The HBO Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra won best movie-miniseries, best director and best actor prizes during Sunday's Emmy awards.

According to the film's director, Steven Soderbergh, HBO agreed to back the film after the production faced rejection from Hollywood.

“They said it was too gay,” Soderbergh previously said. “This is after Brokeback Mountain, by the way. I was stunned. It made no sense to any of us. Nobody would make it. Went to everybody in town.”

In Candelabra, Michael Douglas plays the late pianist, while Matt Damon plays Scott Thorson, Liberace's alleged lover.

In accepting his best actor prize, Douglas thanked his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and oldest son Cameron Douglas.

Douglas got a bit racy as he thanked his fellow nominee and co-star Damon, who was seated in the audience.

“This was a two-hander,” Douglas told Damon. “And you're only as good as your other hand. The only reason I'm standing here is because of you. You deserve half of this. So, you want the bottom or the top? The top? I figured that.”