Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson delivered a poignant and heartfelt tribute to his late assistant director and close friend, Adam Somner, during his acceptance speech at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards.
A Bittersweet Victory for Anderson
The 55-year-old director was honoured with the award for Best Director for his film 'One Battle After Another'. While celebrating the win, Anderson immediately turned the spotlight to Somner, who passed away in 2024 at age 57 following a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer. Somner had worked on the critically-acclaimed movie prior to his death.
In his speech, Anderson stated that Somner was the fundamental reason for his success that evening. "There's an unfortunate title to the people that we work with, assistant director, 'cause that's inaccurate," Anderson told the audience. "If you get a good one, like I had, I had the best one, his name was Adam Somner... He's why I'm standing here."
He elaborated on Somner's immense contribution, saying his role was vastly undersold and that he was "what made making this so much fun." Anderson also acknowledged that many in the room, including Steven Spielberg, knew and admired Somner's work.
A Legendary Collaboration and Friendship
The professional partnership between Anderson and Somner spanned multiple landmark projects, including 'Licorice Pizza', 'Phantom Thread', and 'There Will Be Blood'. Their bond extended far beyond the film set, blossoming into a deep personal friendship. Anderson had the honour of officiating Somner's wedding in 2011.
Following Somner's passing, Anderson released a powerful statement praising his friend's unparalleled dedication. "Adam loved making films more than anyone else ever in the history of the movie business. It was food and drink to him," Anderson expressed. He described Somner's genius for logistics and his calming presence, noting he "made everyone who worked with him feel safe."
Anderson placed Somner in the highest echelon, stating, "I would rank him in the Kobe Bryant, Mick Jagger, Winston Churchill category of Legends. And that would be under-selling it."
Somner's Storied Career in Film
Adam Somner enjoyed a prolific and respected career spanning decades, collaborating with some of cinema's greatest directors. His filmography as a first assistant director is a roll-call of modern classics:
- Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023)
- West Side Story (2021)
- Ford v Ferrari (2019)
- The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
- Lincoln (2012)
- War Horse (2011)
- The Revenant (2015)
His earliest credit as an assistant director was on Steven Spielberg's 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' in 1989. In total, he accumulated 20 producer credits and worked with luminaries including Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and Steve McQueen.
'One Battle After Another' was the triumphant winner of the night, securing four Golden Globes including Best Picture - Comedy or Musical and Best Screenplay, also for Anderson. The film's success served as a fitting, if bittersweet, testament to the collaborative spirit and profound friendship between the director and his indispensable colleague, Adam Somner.
