Meet the Director Who Just Proposed to His Girlfriend at the Emmys

Updated on 9/18/2018 at 11:30 AM

We've come to expect the unexpected during award shows, but on Monday's Emmy Awards broadcast, the unexpected turned out to be something incredibly heartwarming. Glenn Weiss, the winner for directing a variety/special (for directing the 2018 Oscars broadcast), gave an acceptance speech that included shout-outs to his late mother and his longtime girlfriend — touching but pretty standard stuff for award winners. But his acceptance speech soon took a turn for the adorable when he called his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen, up to the stage and proposed to her!

Unless you're a hardcore film buff, there's a pretty good chance you've never seen Svendsen or Weiss until Monday night, so get to know the couple behind the evening's most unexpected moment.

2012 Emmy Awards

This isn't the first time Svendsen has been Weiss's date for the Emmys — the two also paired up at the Governors Ball after the 2012 ceremony, where Weiss won for directing the Tony Awards broadcast earlier that year.

2015 Tony Awards

Svendsen isn't just a "director's girlfriend" — she's incredibly accomplished in her own right! She spent 17 years as the director of marketing and business development for the Broadway League and the Tony Awards, where she developed their brands and raised the profile of Broadway theater.

2017 Emmy Awards

Although Weiss was a nominee and winner this year, he's been on the other side of the Emmys broadcast too. For the 2017 broadcast, hosted by Stephen Colbert, he was credited as an executive producer.

2017 Directors Guild of America Awards

Weiss's Emmy on Monday night was only one of many recognitions he's won throughout his directing career. He's won 14 Emmys, as well as a slew of other awards, including from the Directors Guild of America.

2017 Tony Awards Gala

Svendsen's Broadway-based career has meant that the couple have spent a lot of time in the New York theater scene. After the 2017 Tony Awards, they mingled with stars of stage and screen, including Keegan-Michael Key!