Martin Scorsese has unexpectedly received his first Emmy nomination for acting, competing in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category for his role in Apple TV+’s The Studio. This surprising announcement places the acclaimed director alongside well-known actors such as Bryan Cranston, sparking significant attention ahead of the 2025 Emmy Awards.
The director, famous for his esteemed filmmaking career, appeared as himself in the episode titled “The Promotion,” delivering a performance that earned him the rare honor of an acting nomination. The Studio itself earned five nominations in the same category, with additional acknowledgments for actors including Ron Howard, Anthony Mackie, and Dave Franco, while also contending for Best Comedy Series. Other cast members such as Seth Rogen, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara have collected acting nominations for the show as well.
Among Scorsese’s fellow nominees in the Outstanding Guest Actor section is Jon Bernthal, who previously won for his role in FX’s The Bear. Fans and critics alike noted the unusual sight of multiple prominent directors, including Scorsese, receiving recognition as guest actors during this awards season.
The story behind Scorsese’s involvement in The Studio was shared by Seth Rogen, who plays the studio head Matt Remick. Rogen explained that he and co-creator Evan Goldberg sent the script to Scorsese’s manager without any prior personal connection, hoping to secure his cameo. To their astonishment, Scorsese accepted the role. Rogen said,
The first time I met him was when he showed up on set to shoot. It was crazy. It was a surreal and bizarre and amazing gift he gave us.
Rogen also mentioned that Scorsese was not informed beforehand about the show’s use of long, uninterrupted takes during filming.
Scorsese’s Daughter Shares His Emotional Reaction to the Emmy Nod
Francesca Scorsese, Martin’s youngest daughter, celebrated the nomination on Instagram by posting a picture of the Outstanding Guest Actor nominees, highlighting her father’s name with confetti and affectionately calling him “Our little actor.” She also shared a screenshot from a FaceTime call, capturing her father’s visibly emotional response as he covered his face in his home office, clearly surprised by the nomination.
In The Studio’s opening episode, the character Matt Remick approaches Scorsese to produce a movie for the Kool-Aid brand, but the director pitches a controversial original film about Jonestown—the tragic mass murder-suicide led by cult leader Jim Jones. When Matt explains that the studio cannot risk a billion-dollar investment on such a project, particularly one led by Steve Buscemi portraying a cult figure, Scorsese’s character has an intense meltdown, berating Matt as a “talentless, spineless suit” before breaking down in tears. This comedic display highlighted Scorsese’s unexpected range and charm in front of the camera.
While this is Scorsese’s first acting Emmy nomination, he has made several notable cameo appearances such as in Entourage and Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, which have been praised but never formally recognized with an Emmy nod before.
A Look Back at Martin Scorsese’s Emmy Career and Recognition
Martin Scorsese’s history with the Emmy Awards dates back to 1995, when he earned his first nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cultural Programming for executive producing the Eric Clapton documentary Nothing But the Blues. Over the years, his nominations have mainly honored his work behind the camera in documentaries and non-fiction programming.
Scorsese’s Emmy wins include directing the pilot episode of Boardwalk Empire in 2011 and multiple awards for George Harrison: Living in the Material World, a documentary about the Beatles legend. Despite his success at the Emmys, his Oscar record is more elusive, with only one win for Best Director out of ten nominations. He also holds four BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globes, and a Grammy.
The 2025 Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, September 14, broadcasting live on CBS and streaming simultaneously on Paramount+, starting at 8 p.m. ET. Fans eager to see Scorsese’s nominated performance can watch The Studio on Apple TV+ now.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Who did Bryan Cranston kiss?
A. The characters being mentioned are played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston. Julia portrayed Elaine Benes, who was the main character’s best friend in the series.
Q. Why is Bryan Cranston retiring? The 67-year-old actor revealed to British GQ Magazine that he wants to travel and spend time with family, and give his wife time. \x26quot;It’s not going to be like, ’Oh, I’ll read and see what I’m going to do.
A. Why did Bryan Cranston take a break from acting?
Bryan Cranston decided to pause his acting career to focus on his personal life. He wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests that he had put aside during his busy acting schedule. Taking a step back from acting allowed him to recharge and explore new opportunities outside of his professional work.
Q. Does Bryan Cranston have a disability?
A. Cranston, who has no disabilities, has faced strong criticism for playing a disabled character. He explained that his choice was a “business decision.” In an interview with the Press Association, Cranston stated, “Actors are hired to portray different people.”
Q. How much did Breaking Bad pay Bryan Cranston?
A. Cranston played a chemistry teacher who became a meth kingpin in a popular show from 2008 to 2013. By the end, he earned up to $225,000 per episode. Besides this role, Cranston has also made a lot of money from other successful projects.
