Earlier this month, Alexis Bledel withdrew herself from Emmy consideration due to a rule change. The actress, who won Best Drama Guest Actress in 2017 for The Handmaid’s Tale, appeared in the show’s series finale, but the new rule prohibits competing in guest categories for the same show after a prior supporting nomination. Rather than submitting in supporting, Bledel took herself out entirely. She is far from the first star to make this choice.
Here are seven notable instances where actors voluntarily withdrew from the Emmy race.
John Larroquette dominated Best Comedy Supporting Actor in the 1980s, winning four years consecutively for his role as Dan Fielding in Night Court. Yet in 1989, before the show’s conclusion, he chose to withdraw his name, stating he felt the character had been honored enough and the work didn’t deserve further recognition.
After winning five Best Comedy Actress Emmys within seven years, Candice Bergen stepped aside in 1995 after her fifth win for Murphy Brown. Bergen’s decision opened the door for Helen Hunt’s multiple wins for Mad About You.
The Friends cast initially submitted as supporting actors to emphasize ensemble status, but a submission error led Matthew Perry to be entered as lead in 2000. Refusing to accept the mistake, Perry withdrew from consideration to send the right message to his castmates. Later, the cast all submitted as leads, earning Perry his first lead nomination.
One of the most infamous withdrawals was by Katherine Heigl, who bowed out of the 2008 Emmy race for Grey’s Anatomy, claiming her material that season was unworthy of nomination. Her withdrawal sparked controversy and led to perceptions of her being difficult. Years later, Heigl expressed regret over the public nature of her decision and clarified her intent was to maintain integrity, not arrogance.
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Similarly, Cherry Jones, who won Best Drama Supporting Actress in 2009 for 24, chose not to submit in 2010, acknowledging the importance of knowing when to step back graciously.
In a unique instance, the cast of The West Wing withdrew their 2021 Emmy submissions for the special episode Hartfield’s Landing to avoid competing for awards during a project meant to encourage voter participation.
More recently, nonbinary actor Liv Hewson withdrew from the Best Drama Supporting Actress category, highlighting the challenges of gendered award categories. Hewson stated there was no appropriate category for them, reflecting ongoing discussions around inclusion and representation in award shows.
