Much like HBO hits, Euphoria
and Game of Thrones
, The White Lotus
has carved out a loyal fan base who thrive on the show’s unhinged storyline. After delivering maximum drama, murder, and chaos in Seasons 1 and 2, The White Lotus
Season 3 checked back in with an extra dark twist and vengeance. While the plot paid off, it was the performances that really stole the show. Sam Rockwell’s portrayal of Frank, a Thailand-based friend of Rick, played by Walt Goggins, became one of the memorable performances of the show.
The intense, raw, and emotionally charged screen presence of Rockwell drew praise from both critics and fans, earning him a nomination for the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category at the Emmys. But Sam Rockwell is not convinced he deserves the spot.
Sam Rockwell explores the odd rules of Emmy nominations
Sam Rockwell believes that he is not the right fit for the supporting actor category. Discussing the Emmy race, Rockwell recently told Variety
, “I’m between a rock and a hard place.
” He added, “It’s not really fair or cool,
” as he is nominated alongside Walt Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Sam Nivola, who were leads going into supporting roles. He considered himself a guest actor with limited screen time.
Sam Rockwell’s surprise cameo on tonight’s episode of #TheWhiteLotus has officially gone to the history books.
It being a perfect example of stealing a scene by chewing dialogue and landing every bit.
This was #Emmys worthy all over it!https://t.co/jeY6MemdFg
— Bismark (@Bismark_BM) March 17, 2025
The real complication, however, is the Emmy rules. According to the Television Academy’s rules implemented in 2024, actors are considered guest performers if they appear in less than 50 percent of all the episodes. Rockwell appeared in exactly 50%, which is four out of eight episodes, which disqualified him from the guest category and instead brought him into the supporting actor category.
Read More: Walton Goggins chokes up while talking about White Lotus co-star Aimee Lou Wood: “…love this woman…”
Rockwell’s performance was one of the most defining moments of the show. He peels back every layer, revealing the true identity of Frank. Rockwell might not think it is fair, but the critics and fans think otherwise.
Worthy of nomination? Critics and fans think so, no matter the category
As soon as the latest season of The White Lotus
dropped, the audience loved Sam Rockwell’s intense but brief portrayal of Frank, even though the show also faced its fair share of backlash
. Critics lauded his acting, and fans started declaring him their favourite to win the Emmy award. For Rockwell, it may seem unfair to compete with his co-stars who were embedded in the show from beginning to end.
Sam Rockwell doing this random somersault while drunk and chasing Walton Goggins in the hallway LOL#WhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/x4q3YTtWwp
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) April 7, 2025
Yet, his fans, co-stars, and critics think he is the right fit to land a nomination in the supporting category. Even though his role had no character arc like the other performers in the show, his performance stood out and was impossible to ignore. The audience cheered on, and it is safe to say that he is more than worthy of the nod.
What do you think about his nomination? Let us know in the comments below.