David Harbour Wins His First Emmy

David Harbour wins his first Emmy for DTF St. Louis after an emotional speech.

What does a famous actor do when they get the honor of receiving an award that they have been dreaming of for years? David Harbour is now able to answer this question.

The celebrity has managed to win his first Emmy Award for his role as Floyd Smernitch in HBO Max’s DTF St. Louis. He received the honor of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie during Night 2 of the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

For the actor, this was a great achievement in his career.

David Harbour Gets Emotional

Harbour looked deeply emotional as his name was called out. He expressed his gratitude to those who supported DTF St. Louis. In addition, he paid tribute to the series, calling it a “beautiful, vulnerable, weird show that I loved”.

In addition, Harbour paid tribute to Steve Conrad, creator of DTF St. Louis, for creating such a unique character as Floyd Smernitch.

In his speech, the actor also admitted that playing this role was one of the best decisions in his life. The actor also made a funny and modest remark about those in the category with him, saying that the fight “wasn’t a fair fight.”

Key highlights:

• David Harbour won his first Emmy.
• He played Floyd Smernitch in DTF St. Louis.
• Steve Conrad created the series and character.
• Harbour had two previous Emmy nominations.
• DTF St. Louis received 13 Emmy nominations.

From Jim Hopper to Floyd Smernitch

Many of Harbour’s fans know him for his role as Jim Hopper in the series Stranger Things. He was previously nominated for an Emmy for his work on the series in 2017 and 2018, but unfortunately did not win.

However, this victory seems to be well-deserved for the actor since he was personally involved in the creation of DTF St. Louis – he was not only its actor but also one of the executive producers. Harbour has admitted that bringing this project to life was a dream come true for him.

He participated in the long development process of the series and wanted to work with interesting people on this project, so that Floyd would become a real discovery for him.

Floyd is nothing like Hopper

While Hopper is a gruff and intimidating police chief who takes his work seriously and tries to protect the vulnerable, including his daughter Joyce, from supernatural forces, Floyd is a more squeamish and less confident man who has his share of personal demons and traumas.

In his role as Floyd, Harbour gets to explore a different side of acting – a more vulnerable and emotional one.

Why This Win Means Something

This Emmy win is an indicator that Harbour’s range as an actor goes far beyond just Jim Hopper. Stranger Things undoubtedly launched his career into stardom, but DTF St. Louis allowed him to demonstrate a new side of himself. In fact, he even managed to make a weird character like Floyd Smernitch memorable.

The win serves as a reminder that Harbour can surprise his audience when he decides to take on a role that is dramatically different from what they are used to seeing him play.

DTF St. Louis Had a Big Night

It should also be noted that Harbour was not the only winner from DTF St. Louis. In fact, Linda Cardellini – who plays Carol Love-Smernitch – also received her first-ever Emmy win for her work on the series. The show received six Emmys during the second night of the Creative Arts Emmys.

DTF St. Louis also had critical roles and received critical acclaim for its writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. It is likely to receive more Emmys during the main ceremony, including for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.

Harbour had strong competition within the category, since it also included Jason Bateman, Richard Gadd (Half Man), Richard Jenkins, Charles Melton and Nick Offerman. So this first Emmy win is even more significant for Harbour.

New Beginning for David Harbour

David Harbour has had a busy career so far – but now he has managed to achieve one of the most outstanding honors in his profession. He receives an Emmy for the role in a series far removed from what first brought him to the public’s eye – the demanding and gruff sheriff Jim Hopper.

His first Emmy win shows that an actor can surprise their audiences by taking on very different roles. So what do you think – was David Harbour better as Floyd Smernitch or Jim Hopper?