22 Vintage Photos from the Actor Awards, from Young Pedro Pascal and Sarah Paulson to an Unbuttoned Sean Hayes

Stephanie SengweSun, March 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC

0

SAG AwardsCredit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage; LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty; GERARD BURKHART/AFP/Getty

There is nothing like being seen by a group of your peers.

Since 1995, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has been honoring members for their outstanding work. Like the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards — as they were known for 30 years — brought together thespians from both the TV and movie worlds for a night of celebration. Stars such as Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Hudson and more have all attended and left victorious.

Last November, the guild announced the name of the show will be officially changed from the Screen Actors Guild Awards to The Actor Awards, matching the moniker of the iconic green statue that winners are awarded.

As we prepare for tonight's ceremony, streaming live on Netflix beginning at 5 p.m. ET, look back at some vintage photos from previous shows.

01 of 22

Making a Splash

Halle BerryCredit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

For the inaugural show in 1995, Halle Berry wore a showstopping, strappy black gown, with minimal accessories and her signature pixie cut bringing the look together.

02 of 22

Happy to Be Here

Tom HanksCredit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Tom Hanks looks super excited with his guild card in one hand and actor in another at the inaugural show.

03 of 22

Kisses for Matty

Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, and Lisa KudrowCredit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Winners Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow sandwiched their fellow Friend Matthew Perry after their cast win at the 1996 show.

04 of 22

Room for Five

Seinfeld CastCredit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

The cast of Seinfeld — Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (and her baby bump!), Jerry Seinfeld and Michael Richards — were a happy crew as they posed with their awards in 1997.

05 of 22

Men of the Hour

Matt Damon and actor Robin WilliamsCredit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Good Will Hunting stars Matt Damon and Robin Williams walked the carpet together at the 1998 ceremony.

06 of 22

Joy, Joy, Joy

Helen Hunt and Roberto BenigniCredit: GERARD BURKHART/AFP/Getty

Italian director and actor Roberto Benigni was so overjoyed by his Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role win in 1999 that he didn't just pick up his trophy, he also picked up presenter Helen Hunt in celebration.

07 of 22

Oh, Julia!

Julia RobertsCredit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Julia Roberts' megawatt smile was on full display as the actress held her Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role trophy for her work in Erin Brockovich in 2001.

08 of 22

New York's Finest

The cast of "Sex and the City"Credit: VINCE BUCCI/AFP/Getty

New York's finest, the cast of Sex and the City, made a glamorous touchdown at the Shrine Theater in 2001. (For the uninitiated, that's Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall, all doing their characters' wardrobes proud.)

09 of 22

Leg Up

Nicole Kidman and Dakota FanningCredit: KMazur/WireImage

A miniature Dakota Fanning smiled from ear to ear as she posed with Nicole Kidman backstage in 2002.

10 of 22

Here's to You

Renee ZellwegerCredit: LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty

An emotional Renée Zellweger thanked her loved ones as she accepted the Actor for Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture for her role in Chicago in 2003.

Advertisement

11 of 22

Bring the Laughs

Sean HayesCredit: LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty

Would it be a Sean Hayes appearance if he didn't bring the comedy? While accepting the Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Will & Grace in 2003, the actor unbuttoned his shirt for a joke about building his stomach muscles.

12 of 22

For You

Jamie FoxxCredit: Vince Bucci/Getty

Jamie Foxx proudly posed with his Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role trophy in 2005.

13 of 22

Kisses to All

Jennifer GarnerCredit: Vince Bucci/Getty

Jennifer Garner blew kisses to photographers as she held her Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series actor for her work on Alias.

14 of 22

All Black Everything

Charlize TheronCredit: Vince Bucci/Getty

In a rare sighting, Charlize Theron rocked dark tresses to match her black dress at the award show in 2005.

15 of 22

Good Times

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath LedgerCredit: Kevin Winter/Getty

Jake Gyllenhaal got a case of the giggles while presenting with Brokeback Mountain costar Heath Ledger in 2006.

16 of 22

No Desperation Here

Eva Longoria and Nicollette SheridanCredit: J. Vespa/WireImage

Desperate Housewives costars Eva Longoria and Nicollette Sheridan pose with their Outstanding Ensemble for a Comedy Series awards in 2006.

17 of 22

Keeping Our Hands Full

Chandra WilsonCredit: Frank Micelotta/Getty

Chandra Wilson worked her biceps as she walked away with two awards for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2007.

18 of 22

Dressed to Impress

Jennifer HudsonCredit: Vince Bucci/Getty

Jennifer Hudson looked like a million bucks as she made her SAG Awards debut in 2007. She walked away a winner, snagging a trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her work in Dreamgirls.

19 of 22

All the Glee

Cast of GleeCredit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

Members of the cast of Glee were glad to have won the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2010.

20 of 22

Life Imitates Art

Sofia Vergara and actor Rico RodriguezCredit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Sofía Vergara gave her on-screen son Rico Rodriguez a smooch while the Modern Family cast met up in the press room at the 2011 ceremony.

21 of 22

To Be Young

Sarah Paulson and Pedro PascalCredit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

A young Sarah Paulson clung to her bestie, Pedro Pascal during a break in the 2014 show.

22 of 22

Out of This World

Uzo AdubaCredit: Dan MacMedan/WireImage

Orange Is the New Black's Uzo Aduba screamed for joy as she walked out with two trophies — Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series — in 2016.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”