Canadian actor Christopher Plummer took home the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Sunday night at the 69th Annual Golden Globes in Beverly Hills. The 82-year-old won for his role in Beginners as Hal Fields, who at 75 years old comes out of the closet after his wife dies, begins exploring life as a gay man, and is then diagnosed with terminal cancer. The film also follows Hal’s relationship with his son, Oliver, played by Ewen McGregor.

The award marks Plummer’s first career Golden Globe win.

In his speech, Plummer thanked co-star McGregor, saying, “I want to salute my partner, Ewen, that wily Scott, Ewen my-heart’s-in-the-Highlands Macgregor – that scene stealing swine.”

He also gave a “21-gun salute” to writer and director Michael Mills.

Plummer was this year nominated for Best Supporting Male Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards for the same role, and last year won at the Gotham Awards as part of Best Ensemble Cast for Beginners.

Miranda de Pencier, Lars Knudsen, Leslie Urdang, Jay Van Hoy and Dean Vanech produce. Fran Giblin and Geoff Linville are co-producers. Joan Scheckel is executive producer.

Beginners is produced by Olympus Pictures, in association with Parts and Labour and Northwood Productions, and distributed by Alliance Films in Canada and Focus Features in the U.S.

Photo: Christopher Plummer in Beginners / Focus Features