Bay Area natives Mahershala Ali and Darren Criss nab 2019 Golden Globe Awards

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for "The Green Book" winner Mahershala Ali poses with the trophy during the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards on January 6, 2019, at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images less Best Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for "The Green Book" winner Mahershala Ali poses with the trophy during the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards on January 6, 2019, at the Beverly Hilton hotel ... more Photo: MARK RALSTON, AFP/Getty Images Photo: MARK RALSTON, AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 95 Caption Close Bay Area natives Mahershala Ali and Darren Criss nab 2019 Golden Globe Awards 1 / 95 Back to Gallery

Despite tough competition, San Francisco-raised actor Darren Criss and East Bay native Mahershala Ali took home Golden Globes for their respective categories at the 2019 event in Hollywood on Sunday night.

Ali beat out his fellow nominees in the best supporting actor category for "Green Book," and Criss won for his role as Andrew Cunanan, the antagonist at the center of FX's "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story."

Criss, who grew to fame in the ebullient musical hit show "Glee," told Variety last summer that the move to appear in a much darker role was actually a long time coming. After his Emmy nomination last year, he told the site that "had been waiting and working for this moment my entire life." Criss would go on to win the television award the following month.

RELATED: Hometown hero: Darren Criss wins Emmy for 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace'

Criss thanked his teachers, his fellow cast members and crew, and his mother, who he called a "firecracker." The win makes Criss the third youngest to ever win in the category of best actor in a limited series.

"The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" won awards for best limited series, best actor in a limited series (Criss), and was nominated for best supporting actress (Penelope Cruz), and best supporting actor (Edgar Ramirez).

RELATED: SF native Darren Criss says one dumb lie forced him to fake a British accent for four years

"Green Book" won the best musical or comedy award and was nominated in five categories, including best director. In the film, Ali plays Don Shirley, an African-American composer and jazz pianist who hires a bodyguard to escort him on a tour of the deep south. The win is Ali's first Golden Globe.

Taking the stage to accept the award, Ali thanked his co-star, Viggo Mortensen, and his family.

Speaking to Mortensen in the audience, Ali said, "You pushed me every day, no days off. Even the days off weren't days off. Thank you, brother, I love you."

"Lastly, I have to thank my wife, my mother and my grandmother," he added. "I thank you for your prayers, I've needed each and every one of them."

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.

