‘His eye roll will be a meme!’ Samuel L. Jackson’s unimpressed reaction to losing Best Actor Tony Award to Brandon Uranowitz goes viral

Samuel L. Jackson’s face became a meme on Sunday, after fans noticed his less-than-impressed reaction to losing at the 76th Annual Tony Awards.

The Unbreakable star, 74, was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the event – held at United Palace Theater in New York City – for his role in The Piano Lesson, which was his wife LaTanya Richardson’s Broadway directorial debut.

However, when he lost to Brandon Uranowitz, 36, who played in Leopoldstadt, fans quickly noted the apparent disappointment in his face, along with what appeared to be a slight eye-roll. 

‘Samuel L. Jackson does not have a good non-winner face. I’m sure his eye roll will be a meme,’ one commentator wrote on Twitter. 

Another one shared the moment all actors were featured alongside each other on the screen, and wrote: ‘Samuel L. Jackson’s face is taking me out for some reason!’ with a crying out laughing emoji. 

Nominated: The actor, 74, was nominated for the Best Actor in a Play award at the event – held at United Palace Theater in New York City – for his role in The Piano Lesson 

Disappointed: However, when he lost to Brandon Uranowitz, 36, who played in Leopoldstadt, fans quickly noted his apparent disappointment 

‘Samuel L. Jackson didn’t look happy,’ another added with a laughing emoji. 

Another fan compared his face to that of his Marvel character Nick Fury, writing, ‘Samuel L. Jackson looked like Nick Fury after realizing he didn’t win his category.’

‘Awww Samuel L. Jackson,’ someone else added, appearing to empathize with the actor’s loss. 

However many fans also seemed to understand where Jackson’s disappointment was coming from.

‘I thought Samuel L. Jackson was gone win that…’ a commentator wrote on Twitter.

‘Samuel L. Jackson was robbed. But of course let’s give it to… never mind,’ another disappointed fan commented. 

Comments continued to pour in, with someone else adding, ‘Samuel L. Jackson lost I hate it here actually.’ 

He received more words of encouragement, with someone else adding, ‘Samuel L. Jackson bodied The Piano Lesson.’ 

Eye roll? Many also noted what appeared to be a slight eye-roll from the Unbreakable actor

A meme: ‘Samuel L. Jackson does not have a good non-winner face. I’m sure his eye roll will be a meme,’ another commentator wrote on Twitter

Funny: One person shared the moment all actors were featured alongside each other on the screen, and wrote: ‘Samuel L. Jackson’s face is taking me out for some reason!’ 

Not happy: ‘Samuel L. Jackson didn’t look happy,’ another added with a laughing emoji

Nick Fury: Another fan compared his face to that of his Marvel character Nick Fury

Empathetic: ‘Awww Samuel L. Jackson,’ someone else added, appearing to empathize with the actor’s loss

Understanding fans: However many fans also seemed to understand where Jackson’s disappointment was coming from

Robbed: ‘Samuel L. Jackson was robbed. But of course let’s give it to… never mind,’ another disappointed fan commented 

Hate it: ‘Samuel L. Jackson lost I hate it here actually’

Bodied the role: He received more words of encouragement, with someone else adding, ‘Samuel L. Jackson bodied The Piano Lesson’ 

Uranowitz was among the first big winners of the night, as the theater world gathered together for the annual celebration of all things Broadway.

He joked that his ‘imposter syndrome is on fire’ as he made an emotional speech to accept the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play.

In his impassioned speech, Uranowitz spoke out about anti-Semitism and the ‘false promise of assimilation,’ both of which are explored in his play Leopoldstadt. He also addressed his parents in a teary moment. 

‘The only thing I’ve wanted in this life is to be able to repay you for the sacrifices you’ve made for me,’ he said, addressing them in the audience.

He was later pictured looking thrilled as he posed with his award backstage. 

Meanwhile earlier in the night Jackson was joined by his glamorous wife LaTanya Richardson as they hit the red carpet at the event.

He looked dapper wearing a dark navy tuxedo with a bowtie and a pair of reading glasses.

His wife of 43 years wore a glamorous floor-length black coat with whimsical neon green feather sleeves.

Proud moment: In his impassioned speech, Uranowitz spoke out about anti-Semitism and the ‘false promise of assimilation,’ both of which are explored in his play Leopoldstadt. He also addressed his parents in a teary moment

Thrilled winner: He was later pictured looking thrilled as he posed with his award backstage

The actor previously spoke about the honor of being nominated in a statement: ‘It’s a thrill to be nominated – this honor is particularly special having been under the direction of LaTanya and getting to continue August Wilson’s legacy on Broadway after first performing The Piano Lesson on stage at the Yale Repertory Theater 35 years ago.’

The 1987 Pulitzer Prize winning tale is that of ‘a Black family torn between legacy and ambition, the past and the future,’ according to Deadline. 

Samuel and LaTanya have a longtime love story as they met when they both were in college back in 1970.

They eventually married in 1980 and have one child, 41-year-old freelance film and television producer Zoe Jackson.

This year’s ceremony has also become the latest production to have been impacted by the ongoing Writers Guild of America Strike. It marks the first time in 35 years that the Tonys had been afflicted by the WGA strike.

Despite the challenges, the show will still go on.

The ceremony will be airing on CBS in an unscripted format, and the union has agreed not to picket the event. Broadway icon Lin-Manuel Miranda has also dropped out as writer of the opening segment in solidarity with the WGA.

Seasoned actress Ariana DeBose will be hosting this year’s event from the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights.

Viewers will still be entertained with plenty of performances from a variety of Tony-nominated musicals on stage.

Stylish duo: Meanwhile earlier in the night Jackson was joined by his glamorous wife LaTanya Richardson as they hit the red carpet at the event

Broadway debut: The Piano Lesson – based on August Wilson’s famed play – was his wife’s Broadway directorial debut

Audience members will be treated to performances from casts of Into the Woods, New York, New York, Shucked, Beautiful Noise, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and more.

It will also feature performances from the cast of the Lea Michele-led musical, Funny Girl.

As far as nominations, Some Like It Hot, the musical adaptation of the Marilyn Monroe film, is up for the most Tonys with a whooping 13 nominations.

It will be battling it out for Best Musical against & Juliet, Kimberly Akimbo, New York, New York, and Shucked.

Nominations for Best Play consist of Ain’t No Mo’, Between Riverside and Crazy, Cost of Living, Fat Ham, Leopoldstadt.

TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS 2023

Best Musical

& Juliet

Kimberly Akimbo

New York, New York

Shucked

Some Like It Hot

 

Some Like It Hot

Best Play

Ain’t No Mo’

Between Riverside and Crazy

Cost of Living

Fat Ham

Leopoldstadt

 

Best Musical Revival

Bob Fosse’s Dancin’

Camelot

Into The Woods

Parade — WINNER

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

 

Best Revival of a Play

 A Doll’s House

The Piano Lesson

The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window

Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog — WINNER

 

Best Leading Actress of a Musical

Annaleigh Ashford — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Sara Bareilles — Into The Woods

Victoria Clark — Kimberly Akimbo

Lorna Courtney — & Juliet

Micaela Diamond — Parade

 

Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House

Best Leading Actress of a Play

Jessica Chastain — A Doll’s House

Jodie Comer — Prima Facie — WINNER

Jessica Hecht — Summer, 1976

Audra McDonald — Ohio State Murders

 

Best Leading Actor of a Musical

Christian Borle — Some Like It Hot

J. Harrison Ghee — Some Like It Hot — WINNER

Josh Groban — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Brian D’Arcy James — Into The Woods

Ben Platt at the Met Gala 2023

Ben Platt — Parade

Colton Ryan — New York, New York

 

Best Leading Actor of a Play

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Topdog/Underdog

Corey Hawkins — Topdog/Underdog

Sean Hayes — Good Night, Oscar

Stephen McKinley Henderson — Between Riverside and Crazy

Wendell Pierce — Death of a Salesman

 Best Book of a Musical

 & Juliet — David West Read

Kimberly Akimbo — David Lindsay-Abaire — WINNER

New York, New York — David Thompson & Sharon Washington

Shucked — Robert Horn

Some Like It Hot — Matthew López & Amber Ruffin 

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Jordan E. Cooper — Ain’t No Mo’

Samuel L. Jackson — August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson

Arian Moayed — A Doll’s House

Brandon Uranowitz — Leopoldstadt — WINNER

David Zayas — Cost Of Living 

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical 

Kevin Del Aguila — Some Like It Hot

 Kevin Cahoon — Shucked

Justin Cooley — Kimberly Akimbo

Jordan Donica — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot

Alex Newell — Shucked — WINNER

 

Best Scenic Design of a Play 

Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding — Life Of Pi — WINNERS

Miriam Buether — Prima Facie

Rachel Hauck — Good Night, Oscar

Richard Hudson — Leopoldstadt

Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon — A Christmas Carol 

 

Best Costume Design of a Play

Brigitte Reiffenstuel — Leopoldstadt — WINNER

Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell — Life Of Pi

Dominique Fawn Hill — Fat Ham

Emilio Sosa — Ain’t No Mo’

Emilio Sosa — Good Night, Oscar

 

Best Lighting Design of a Play 

Neil Austin — Leopoldstadt

Natasha Chivers — Prima Facie

Jon Clark — Jon Clark

Bradley King — Fat Ham

Tim Lutkin — Life Of Pi — WINNER

Jen Schriever — Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman

Ben Stanton — A Christmas Carol 

 

Best Direction of a Play

Saheem Ali — Fat Ham

Jo Bonney — Cost Of Living

Jamie Lloyd — A Doll’s House

Patrick Marber — Leopoldstadt — WINNER

Stevie Walker-Webb — Ain’t No Mo’ 

Max Webster — Life Of Pi 

 

Best Sound Design of a Play

Carolyn Downing — Life Of Pi — WINNER

Joshua D. Reid — A Christmas Carol

Ben & Max Ringham — A Doll’s House

Ben & Max Ringham — Prima Facie

Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams — Ain’t No Mo’ 

 

Best Choreography

Casey Nicholaw — Some Like It Hot — WINNER

Steven Hoggett — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Susan Stroman — New York, New York

Jennifer Weber — & Juliet

Jennifer Weber — KPOP 

Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Kimberly Akimbo — David Lindsay-Abaire/Jeanine Tesori — WINNER

Almost Famous — Tom Kitt/Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt

KPOP — Helen Park & Max Vernon

Shucked — Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally

Some Like It Hot — Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play 

Nikki Crawford — Fat Ham

Crystal Lucas-Perry — Ain’t No Mo’

Miriam Silverman — The Sign In Sidney Brustein’s Window — WINNER

Katy Sullivan — Cost Of Living

Kara Young — Cost Of Living 

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical 

Julia Lester — Into The Woods

Ruthie Ann Miles — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Bonnie Milligan — Kimberly Akimbo — WINNER

NaTasha Yvette Williams — Some Like It Hot

Betsy Wolfe — & Juliet 

 

Best Scenic Design of a Musical 

Beowulf Boritt — New York, New York — WINNER

Mimi Lien — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Scott Pask — Shucked

Scott Pask — Some Like It Hot

Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot

 

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes — Some Like It Hot — WINNER

Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi — KPOP

Susan Hilferty — Parade

Jennifer Moeller — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot

Paloma Young — & Juliet 

 

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Ken Billington — New York, New York

Lap Chi Chu — Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot

Heather Gilbert — Parade

Howard Hudson — & Juliet

Natasha Katz — Some Like It Hot

Natasha Katz — Sweeney Todd: THe Demon Barber Of Fleet Street — WINNER

 

Best Direction of a Musical

Michael Arden — Parade — WINNER

Lear deBessonet — Into The Woods

Casey Nicholaw — Some Like It Hot

Jack O’Brien — Shucked

Jessica Stone — Kimberly Akimbo

 

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Kai Harada — New York, New York

Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann — Into The Woods 

Gareth Owen — & Juliet

John Shivers — Shucked

Nevin Steinberg — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street — WINNER

 

Best Orchestrations

Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter — Some Like It Hot — WINNERS

John Clancy — Kimberly Akimbo

Daryl Waters & Sam Davis — New York, New York

Bill Sherman & Dominic Fallacaro — & Juliet

Jason Howland — Shucked