SF State graduate Jeffrey Tambor won his first Golden Globe Award on January 11, taking home the statuette for his landmark role in the critically acclaimed comedy series Transparent.
Tambor plays the main character in Transparent, Maura Pfefferman, a retired professor who comes out as transgender and begins to transition to a woman.
In his acceptance speech, Tambor dedicated his award to the transgender community. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your courage, for your inspiration, thank you for your patience and thank you for letting us be a part of the change,” he said.
Transparent also won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy. The awards are the first for Amazon Studios’ original Instant Prime Video programming.
Tambor (B.A., Drama, ’65) grew up in the Parkmerced apartment community, just across the street from the SF State campus. A six-time Emmy Award nominee, Tambor may be best known for his role as patriarch George Bluth Sr. on Arrested Development. He has also starred in The Larry Sanders Show, Hill Street Blues and The Hangover.
At SF State’s 2009 Commencement, where he was honored as Alumnus of the Year, Tambor told the crowd: “Love yourself. Keep your voice authentic. Don’t settle. Love your partner in life, your kids and your fellow man. ... “And remember as George Bluth said, ‘There’s always money in the banana stand.’”
Jeffrey Tambor performs in an SF State play, Mr. Dandyweather’s Birthday," circa 1963. Tambor (center) is wearing the pinstriped jumpsuit.