Anthony Bourdain Wins Six Posthumous Emmys

Three months after his passing, Anthony Bourdain was awarded six Emmys wins at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys for his CNN show, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, and its digital spin-off.

The series was up for six awards and took home the W for each nominated category. The show won best informational series or special, writing for non-fiction program, picture editing for a non-fiction program, sound editing for a non-fiction program and sound mixing for a non-fiction program. Bourdain personally won two Emmys for writing and informational series or special.

The late TV host also won an extra Emmy for short-form non-fiction or reality for his series, Anthony Bourdain: Explore Parts Unknown. The posthumous Emmys are in addition to Anthony Bourdain’s four Emmys he won in previous years, most recently for best informational series or special in 2016.

Bourdain’s Parts Unknown co-workers honored him in their acceptance speeches, with Explore Parts Unknown producer, Nathan Thornburgh saying backstage that public support is important for everyone to get through his untimely suicide.

“The one thing about this loss is it’s not ours alone like everybody knew that guy,” Thornburgh said. “Everybody had a selfie with him, but more importantly I think everyone felt like he had spoken to them over the years and that’s helped a lot, to feel like we’re not alone.”

When accepting the non-fiction writing Emmy on his behalf, Lydia Tenaglia pointed out “Tony was nominated for this Emmy many times, but it had always eluded him. So it is with tremendous bittersweetness that I accept it on his behalf.” Bourdain had already been recognized in the category eight times.

The Parts Unknown star committed suicide on June 8 while in France working on an upcoming episode of the series.