Comedian Patton Oswalt took home an Emmy on Sunday evening but doing so after losing his wife earlier this year made the moment bittersweet and he delivered some emotional words about that while speaking to reporters backstage.
ET noted that Oswalt, 47, won for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special and dedicated his award to his late wife, Michelle McNamara.
“Every bit of growth that I’ve had in my career, especially in my writing and my performing, came because I met Michelle McNamara,” the Veep actor said. “Because I met and married this woman who just was so much wiser and self-actualized and aware of life than I was. I had convinced myself that I was aware and self-actualized and mature, but then I met the real deal.
“To have that ripped out of my life the way that it has this year – I’m not trying to say that this is meaningless, but everything seems like the lights have been turned down 50 percent on everything since she’s gone,” he continued. “It’s just going to be a long, long time before I can be the kind of person she made me again.”
Later that night, Oswalt wasn't really in the mood to be around lots of people so he decided to go someplace less congested than one of the big Hollywood after parties. He chose to quietly celebrate his win at Arby's and posted a picture with a caption that brought out his sense of humor.
McNamara died in her sleep on April 21. She was 46 years old and the founder of the website TrueCrimeDiary.com.