Best moments from SAG Actor Awards, from Harrison Ford to Michael J. Fox

Patrick Ryan and Brian Truitt, USA TODAYMon, March 2, 2026 at 4:44 AM UTC

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The most unpredictable Oscar race in years is finally coming into focus.

At the Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Amy Madigan ("Weapons") and Sean Penn (“One Battle After Another”) solidified their front-runner status in their respective categories, while a surprise win from Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”) offered a welcome shake-up to the ultra-competitive best actor lineup.

The Actor Awards, newly renamed from the Screen Actors Guild Awards, are often one of the most reliable bellwethers for future Oscar glory. (The trophies are voted on by actors, who make up the largest swath of the Academy.)

The ceremony, hosted by Kristen Bell, ran well over its two-hour runtime in part because of incessant movie montages and a lame recurring bit featuring celebrity attendees playing ping-pong backstage.

But there were also some bright spots, with genuinely surprised speeches from winners Keri Russell (“The Diplomat”) and Michelle Williams (“Dying for Sex”), and an absurdly hilarious gag by “Hacks” co-stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs, who sarcastically claimed to be cut from “Hamnet.”

Here are the biggest moments from the 2026 Actor Awards, which streamed on Netflix.

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Hollywood's biggest celebrities donned their most striking looks for the Actor Awards on March 1 in Los Angeles. We've got all the night's standout fashions, starting with Kate Hudson.

Harrison Ford jokes it's 'weird' to win life achievement award at 83

Harrison Ford got emotional accepting his life achievement honor at the Actor Awards.

Ford, 83, has long been known for his ornery public persona. But after a comically rambling introduction by friend Woody Harrelson, the “Star Wars” icon was visibly overwhelmed as he walked to the stage to accept the Actor Awards’ life achievement award.

“I feel incredibly grateful for this kind attention,” Ford said at the podium, delivering a speech that was both wry and heartfelt. “But to be clear, I also am quite humbled. I’m in a room of actors, many of whom are here because they are nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I’m here to receive a prize for being alive.

“It’s a little weird to be getting a lifetime achievement award at the half point of my career,” Ford deadpanned. “It’s a little early, isn’t it? I’m still a working actor.”

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Ford went on to explain that he was not an “overnight success,” and that “none of this would’ve happened on my own.” He thanked George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for giving him “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones.”

Looking back, “in my third year of college, I was a little lost,” Ford recalled. “I was failing at school. I felt isolated and alone. And then I found the company of people putting on plays. People I once thought were misfits and geeks turned out to be my people.”

He ended his speech by thanking his “extraordinary” wife, Calista Flockhart, as well as the Screen Actors Guild. “This is very encouraging,” Ford quipped.

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Last stop before Oscars! SAG's Actor Awards are packed with A-list celebrities, and these were the very best photos captured at the March 1 show. Let's start with host Kristen Bell kicking the night off at the 32nd annual Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.

Michael J. Fox makes rare public appearance in 'I Am an Actor' segment

Fox, who guest-starred in Season 3 of “Shrinking” earlier this year, appeared during the opening segment of the Actor Awards, as stars including Teyana Taylor, Kristen Wiig, Delroy Lindo and Kate Hudson recounted their acting origin stories.

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“Before I left school and moved from Canada to LA, a teacher of mine told me, ‘Fox, you’re not going to be cute forever,’ ” Fox explained. “So I said, ‘Maybe just long enough, sir.’ ”

After a few years of “dumpster diving,” Fox landed a starring role in sitcom “Family Ties,” where he received “the biggest gift of my life”: his wife, Tracy Pollan, who co-starred in the series.

“And she gave me four gifts: Schuyler, Aquinnah, Esmé and Sam,” Fox said. “Sometimes I like to remind them, ‘If it wasn’t for acting, you wouldn’t be here.’ ”

Seth Rogen honors 'genius' Catherine O'Hara after posthumous win

Seth Rogen accepts the posthumous award on behalf of Catherine O'Hara during the Actor Awards.

Stars including Sarah Paulson, Rose Byrne and Jenna Ortega were brought to tears by the posthumous win of Catherine O'Hara, who earned the prize for best actress in a comedy series for "The Studio." The actress, who died Jan. 30 of a pulmonary embolism, was memorialized onstage by her "Studio" co-star Seth Rogen, who spoke at length about her graciousness and generosity.

"She really showed that you can be a genius and be kind, and one of those things does not have to come at the expense of the other in any way, shape, or form," Rogen said, imploring the audience to introduce their loved ones to O'Hara's work.

"Tell the people as they are laughing, 'That's Catherine O'Hara, and we were lucky that we got to live in a world where she so generally shared her talents with us,' " Rogen concluded.

Teyana Taylor, daughter Rue win for cutest duo on the red carpet

Teyana Taylor and Rue Rose Shumpert pose on the red carpet during the 2026 Actor Awards in Los Angeles on March 1, 2026.

Teyana Taylor missed out on a supporting actress Actor Award but she did win the red carpet. Well, she and 5-year-old daughter Rue Rose Shumpert.

As Taylor was posing on the carpet for cameras, Rue made sure Mom was on point by fixing the train on her dress. Later, she joined her mother in delivering some adorable poses and sass on the red carpet, and the two won over the crowd more by exchanging hugs and kisses.

Rue did her job well as one of Taylor’s “co-stylists” alongside big sister Junie, 10. The “One Battle After Another” star was one of the best dressed at the awards show, rocking a strapless silver and gray trompe l'oeil dress featuring a corset of sorts with faux nipples.

Amy Madigan compares Actor Awards statue to Barbie and Ken

Amy Madigan wins for best supporting actress for "Weapons" at the Actor Awards.

Madigan delivered far and away the most charming speech of the night, as she picked up best supporting actress for playing the witchy Aunt Gladys in horror mystery “Weapons.” She began by trotting to the stage with her arms outstretched, recreating the movie's memorable opening scene.

“It’s such an honor to be here. I’ve been doing this a long-ass time, and I’ve never been nominated by the SAG committee,” said Madigan, 75, who is best known for classic 1980s films including “Field of Dreams,” “Uncle Buck” and “Twice in a Lifetime.”

She proceeded to thank her fellow actors, before getting momentarily distracted by the striking physique of the Actor Awards statue.

"Let's see, what does he have here?” Madigan said, examining the statuette. “It's like when you were little and you had Barbie and then you had Ken, and you whipped off those drawers and you said, 'Ken has nothing!' I never quite understood that. Anyway, I really am digressing. I apologize!"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best (and worst) SAG Actor Awards moments you missed

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