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Sam Rockwell’s portrayal of Frank in The White Lotus has garnered significant attention from both audiences and award academies. Initially, many speculated that Rockwell’s role would be eligible for the category of Best Guest Actor at the Emmys. However, with the 2024 changes to the rules, it appears his role will not qualify for that category.
Rockwell’s character, Frank, is introduced in the fifth episode of The White Lotus Season 3, titled “Full Moon Party.” Frank is a friend of Walter Goggin’s character Rick, and his storyline touches on his exploration of sexuality and his journey to sobriety. Given his continued presence through the sixth, seventh, and eighth episodes, Frank’s role exceeds the “guest actor” criteria, which is defined by appearing in less than 50% of the series’ episodes.
With the new rules in place, Rockwell would likely be placed in the Best Supporting Actor category, rather than Best Guest Actor. This is due to his significant involvement in the ongoing season, making him ineligible for the shorter, more limited guest role classification.
While this adjustment may shift Rockwell’s potential category, the expectation is that The White Lotus will continue its tradition of securing multiple nominations. The show earned eight nominations for its first season and nine for its second, so fans are hopeful for another strong showing at the upcoming awards.
Despite the category shift, Rockwell’s performance is being widely praised, and it will be interesting to see how the nomination process unfolds.