Alumni triumph at Emmy Awards

Northwestern University alumni Julia Louis-Dreyfus (C83, H07) and George R.R. Martin (J70; GJ71) both made television history at the 68th annual Emmy Awards on Sunday.

HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” based on Martin’s beloved adult fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” took home awards for Best Drama, Best Writing and Best Directing, replacing “Frasier” as the most decorated television series in Emmy history, with a total of 38 awards.

A Medill alumnus, Martin is co-executive producer of the series and has scripted one episode for the first four seasons.

School of Communication alumna Louis-Dreyfus won her sixth Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award and her fifth in a row playing President Selina Meyer on HBO’s “Veep.”

She was previously tied with Mary Tyler Moore for her work on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and Candice Bergen in “Murphy Brown” for most Outstanding Lead Actress wins, at five apiece.

Louis-Dreyfus’s Sunday night victory elevated her to legendary status both for overall Outstanding Actress wins as well as for wins in a row, thus eclipsing Helen Hunt’s four awards for “Mad About You.”

At seven overall wins, she is now tied with Mary Tyler Moore and Allison Janney for most Emmys won by a female performer. The record, eight wins, is held by fellow School of Communication alumna Cloris Leachman (C48, H14).

“Veep” took home the Outstanding Comedy Series award for the second consecutive year. Louis-Dreyfus is an executive producer of the series.

For more on the big winners of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, held Sept. 10 and 11, visit the School of Communication website.