The People v. O.J. Simpson and Game of Thrones win big at Emmy Awards

The People V. O.j. Simpson: American Crime Story and Game Of Thrones topped the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday (18Sep16).

The TV adaptation of disgraced sportsman O.J. Simpson's murder trial headed into the awards with a stunning 22 nominations, and quickly racked up the trophies, including Outstanding Limited Series.

Sarah Paulson was named Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie for her portrayal of prosecutor Marcia Clark, who accompanied the star to the Emmys as her date for the night, while Courtney B. Vance beat co-star Cuba Gooding, Jr. to take the Outstanding Lead Actor honor for his role as Simpson defense attorney Johnnie Cochran.

Sterling K. Brown was also celebrated as Outstanding Supporting Actor, as was writer D.V. DeVincentis.

Game of Thrones, based on the hit fantasy books by George R. R. Martin, was another big winner, landing Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, but its castmembers lost out on the acting accolades, which went to Rami Malek (Mr. Robot), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline), and Dame Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey).

Meanwhile, Veep held on to the Outstanding Comedy Series title for a second consecutive year, and its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus scored her fifth consecutive win for Outstanding Lead Actress. The victory was a bittersweet one for the former Seinfeld star, who tearfully dedicated the prize to her father William, who died on Friday (16Sep16), aged 84.

Jeffrey Tambor was named Outstanding Lead Actor again for Transparent, after previously winning the 2015 award.

There were also special tributes from Tambor to his late pal Garry Shandling, and from Henry Winkler, who remembered his Happy Days creator Garry Marshall, before the ceremony's annual In Memoriam segment, which also honored stars like David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Patty Duke, Anton Yelchin, Doris Roberts, Natalie Cole, Merle Haggard, and Glenn Frey, who have all died in the past year.

The 68th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which celebrate the best in TV, were hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The main winners are:

Outstanding Drama Series: Game of Thrones

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Rami Malek, Mr. Robot

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Dame Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Hank Azaria, Ray Donovan

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Margo Martindale, The Americans

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Miguel Sapochnik, Game of Thrones - Battle of the Bastards

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, Game of Thrones - Battle of the Bastards

Outstanding Comedy Series: Veep

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Louie Anderson, Baskets

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Peter Scolari, Girls

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Jill Soloway, Transparent - Man on the Land

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, Master of None - Parents

Outstanding Limited Series: The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Television Movie: Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or A Movie: Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie: Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or A Movie: Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie: Regina King, American Crime

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special: Susanne Bier, The Night Manager

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special: D.V. DeVincentis, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story - Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: The Voice

Outstanding Variety Talk Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special: Alex Rudzinski and Thomas Kail, Grease Live!

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: Patton Oswalt, Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping.