The 83rd Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2026, became a celebration of enduring friendships and professional triumphs. A highlight of the night was the heartwarming reunion of former ER co-stars Noah Wyle and George Clooney. The touching moment happened right after Noah Wyle’s show, The Pitt, won the award for Best Television Series – Drama. As Wyle walked to the stage, he stopped to embrace Clooney, giving him a celebratory kiss on the cheek. This genuine display of affection between the two actors, whose friendship spans over three decades, captured the attention of everyone in the room and viewers at home.
The success of The Pitt was a major storyline of the evening. The HBO Max drama not only won the top prize for Best Drama Series but also earned Noah Wyle the award for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama. For Wyle, the night was a significant career milestone, marking a powerful return to the medical drama genre that first made him a star. The wins were a strong endorsement for the gritty series, which has been praised for its raw look at emergency room life.
The Pitt’s Big Golden Globes Victory
The Pitt triumphed over a strong field of competitors to win Best Television Series – Drama. The other nominees in the category were The Diplomat, Pluribus, Severance, Slow Horses, and The White Lotus. The win is a major achievement for the show, which premiered on HBO Max in early 2025.
In his individual category, Noah Wyle won for his performance as Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch. He beat out notable actors including Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), Diego Luna (Andor), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Mark Ruffalo (Task), and Adam Scott (Severance). This award recognizes Wyle’s central role in the series, which has been described as a gripping and human portrayal of frontline healthcare workers.
A Friendship Forged on ER and Celebrated at the Globes
The emotional reunion between Noah Wyle and George Clooney was not a random act but the reflection of a 30-year friendship that began on the set of the iconic medical drama ER in 1994. Their bond, formed during the early days of their careers, has remained strong over the decades.
In a recent interview, Wyle opened up about the nature of their lasting friendship. He described Clooney as a steady and influential figure in his life.
“He’s been a real touchstone figure in my life and one who seems to pop up with great regularity at the right moments,” Wyle said.
He explained that while their busy schedules make frequent meetings difficult, they always pick up right where they left off. Wyle cherishes their spontaneous get-togethers, which often start as simple dinner plans but turn into long conversations that last half the night.
Just one day before the Golden Globes, the two actors had honored each other at the 2026 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards. Wyle presented Clooney with the Best Actor award for his film Jay Kelly, and Clooney later returned the favor by presenting Wyle with the Best Actor award for TV for his work on The Pitt. This made their Golden Globes moment a continuation of a weekend filled with mutual appreciation.
Clooney has been a vocal supporter of Wyle’s new show. During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Clooney praised The Pitt, simply stating, “It’s so good”. He went further, calling Wyle “the most honorable, talented young man” and expressed immense happiness for his success. For fans of the original ER, seeing these two actors support each other’s achievements decades later was a full-circle moment that resonated deeply.
Other Major Winners at the 2026 Ceremony
While the reunion was a social media sensation, the 83rd Golden Globes also honored the year’s best in film and television. The ceremony, hosted for the second consecutive year by comedian Nikki Glaser, was held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
In film, the top awards were split. The award for Best Motion Picture – Drama went to **Chloé Zhao’s *Hamnet, a period drama about William Shakespeare’s family. The film’s star, *Jessie Buckley*, also won for *Best Actress in a Drama*. On the comedy side, **Paul Thomas Anderson’s *One Battle After Another dominated, winning Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Anderson also took home awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
Other notable film winners included:
- Wagner Moura, who won Best Actor in a Drama for the Brazilian film The Secret Agent.
- Timothée Chalamet, who won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for Marty Supreme.
- Teyana Taylor, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in One Battle After Another.
On the television side, Netflix’s Adolescence was a major winner, securing the award for Best Limited Series. Actors from the show, Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty, all won individual acting awards in the limited series categories. For comedy series, Apple TV’s The Studio won Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, with its star Seth Rogen winning for Best Actor in that category.
The ceremony also introduced a new category this year: Best Podcast. The inaugural winner was Amy Poehler’s Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
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Fan Reactions and the Legacy of ER
The genuine moment between Wyle and Clooney quickly became one of the most talked-about events of the night on social media. Fans of the original ER expressed joy at seeing the actors together again. One fan commented on the significance, noting Wyle’s fantastic work on ER and celebrating the recognition for Pittsburgh, where The Pitt is set.
The success of The Pitt, created by ER alum R. Scott Gemmill, and its endorsement by George Clooney, feels like a passing of the torch in the medical drama genre. It demonstrates how the bonds and experiences from a landmark show like ER can continue to influence television decades later. The night ultimately belonged to Noah Wyle and The Pitt, whose critical recognition was made even sweeter by being shared with an old friend.
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