If you love someone, say it loud and go from there.
And for Jesse Williams, it’s easy to talk about how much his relationship with his Grey’s Anatomy costar Eric Dane—who portrayed Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy—means to him, their friendship transcending their onscreen relationship.
“We had a really great run,” Jesse—who played Jackson Avery on the series—told Heather McMahan on the Emmys red carpet during Live From E!: 2025 Emmys. “The plastics posse. We had a great following, and I loved working with him. You know, on and off screen, that’s my brother.”
In fact, Jesse and Eric were scheduled for a reunion during the Sept. 14 award show during a segment honoring Shonda Rhimes’ 20 years in television after which they were both to present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.
Ultimately, however, Jesse presented by himself, with Eric not arriving to the award show. There was no mention of the Euphoria star’s absence, which comes five months after Eric publicly shared his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In the time since, Eric—who shares kids Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13, with Rebecca Gayheart—has been candid about his desire to keep working for as long as his health allows.
“I’m going to ride this till the wheels fall off,” Eric told E! News in June alongside his Countdown costar Jensen Ackles, adding of their series, “It keeps me sharp. It keeps me moving forward, which is super important right now.”
And while the 52-year-old recently detailed some of the challenging side effects he’s experienced amid his health journey, Eric also detailed how work acts as a kind of balm.
“I feel great when I’m at work,” he explained. “Of course, there have been some sort of setbacks, but I feel pretty good. My spirit is always pretty buoyant, so at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
But while Eric and Jesse did not share an onscreen reunion, the 2025 Emmys did see onstage tributes to Gilmore Girls and Law & Order, with Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham reuniting for the former, and stars Ice-T, S. Epatha Merkerson, Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni and Tony Goldwyn coming together for the second.
For more of the best moments from the Emmys, keep reading.
The Last of Them
Friends IRL and fellow nominees Pedro Pascal of The Last of Us and The White Lotus‘ Sam Rockwell looked as though they still can’t believe they’ve come this far.
The Late Night Club
They may be late night rivals for another season, but Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel let it be known they’re fighting for the same side, here with the help of their respective wives, Evelyn McGee-Colbert and Molly McNearny.
Colbert collected his first Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series since he started hosting The Late Show on CBS in 2015, bringing his career total to 11. He also has three from writing for The Daily Show, four for writing from his days hosting The Colbert Report, plus two wins for Outstanding Variety Series; and an Outstanding Variety Special (Live) win for Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020.
Almost Paradise
Hobbled by a torn Achilles but strong in spirit, Sterling K. Brown posed for a pic with Tina Fey.
What the F–k
We all saw Last Week Tonight With John Oliver win Outstanding Variety Series yet again (the show’s 32nd Emmy overall), but you may not have caught what the host said.
“F–k you, Nate Bargatze, that is a lot of money for you,” John Oliver said after purposely cutting his remarks short to aid the host’s pledged donation to the Boys & Girls Club of America, contingent on winners keeping their speeches under 45 seconds. “And you can add a ‘f–k’ to tohe swear jar as well!”
Hard to Break Free
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner Britt Lower winked at the layered mysteries of Severance by writing “LET ME OUT” on the back of her acceptance speech.
Wait, You Won? So Did I!
Presenting the reigning king and queen of comedy acting, first-time winner Seth Rogen of The Studio and Hacks‘ Jean Smart, who picked up her seventh Emmy.
Comfortably Cohabitating
Abbot Elementary‘s Sheryl Lee Ralph not only lives with her husband Vincent Hughes, he’s also her forever date.
A Real Love Story
The White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood and boyfriend Adam Long looked like the least tragic of couples.
Presumed Serious
Jake Gyllenhaal made a rare award show appearance with girlfriend Jeanne Cadieu.
Only Lovers in the Building
We’re not detectives, or podcasters, but all the evidence so far leads to Selena Gomez and fiancé Benny Blanco living happily ever after.
Hello, I’m Sydney Sweeney
The Euphoria star and White Lotus alum hung onto her fiery red Oscar de la Renta shawl during the ceremony.
An Ambitious Pairing
White Lotus costars Lisa and Tayme Thapthimthong could both be proud of what they’ve achieved and how they got there.
The Few, the Proud
Amid a cast exodus ahead of season 51, Saturday Night Live‘s Bowen Yang had a chat with ColinJost and his wife, muse and frequent SNL guest star Scarlett Johansson.
Couples Council
Movie star Harrison Ford, a first-time Emmy nominee for Shrinking, made a night of it with wife Calista Flockhart.
Devoted Duo
Dying for Sex star Michelle Williams and director husband Thomas Kail might be craving sleep, having recently shared they welcomed their third baby together via surrogate, but they looked utterly glam all the same.
That Guy Over Here
Colin Farrell caught up with some cronies while celebrating The Penguin‘s 24 Emmy nominations.
