Jamie Lee Curtis Honors Rob Reiner at Emmys

Presenter Wendi McLendon-Covey accepted the trophy on his behalf as the audience gave him a standing ovation.

“We all wish he was here,” she said.

The victory was Reiner’s first acting Emmy since 1978, when he won Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for All in the Family. The 48 years between those wins established a new record for the longest gap between acting Emmys.

The previous record belonged to his father, Carl Reiner, whose acting victories were separated by 37 years. Apparently even Emmy longevity became a family competition, though not one anyone expected to end this way.

“He now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner at 37 years,” Curtis told the audience. “He was generous and kind, and funny as hell, and a friend to all. And we all miss Rob and Michele, and all those we lost this year.”

Dolly Parton also remembered during the ceremony

The Mariska Hargitay-hosted broadcast also included a separate tribute to Dolly Parton. Sally Field and Reba McEntire took the stage to honor the country music star, who died on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

“If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one: Dolly Parton,” Field said. “It was my great good fortune to have worked with Dolly in a film called Steel Magnolias and, over the years, I never stopped loving her.”

Parton earned her first Emmy in 2021 for the Netflix holiday film Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square. Five years later, the awards ceremony remembered her alongside Reiner and the other performers, writers and entertainment figures lost during the year.