All the Posthumous Emmy Winners and Nominees Through the Years
Ray Liotta
Tonight, Ray Liotta was posthumously nominated for an Emmy, joining a small group of performers to receive such a distinguished (and bittersweet) honor. Liotta, who died in May 2022, was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his role as Big Jim Keene in Black Bird. The Apple TV+ series tells the true story of football player turned informant Jimmy Keene, who befriends serial killer Larry Hall (played by Paul Walter Hauser).
Black Bird executive producer, writer, and showrunner Dennis Lehane said about working with Liotta: “It was a dream come true. I wrote the part for him and he jumped at it. He’s always been one of my favorite actors and I consider him one of the most underutilized actors out there.”
Liotta wound up losing the Emmy to his costar Hauser, but he still made history alongside talent like Jessica Walter and Fred Willard, who also earned nominations after their deaths.
Read on for a complete list of stars who were nominated and/or won Emmys posthumously.
Related: 'Goodfellas' Actor Ray Liotta's Cause of Death Revealed
Posthumous Emmy Nominees
Over the years, 26 performers have received posthumous Emmy nominations. The first was Alice Pearce, who won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Bewitched in 1966, two months after she died. Since then, esteemed actors like John Ritter, Carrie Fisher and Chadwick Boseman have earned posthumous recognition as well.
Here is a list of every posthumous Emmy nominees:
Chadwick Boseman
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2022 (for his role in Marvel’s What If…? series)
Jessica Walter
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2022 (for her role as Malory Archer in Archer)
Alex Trebek
Outstanding Game Show Host - 2021 (for Jeopardy! at the Daytime Emmy Awards)
Larry King
Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host - 2021 (for Larry King Now at the Daytime Emmy Awards)
Fred Willard
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series - 2020 (for his role as Frank Dunphy in Modern Family)
Lynn Shelton
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie - 2020 (for Little Fires Everywhere)
Anthony Bourdain
Outstanding Informational Series Or Special - 2019 (for Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown)
Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program - 2019 (for Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown)
Craig Zadan
Outstanding Variety Music or Comedy Special - 2018 (for NBC's production of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert)
Carrie Fisher
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - 2017 (for her role as Mia in Catastrophe)
Audrey Hepburn
Outstanding Individual Achievement - informational programming - 1993 (Gardens of the World)
Farrah Fawcett
Outstanding Nonfiction Special - 2009 (for NBC's Farrah's Story)
Kathryn Joosten
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series - 2012 (for her role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives)
Phil Hartman
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series - 1998 (for NewsRadio)
Raul Juliá
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special - 1995 (for his role as Chico Mendes in The Burning Season)
John Ritter
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series - 2004 (for his role as Paul Hennessy in 8 Simple Rules)
Richard Burton
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special - 1985 (Ellis Island)
Ossie Davis
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series - 2005 (for his role as Melvin Porter in The L Word)
Nicholas Colasanto
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series - 1985 (for his role in Cheers)
Nancy Marchand
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series - 2000 (for her role as Livia Soprano in The Sopranos)
Alice Pearce
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy - 1966 (for her role in Bewitched)
Marion Lorne
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy - 1968 (for her role in Bewitched)
Diana Hyland
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Special - 1977 (for The Boy In The Plastic Bubble)
Danny Thomas
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series - 1991 (for his role as Dr. Leo Brewster in Empty Nest)
Ingrid Bergman
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special - 1982 (for her a role in A Woman Called Golda)
Norm Macdonald
Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special - 2022 (for Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special)
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) - 2022 (for Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special)
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special - 2022 (for Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special)
Ray Liotta
Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie - 2023 (Black Bird)
Related: 65 of the Best Movies Based on True Stories—Must-Watch Movies From History
Posthumous Emmy Winners
Of the more than two dozen deceased performers who have been nominated, the following have taken home the prize:
Chadwick Boseman
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - 2022 (for his role in Marvel’s What If…? series)
Alex Trebek
Outstanding Game Show Host - 2021 (Daytime Emmy Awards)
Anthony Bourdain
Outstanding Informational Series Or Special - 2019 (for Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown)
Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program - 2019 (for Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown)
Craig Zadan
Outstanding Variety Music or Comedy Special - 2018 (for NBC's production of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert)
Audrey Hepburn
Outstanding Individual Achievement - informational programming - 1993 (Gardens of the World)
Raul Juliá
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special - 1995 (for his role as Chico Mendes in The Burning Season)
Alice Pearce
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy - 1966 (for her role in Bewitched)
Marion Lorne
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy - 1968 (for her role in Bewitched)
Diana Hyland
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Special - 1977 (for The Boy In The Plastic Bubble)
