The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards

By Kati Johnston
Special to MSN Entertainment

The energy surrounding the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards is palpable, and due in no small part to how creative TV of every stripe has become. We've spent the summer tipsy on our Sally Draper-made ... morehighballs toasting "Mad Men," feasting on the hunter soufflé of "True Blood" and catching up on missed episodes of "30 Rock" -- preparing to root for our favorites on Emmy night.

But winning an Emmy (or several), or being part of a majorly honored show, doesn't always guarantee a lifetime career for a talented actor. Some big Emmy winners have moved into other fields; some have cool-sounding new shows coming up; others have faded from view. Here's a look at some past Emmy honorees, and what they're putting those considerable talents to now.

(Getty Images Entertainment)