General Hospital claims 19th drama Emmy as Clifton and Tunie take top acting awards

Scott Clifton and Tamara Tunie claimed the top acting honors at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday night, October 30, in Los Angeles. Clifton, who plays Liam Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful, accepted the lead actor trophy from a field that included Eric Braeden, Steve Burton, Thorsten Kaye, and Christian Jules LeBlanc. It is his second lead actor win, following a 2017 victory. His new award makes him the first male actor to win in the lead, younger, and supporting categories. Clifton described the moment as a peer validation that brought him immense joy.

Tunie, who portrays Anita Dupree on CBS’s Beyond the Gates, won the lead actress award. The series, which launched last year with the first primarily Black cast since the 1990s, marks Tunie’s return to daytime television after her 2009 departure from As the World Turns. She credited the legacy of Black actresses who preceded her for making her return possible. Tunie called it the best welcome back to the genre she has ever experienced.

General Hospital secured its 19th outstanding drama series award, its sixth consecutive win. The ABC soap also took home trophies for writing and guest performance, with Jeff Kober recognized for his work. Roger Howarth and Beth Maitland of The Young and the Restless swept the supporting acting categories. Howarth, currently playing Matt Clark, first won in 1994 for One Life to Live. Maitland, who has played Traci Abbott since 1982, noted that the role brought her her first supporting actress win that same year. She dedicated her award to the industry’s role in providing emotional relief to viewers.

Genie Francis received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her 50 years on General Hospital. She began acting in the role at age 14 in 1977. Francis, who is recovering from a broken right ankle, was assisted by her two children as she accepted the award from her husband, Jonathan Frakes. She cited her collaboration with actors such as Anthony Geary and Erika Slezak as defining her career. Francis stated she would repeat her professional journey if given the chance.

Outside of scripted drama, Tracee Ellis Ross won for travel and adventure for her Roku series Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross. She thanked the countries of Morocco, Mexico, and Spain for their contributions. The lifestyle program category went to the Prime Video documentary A Different Breed about competitive dog sports. This win overtook Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who was nominated for her two-season Netflix series With Love, Meghan. Ambyr Michelle from Beyond the Gates won the emerging talent award, the second year that specific category was presented.

Directing honors went to the Peacock series Days of Our Lives. Several talk show categories were won by programs that are no longer in production. Sherri Shepherd won as daytime talk series host for Sherri, which concluded its four-season run on Fox in May. Kelly Clarkson won for daytime talk series after her NBC show ended in August following seven seasons. Neither host attended the ceremony to accept their respective awards.

Giada De Laurentiis took the non-daily daytime personality award for Giada in the Kitchen. Star Jones and Corey Jovan won the daily personality category for their work on Fox’s Divorce Court. Ina Garten secured two awards in the culinary categories for her Food Network show Be My Guest. The ceremony took place at the Hollywood Palladium and was streamed live, continuing a two-year digital broadcast run after five years of traditional CBS television airings.