the audience.
Pelphrey dedicated the moment to Cuoco, referring to her as his love, best friend and partner. He further acknowledged that she is ‘very pregnant’ with their second child. Cuoco became visibly emotional during the speech. He also addressed their daughter Matilda and their growing family. The Emmy awardee called his family the “crown jewel” of his life, according to reports.
The couple got engaged in 2024 and share a daughter, Matilda. They announced earlier this year that they are expecting another daughter.
Tom Pelphrey has won his first Emmy! The actor declared his love for pregnant fiancée Kaley Cuoco and their family in his heartfelt acceptance speech. pic.twitter.com/i0S7AeBeMn
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) September 15, 2026
Tom Pelphrey’s emotional Emmy speech
Pelphrey used his acceptance speech to reflect on his personal journey, and thanked God for his life. He went on to thank the Task team and singled out co-star Mark Ruffalo, who was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in the series.
Une déclaration d’amour comme ça ou rien 🫶🥹
Le message de Tom Pelphrey à Kaley Cuoco sur la scène des #Emmys.
Task, disponible sur @HBOMaxFR avec CANAL+. pic.twitter.com/4x4ZNyeQ47
— CANAL+ (@canalplus) September 15, 2026
Tom Pelphrey’s role in HBO’s Task
Pelphrey won for playing Robbie Prendergrast in Task, the HBO crime drama created by Brad Ingelsby.
The series follows an FBI task force led by Mark Ruffalo’s character as it investigates a series of violent robberies in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. Pelphrey’s Robbie is at the centre of the criminal operation, and this gives the actor a character that balances menace and personal conflict.
Task received six Emmy nominations in 2026, including nominations for Ruffalo, directing, writing, cinematography and picture editing, alongside Pelphrey’s supporting actor nod.
Emmy Awards 2026: The Pitt and Widow’s Bay dominate
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on September 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Mariska Hargitay hosted the grand ceremony.
The Pitt won Outstanding Drama Series for the second consecutive year. Noah Wyle took home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Rhea Seehorn won Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Pluribus.
On the comedy side, Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay became the night’s biggest winner, and took Outstanding Comedy Series and several acting honours. The show finished the Emmy cycle with 14 awards, and set a record for the most Emmys won by a comedy in a single year.
Jean Smart also made Emmy history with her fifth consecutive win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks. Her latest victory brought her to eight acting Emmys, and put her in an elite group alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman. Allison Janney also joined that group with her supporting actress win for The Diplomat.
