The past week of Emmys ended up being good for "Dexter," even if it didn't mean a trophy for best series or lead actor.

Steve Shill, who directed "The Getaway" for "Dexter," won the Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series. It was Shill's first nomination, and his first win. He got his start in the 1995 British series "Performance" with the likes of Ian Holm and Colin Firth, and has been a busy director since then.

Shill has directed 24 episodes in the Law & Order franchise and five episodes of "Dexter," beginning with "Circle of Friends." In all, Shill has directed 102 television episodes over his career of various television shows in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Also getting a win was John Lithgow as Arthur Mitchell in the "Dexter" episode "Road Kill" for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Lithgow has been nominated for an Emmy 11 times as an actor, winning five times, beginning with "Amazing Stories" in 1985 for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series. Lithgow won the award three times for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for "3rd Rock from the Sun," a role which marked his last nomination until "Dexter" in 2001.

"Dexter" star Michael C. Hall had a tougher road, however, losing out Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series to Bryan Cranston from AMC's "Breaking Bad." Hall has been nominated for an Emmy four times, three for "Dexter," but has yet to win the coveted prize.

"Dexter" also had to take a back seat -- along with HBO's "True Blood" -- for Outstanding Drama Series to "Mad Men," which won the top award for the third year in a row.

"True Blood" had a chance at a couple more technical Emmys, but lost out to "The Tudors" on HBO for Outstanding Direction for a Single-Camera Series and to "Mad Men" for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. "Dexter" also was nominated in the latter category.

For a complete list of this year's winners and nominees, click here.