Emmy Awards 2017: South Side Native Wins For Comedy Writing

LOS ANGELES, CA — Chicago was on display Sunday as TV actors and writers with ties to the city and the area took home statues at the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Former South Sider Lena Waithe won for best comedy writing with co-writer Aziz Ansari for the Netflix series "Master of None." Chicago stage performer Ann Dowd took home the Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama series for her role in Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale."

And Northwestern University and Second City alum Julia Louis-Dreyfus made Emmy history for capturing her sixth Emmy for playing Selina Meyer in HBO's "Veep," the most wins for the same role by any performer. "Veep" also won for best comedy series.

“Thank you for embracing a little Indian boy from South Carolina and a little queer black girl from the South Side of Chicago,” Waithe, who also co-stars in "Master of None," said during her acceptance speech with Ansari. The pair won for the series episode"Thanksgiving." “We appreciate it more than you could ever know.” (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for the South Side and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

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The victory for Waithe, a Columbia College graduate, is the first time an African-American woman has won an Emmy for comedy writing. Her win also earned her congratulations and praise from Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

"Lena is a talented and creative writer and actress with a gift for storytelling, a unique vision and strong voice. Chicago is proud of Lena's accomplishments and looks forward to watching her future success," Emanuel said in a statement.

Waithe's family moved to Evanston when she was in junior high, and she graduated from Evanston Township High School. Along with on "Master of None," Waithe also is working on Showtime's upcoming Chicago-based drama series "The Chi."

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"That this should happen now … I don't know the words," said Dowd, who also was nominated for her guest actress role in HBO's "The Leftovers." She lost last week to Alexis Bledel, her co-star in "The Handmaid's Tale."

Dowd graduated from DePaul University's Theatre School in 1982. She built up an extensive and impressive resume in Chicago for her work at Next Theatre, Court Theatre and other city venues.

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Louis-Dreyfus' sixth win for "Veep" was her eighth Emmy as an actress. She now shares the honor of most Emmy Awards by a performer with Cloris Leachman.

Native Chicagoans also were recognized during Sunday's even if they weren't up for awards. Sterling K. Brown, who won best actor in a drama for NBC's "This Is Us," gave a shout out to Andre Braugher, the last African-American actor to win the award for playing Det. Frank Pembleton in “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1998.

Lena Waithe (right) and Aziz Ansari accept the Emmy Award for writing in a comedy series during the ceremony Sunday, Sept. 17. (Photo by Kevin Winter | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images)

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