Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |
| First awarded | 1954 |
| Currently held by | Josh O'Connor, The Crown (2021) |
| Website | emmys |
This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emmy Awards, leading actors in drama have competed alone. However, these dramatic performances included actors from miniseries, telefilms, and guest performers competing against main cast competitors. Such instances are marked below:
- # – Indicates a performance in a Miniseries or Television film, before the category's creation
- § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, before the category's creation
Winners and nominations[]
1950s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Male Star of a Regular Series | ||||
| 1954 (6th) [note 1] | ||||
| Donald O'Connor | Himself | The Colgate Comedy Hour | NBC | |
| Sid Caesar | Various characters | Your Show of Shows | NBC | |
| Wally Cox | Robinson Peepers | Mister Peepers | ||
| Jackie Gleason | Various characters | The Jackie Gleason Show | CBS | |
| Jack Webb | Joe Friday | Dragnet | NBC | |
| Best Actor Starring in a Regular Series | ||||
| 1955 (7th) [note 1] | ||||
| Danny Thomas | Danny Williams | Make Room for Daddy | ABC | |
| Richard Boone | Dr. Konrad Styner | Medic | NBC | |
| Robert Cummings | Robert Beanblossom | My Hero | ||
| Jackie Gleason | Various characters | The Jackie Gleason Show | CBS | |
| Jack Webb | Joe Friday | Dragnet | NBC | |
| Best Actor - Continuing Performance | ||||
| 1956 (8th) [note 1] | ||||
| Phil Silvers | MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko | The Phil Silvers Show | CBS | |
| Robert Cummings | Bob Collins | The Bob Cummings Show | CBS | |
| Jackie Gleason | Ralph Kramden | The Honeymooners | ||
| Danny Thomas | Danny Williams | Make Room for Daddy | ABC | |
| Robert Young | Jim Anderson | Father Knows Best | CBS | |
| Best Continuing Performance by an Actor | ||||
| 1957 (9th) | ||||
| Robert Young | Jim Anderson | Father Knows Best | NBC | |
| James Arness | Matt Dillon | Gunsmoke | CBS | |
| Charles Boyer | Various characters | Four Star Playhouse | ||
| David Niven | ||||
| Hugh O'Brian | Wyatt Earp | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | ABC | |
| Best Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series | ||||
| 1958 (10th) [note 1] | ||||
| Robert Young | Jim Anderson | Father Knows Best | NBC | |
| James Arness | Matt Dillon | Gunsmoke | CBS | |
| Robert Cummings | Bob Collins | The Bob Cummings Show | ||
| Phil Silvers | MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko | The Phil Silvers Show | ||
| Danny Thomas | Danny Williams | The Danny Thomas Show | ABC & CBS | |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series | ||||
| 1959 (11th) | ||||
| Raymond Burr | Perry Mason | Perry Mason | CBS | |
| James Arness | Matt Dillon | Gunsmoke | CBS | |
| Richard Boone | Paladin | Have Gun – Will Travel | ||
| James Garner | Bret Maverick | Maverick | ABC | |
| Craig Stevens | Peter Gunn | Peter Gunn | NBC | |
| Efrem Zimbalist Jr. | Stuart Bailey | 77 Sunset Strip | ABC | |
1960s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead or Support) | ||||
| 1960 (12th) [note 1] | ||||
| Robert Stack | Eliot Ness | The Untouchables | ABC | |
| Richard Boone | Paladin | Have Gun – Will Travel | CBS | |
| Raymond Burr | Perry Mason | Perry Mason | ||
| Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead) | ||||
| 1961 (13th) [note 1] | ||||
| Raymond Burr | Perry Mason | Perry Mason | CBS | |
| Jackie Cooper | Chick Hennesey | Hennesey | CBS | |
| Robert Stack | Eliot Ness | The Untouchables | ABC | |
| Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead) | ||||
| 1962 (14th) [note 1] | ||||
| E. G. Marshall | Lawrence Preston | The Defenders | CBS | |
| Paul Burke | Det. Adam Flint | Naked City | ABC | |
| Jackie Cooper | Chick Hennesey | Hennesey | CBS | |
| Vince Edwards | Ben Casey | Ben Casey | ABC | |
| George Maharis | Buz Murdock | Route 66 | CBS | |
| 1963 (15th) [note 1] | ||||
| E. G. Marshall | Lawrence Preston | The Defenders | CBS | |
| Ernest Borgnine | Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale | McHale's Navy | ABC | |
| Paul Burke | Det. Adam Flint | Naked City | ||
| Vic Morrow | Sgt. Sanders | Combat! | ||
| Dick Van Dyke | Rob Petrie | The Dick Van Dyke Show | CBS | |
| 1964 (16th) [note 1] | ||||
| Dick Van Dyke | Rob Petrie | The Dick Van Dyke Show | CBS | |
| Richard Boone | Various characters | The Richard Boone Show | NBC | |
| Dean Jagger | Principal Albert Vane | Mr. Novak | ||
| David Janssen | Dr. Richard Kimble | The Fugitive | ABC | |
| George C. Scott | Neil Brock | East Side/West Side | CBS | |
| Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Actors and Performers | ||||
| 1965 (17th) | ||||
| Leonard Bernstein | Conductor | New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein | CBS | |
| Lynn Fontanne | Fanny Bowditch Holmes | Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee" | NBC | |
| Alfred Lunt | Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. | |||
| Barbra Streisand | Herself | My Name Is Barbra | CBS | |
| Dick Van Dyke | Rob Petrie | The Dick Van Dyke Show | ||
| Julie Andrews | Herself | The Andy Williams Show: "November 30, 1964" | NBC | |
| Johnny Carson | Host | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | ||
| Gladys Cooper | Margaret St. Clair | The Rogues | ||
| Robert Coote | Timmy St. Clair | |||
| Richard Crenna | James Slattery | Slattery's People | CBS | |
| Julie Harris | Florence Nightingale | Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Holy Terror" | NBC | |
| Bob Hope | Himself | Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special | ||
| Dean Jagger | Principal Albert Vane | Mr. Novak | ||
| Danny Kaye | Host | The Danny Kaye Show | CBS | |
| David McCallum | Illya Kuryakin | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | NBC | |
| Red Skelton | Himself | The Red Skelton Hour | CBS | |
| Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series | ||||
| 1966 (18th) | ||||
| Bill Cosby | Alexander Scott | I Spy | NBC | |
| Richard Crenna | James Slattery | Slattery's People | CBS | |
| Robert Culp | Kelly Robinson | I Spy | NBC | |
| David Janssen | Dr. Richard Kimble | The Fugitive | ABC | |
| David McCallum | Illya Kuryakin | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | NBC | |
| 1967 (19th) | ||||
| Bill Cosby | Alexander Scott | I Spy | NBC | |
| Robert Culp | Kelly Robinson | I Spy | NBC | |
| Ben Gazzara | Paul Bryan | Run for Your Life | NBC | |
| David Janssen | Dr. Richard Kimble | The Fugitive | ABC | |
| Martin Landau | Rollin Hand | Mission: Impossible | CBS | |
| 1968 (20th) | ||||
| Bill Cosby | Alexander Scott | I Spy | NBC | |
| Raymond Burr | Robert T. Ironside | Ironside | NBC | |
| Robert Culp | Kelly Robinson | I Spy | ||
| Ben Gazzara | Paul Bryan | Run for Your Life | ||
| Martin Landau | Rollin Hand | Mission: Impossible | CBS | |
| 1969 (21st) | ||||
| Carl Betz | Clinton Judd | Judd, for the Defense | ABC | |
| Raymond Burr | Robert T. Ironside | Ironside | NBC | |
| Peter Graves | Jim Phelps | Mission: Impossible | CBS | |
| Martin Landau | Rollin Hand | |||
| Ross Martin | Artemus Gordon | The Wild Wild West | ||
1970s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 (22nd) | ||||
| Robert Young | Dr. Marcus Welby | Marcus Welby, M.D. | ABC | |
| Raymond Burr | Robert T. Ironside | Ironside | NBC | |
| Mike Connors | Joe Mannix | Mannix | CBS | |
| Robert Wagner | Al Mundy | It Takes a Thief | ABC | |
| 1971 (23rd) | ||||
| Hal Holbrook | Hays Stowe | The Bold Ones: The Senator | NBC | |
| Raymond Burr | Robert T. Ironside | Ironside | NBC | |
| Mike Connors | Joe Mannix | Mannix | CBS | |
| Robert Young | Dr. Marcus Welby | Marcus Welby, M.D. | ABC | |
| 1972 (24th) | ||||
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | NBC | |
| Raymond Burr | Robert T. Ironside | Ironside | NBC | |
| Mike Connors | Joe Mannix | Mannix | CBS | |
| Keith Michell # | Henry VIII of England | The Six Wives of Henry VIII | ||
| Robert Young | Dr. Marcus Welby | Marcus Welby, M.D. | ABC | |
| 1973 (25th) | ||||
| Richard Thomas | John-Boy Walton | The Waltons | CBS | |
| David Carradine | Kwai Chang Caine | Kung Fu | ABC | |
| Mike Connors | Joe Mannix | Mannix | CBS | |
| William Conrad | Frank Cannon | Cannon | ||
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | NBC | |
| 1974 (26th) | ||||
| Telly Savalas | Lt. Theo Kojak | Kojak | CBS | |
| William Conrad | Frank Cannon | Cannon | CBS | |
| Karl Malden | Lt. Mike Stone | The Streets of San Francisco | ABC | |
| Richard Thomas | John-Boy Walton | The Waltons | CBS | |
| 1975 (27th) | ||||
| Robert Blake | Det. Tony Baretta | Baretta | ABC | |
| Karl Malden | Lt. Mike Stone | The Streets of San Francisco | ABC | |
| Barry Newman | Anthony J. Petrocelli | Petrocelli | NBC | |
| Telly Savalas | Lt. Theo Kojak | Kojak | CBS | |
| 1976 (28th) | ||||
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | NBC | |
| James Garner | Jim Rockford | The Rockford Files | NBC | |
| Karl Malden | Lt. Mike Stone | The Streets of San Francisco | ABC | |
| 1977 (29th) | ||||
| James Garner | Jim Rockford | The Rockford Files | NBC | |
| Robert Blake | Det. Tony Baretta | Baretta | ABC | |
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | NBC | |
| Jack Klugman | Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. | ||
| Karl Malden | Lt. Mike Stone | The Streets of San Francisco | ABC | |
| 1978 (30th) | ||||
| Ed Asner | Lou Grant | Lou Grant | CBS | |
| James Broderick | Doug Lawrence | Family | ABC | |
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | NBC | |
| James Garner | Jim Rockford | The Rockford Files | ||
| Jack Klugman | Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. | ||
| Ralph Waite | John Walton, Sr. | The Waltons | CBS | |
| 1979 (31st) | ||||
| Ron Leibman | Kazinsky | Kaz | CBS | |
| Ed Asner | Lou Grant | Lou Grant | CBS | |
| James Garner | Jim Rockford | The Rockford Files | NBC | |
| Jack Klugman | Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |
1980s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 (32nd) | ||||
| Ed Asner | Lou Grant | Lou Grant | CBS | |
| James Garner | Jim Rockford | The Rockford Files | NBC | |
| Larry Hagman | J. R. Ewing | Dallas | CBS | |
| Jack Klugman | R. Quincy | Quincy, M.E. | NBC | |
| 1981 (33rd) | ||||
| Daniel J. Travanti | Frank Furillo | Hill Street Blues | NBC | |
| Ed Asner | Lou Grant | Lou Grant | CBS | |
| Jim Davis (posthumously) | Jock Ewing | Dallas | ||
| Louis Gossett Jr. § | Bessie's Father | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | ||
| Larry Hagman | J. R. Ewing | Dallas | ||
| Pernell Roberts | Trapper John McIntyre | Trapper John, M.D. | ||
| 1982 (34th) | ||||
| Daniel J. Travanti | Frank Furillo | Hill Street Blues | NBC | |
| Ed Asner | Lou Grant | Lou Grant | CBS | |
| John Forsythe | Blake Carrington | Dynasty | ABC | |
| James Garner | Bret Maverick | Bret Maverick | NBC | |
| Tom Selleck | Thomas Magnum | Magnum, P.I. | CBS | |
| 1983 (35th) | ||||
| Ed Flanders | Donald Westphall | St. Elsewhere | NBC | |
| William Daniels | Mark Craig | St. Elsewhere | NBC | |
| John Forsythe | Blake Carrington | Dynasty | ABC | |
| Tom Selleck | Thomas Magnum | Magnum, P.I. | CBS | |
| Daniel J. Travanti | Frank Furillo | Hill Street Blues | NBC | |
| 1984 (36th) [1] | ||||
| Tom Selleck | Thomas Magnum | Magnum, P.I. | CBS | |
| William Daniels | Mark Craig | St. Elsewhere | NBC | |
| Ed Flanders | Donald Westphall | |||
| John Forsythe | Blake Carrington | Dynasty | ABC | |
| Daniel J. Travanti | Frank Furillo | Hill Street Blues | NBC | |
| 1985 (37th) | ||||
| William Daniels | Mark Craig | St. Elsewhere | NBC | |
| Ed Flanders | Donald Westphall | St. Elsewhere | NBC | |
| Don Johnson | Sonny Crockett | Miami Vice | ||
| Tom Selleck | Thomas Magnum | Magnum, P.I. | CBS | |
| Daniel J. Travanti | Frank Furillo | Hill Street Blues | NBC | |
| 1986 (38th) | ||||
| William Daniels | Mark Craig | St. Elsewhere | NBC | |
| Ed Flanders | Donald Westphall | St. Elsewhere | NBC | |
| Tom Selleck | Thomas Magnum | Magnum, P.I. | CBS | |
| Bruce Willis | David Addison | Moonlighting | ABC | |
| Edward Woodward | Robert McCall | The Equalizer | CBS | |
| 1987 (39th) | ||||
| Bruce Willis | David Addison | Moonlighting | ABC | |
| Corbin Bernsen | Arnie Becker | L.A. Law | NBC | |
| William Daniels | Mark Craig | St. Elsewhere | ||
| Ed Flanders | Donald Westphall | |||
| Edward Woodward | Robert McCall | The Equalizer | CBS | |
| 1988 (40th) | ||||
| Richard Kiley | Joe Gardner | A Year in the Life | NBC | |
| Corbin Bernsen | Arnie Becker | L.A. Law | NBC | |
| Ron Perlman | Vincent | Beauty and the Beast | CBS | |
| Michael Tucker | Stuart Markowitz | L.A. Law | NBC | |
| Edward Woodward | Robert McCall | The Equalizer | CBS | |
| 1989 (41st) | ||||
| Carroll O'Connor | Bill Gillespie | In the Heat of the Night | NBC | |
| Ron Perlman | Vincent | Beauty and the Beast | CBS | |
| Michael Tucker | Stuart Markowitz | L.A. Law | NBC | |
| Ken Wahl | Vinnie Terranova | Wiseguy | CBS | |
| Edward Woodward | Robert McCall | The Equalizer |
1990s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 (42nd) | ||||
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | ABC | |
| Scott Bakula | Sam Beckett | Quantum Leap | NBC | |
| Robert Loggia | Nick Mancuso | Mancuso, F.B.I. | ||
| Kyle MacLachlan | Dale Cooper | Twin Peaks | ABC | |
| Edward Woodward | Robert McCall | The Equalizer | CBS | |
| 1991 (43rd) | ||||
| James Earl Jones | Gabriel Bird | Gabriel's Fire | ABC | |
| Scott Bakula | Sam Beckett | Quantum Leap | NBC | |
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | ABC | |
| Kyle MacLachlan | Dale Cooper | Twin Peaks | ||
| Michael Moriarty | Benjamin Stone | Law & Order | NBC | |
| 1992 (44th) | ||||
| Christopher Lloyd § | Alistair Dimple | Road to Avonlea | Disney Channel | |
| Scott Bakula | Sam Beckett | Quantum Leap | NBC | |
| Kirk Douglas § | General Kalthrob | Tales from the Crypt | HBO | |
| Michael Moriarty | Benjamin Stone | Law & Order | NBC | |
| Rob Morrow | Joel Fleischman | Northern Exposure | CBS | |
| Harrison Page § | Reverend Walters | Quantum Leap | NBC | |
| Sam Waterston | Forrest Bedford | I'll Fly Away | ||
| 1993 (45th) | ||||
| Tom Skerritt | Jimmy Brock | Picket Fences | CBS | |
| Scott Bakula | Sam Beckett | Quantum Leap | NBC | |
| Michael Moriarty | Benjamin Stone | Law & Order | ||
| Rob Morrow | Joel Fleischman | Northern Exposure | CBS | |
| Sam Waterston | Forrest Bedford | I'll Fly Away | NBC | |
| 1994 (46th) | ||||
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| David Caruso | John Kelly | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| Peter Falk | Columbo | Columbo | ||
| Michael Moriarty | Benjamin Stone | Law & Order | NBC | |
| Tom Skerritt | Jimmy Brock | Picket Fences | CBS | |
| 1995 (47th) | ||||
| Mandy Patinkin | Jeffrey Geiger | Chicago Hope | CBS | |
| George Clooney | Doug Ross | ER | NBC | |
| Anthony Edwards | Mark Greene | |||
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| Jimmy Smits | Bobby Simone | |||
| 1996 (48th) | ||||
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| Andre Braugher | Frank Pembleton | Homicide: Life on the Street | NBC | |
| George Clooney | Doug Ross | ER | ||
| Anthony Edwards | Mark Greene | |||
| Jimmy Smits | Bobby Simone | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| 1997 (49th) | ||||
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| David Duchovny | Fox Mulder | The X-Files | Fox | |
| Anthony Edwards | Mark Greene | ER | NBC | |
| Jimmy Smits | Bobby Simone | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| Sam Waterston | Jack McCoy | Law & Order | NBC | |
| 1998 (50th) | ||||
| Andre Braugher | Frank Pembleton | Homicide: Life on the Street | NBC | |
| David Duchovny | Fox Mulder | The X-Files | Fox | |
| Anthony Edwards | Mark Greene | ER | NBC | |
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| Jimmy Smits | Bobby Simone | |||
| 1999 (51st) | ||||
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| James Gandolfini | Tony Soprano | The Sopranos | HBO | |
| Dylan McDermott | Bobby Donnell | The Practice | ABC | |
| Jimmy Smits | Bobby Simone | NYPD Blue | ||
| Sam Waterston | Jack McCoy | Law & Order | NBC |
2000s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 (52nd) | ||||
| James Gandolfini | Tony Soprano | The Sopranos | HBO | |
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ABC | |
| Jerry Orbach | Lennie Briscoe | Law & Order | NBC | |
| Martin Sheen | Josiah Bartlet | The West Wing | ||
| Sam Waterston | Jack McCoy | Law & Order | ||
| 2001 (53rd) | ||||
| James Gandolfini | Tony Soprano | The Sopranos | HBO | |
| Andre Braugher | Dr. Ben Gideon | Gideon's Crossing | ABC | |
| Dennis Franz | Andy Sipowicz | NYPD Blue | ||
| Rob Lowe | Sam Seaborn | The West Wing | NBC | |
| Martin Sheen | Josiah Bartlet | |||
| 2002 (54th) | ||||
| Michael Chiklis | Vic Mackey | The Shield | FX | |
| Michael C. Hall | David Fisher | Six Feet Under | HBO | |
| Peter Krause | Nate Fisher | |||
| Martin Sheen | Josiah Bartlet | The West Wing | NBC | |
| Kiefer Sutherland | Jack Bauer | 24 | Fox | |
| 2003 (55th) | ||||
| James Gandolfini | Tony Soprano | The Sopranos | HBO | |
| Michael Chiklis | Vic Mackey | The Shield | FX | |
| Peter Krause | Nate Fisher | Six Feet Under | HBO | |
| Martin Sheen | Josiah Bartlet | The West Wing | NBC | |
| Kiefer Sutherland | Jack Bauer | 24 | Fox | |
| 2004 (56th) | ||||
| James Spader | Alan Shore | The Practice | ABC | |
| James Gandolfini | Tony Soprano | The Sopranos | HBO | |
| Anthony LaPaglia | Jack Malone | Without a Trace | CBS | |
| Martin Sheen | Josiah Bartlet | The West Wing | NBC | |
| Kiefer Sutherland | Jack Bauer | 24 | Fox | |
| 2005 (57th) | ||||
| James Spader | Alan Shore | Boston Legal | ABC | |
| Hank Azaria | Dr. Craig "Huff" Huffstodt | Huff | Showtime | |
| Hugh Laurie | Gregory House | House | Fox | |
| Ian McShane | Al Swearengen | Deadwood | HBO | |
| Kiefer Sutherland | Jack Bauer | 24 | Fox | |
| 2006 (58th) | ||||
| Kiefer Sutherland | Jack Bauer | 24 | Fox | |
| Peter Krause | Nate Fisher | Six Feet Under | HBO | |
| Denis Leary | Tommy Gavin | Rescue Me | FX | |
| Christopher Meloni | Elliot Stabler | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | NBC | |
| Martin Sheen | Josiah Bartlet | The West Wing | ||
| 2007 (59th) | ||||
| James Spader | Alan Shore | Boston Legal | ABC | |
| James Gandolfini | Tony Soprano | The Sopranos | HBO | |
| Hugh Laurie | Gregory House | House | Fox | |
| Denis Leary | Tommy Gavin | Rescue Me | FX | |
| Kiefer Sutherland | Jack Bauer | 24 | Fox | |
| 2008 (60th) | ||||
| Bryan Cranston | Walter White | Breaking Bad | AMC | |
| Gabriel Byrne | Paul Weston | In Treatment | HBO | |
| Michael C. Hall | Dexter Morgan | Dexter | Showtime | |
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | AMC | |
| Hugh Laurie | Gregory House | House | Fox | |
| James Spader | Alan Shore | Boston Legal | ABC | |
| 2009 (61st) | ||||
| Bryan Cranston | Walter White | Breaking Bad | AMC | |
| Simon Baker | Patrick Jane | The Mentalist | CBS | |
| Gabriel Byrne | Paul Weston | In Treatment | HBO | |
| Michael C. Hall | Dexter Morgan | Dexter | Showtime | |
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | AMC | |
| Hugh Laurie | Gregory House | House | Fox |
2010s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 (62nd) [2] | ||||
| Bryan Cranston | Walter White | Breaking Bad | AMC | |
| Kyle Chandler | Eric Taylor | Friday Night Lights | DirecTV | |
| Matthew Fox | Jack Shephard | Lost | ABC | |
| Michael C. Hall | Dexter Morgan | Dexter | Showtime | |
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | AMC | |
| Hugh Laurie | Gregory House | House | Fox | |
| 2011 (63rd) [3] | ||||
| Kyle Chandler | Eric Taylor | Friday Night Lights | DirecTV | |
| Steve Buscemi | Nucky Thompson | Boardwalk Empire | HBO | |
| Michael C. Hall | Dexter Morgan | Dexter | Showtime | |
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | AMC | |
| Hugh Laurie | Gregory House | House | Fox | |
| Timothy Olyphant | Raylan Givens | Justified | FX | |
| 2012 (64th) [4] | ||||
| Damian Lewis | Nicholas Brody | Homeland | Showtime | |
| Hugh Bonneville | Robert Crawley | Downton Abbey | PBS | |
| Steve Buscemi | Nucky Thompson | Boardwalk Empire | HBO | |
| Bryan Cranston | Walter White | Breaking Bad | AMC | |
| Michael C. Hall | Dexter Morgan | Dexter | Showtime | |
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | AMC | |
| 2013 (65th) [5] | ||||
| Jeff Daniels | Will McAvoy | The Newsroom | HBO | |
| Hugh Bonneville | Robert Crawley | Downton Abbey | PBS | |
| Bryan Cranston | Walter White | Breaking Bad | AMC | |
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | ||
| Damian Lewis | Nicholas Brody | Homeland | Showtime | |
| Kevin Spacey | Frank Underwood | House of Cards | Netflix | |
| 2014 (66th) [6] | ||||
| Bryan Cranston | Walter White | Breaking Bad | AMC | |
| Jeff Daniels | Will McAvoy | The Newsroom | HBO | |
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | AMC | |
| Woody Harrelson | Martin Hart | True Detective | HBO | |
| Matthew McConaughey | Rust Cohle | |||
| Kevin Spacey | Frank Underwood | House of Cards | Netflix | |
| 2015 (67th) [7] | ||||
| Jon Hamm | Don Draper | Mad Men | AMC | |
| Kyle Chandler | John Rayburn | Bloodline | Netflix | |
| Jeff Daniels | Will McAvoy | The Newsroom | HBO | |
| Bob Odenkirk | Jimmy McGill | Better Call Saul | AMC | |
| Liev Schreiber | Ray Donovan | Ray Donovan | Showtime | |
| Kevin Spacey | Frank Underwood | House of Cards | Netflix | |
| 2016 (68th) [8] | ||||
| Rami Malek | Elliot Alderson | Mr. Robot | USA | |
| Kyle Chandler | John Rayburn | Bloodline | Netflix | |
| Bob Odenkirk | Jimmy McGill | Better Call Saul | AMC | |
| Matthew Rhys | Philip Jennings | The Americans | FX | |
| Liev Schreiber | Ray Donovan | Ray Donovan | Showtime | |
| Kevin Spacey | Frank Underwood | House of Cards | Netflix | |
| 2017 (69th) [9] | ||||
| Sterling K. Brown | Randall Pearson | This Is Us | NBC | |
| Anthony Hopkins | Dr. Robert Ford | Westworld | HBO | |
| Bob Odenkirk | Jimmy McGill | Better Call Saul | AMC | |
| Matthew Rhys | Philip Jennings | The Americans | FX | |
| Liev Schreiber | Ray Donovan | Ray Donovan | Showtime | |
| Kevin Spacey | Frank Underwood | House of Cards | Netflix | |
| Milo Ventimiglia | Jack Pearson | This Is Us | NBC | |
| 2018 (70th) [10] | ||||
| Matthew Rhys | Philip Jennings | The Americans | FX | |
| Jason Bateman | Martin "Marty" Byrde | Ozark | Netflix | |
| Sterling K. Brown | Randall Pearson | This Is Us | NBC | |
| Ed Harris | The Man in Black / William | Westworld | HBO | |
| Milo Ventimiglia | Jack Pearson | This Is Us | NBC | |
| Jeffrey Wright | Bernard Lowe | Westworld | HBO | |
| 2019 (71st) | ||||
| Billy Porter | Pray Tell | Pose | FX | |
| Jason Bateman | Martin "Marty" Byrde | Ozark | Netflix | |
| Sterling K. Brown | Randall Pearson | This Is Us | NBC | |
| Kit Harington | Jon Snow | Game of Thrones | HBO | |
| Bob Odenkirk | Jimmy McGill | Better Call Saul | AMC | |
| Milo Ventimiglia | Jack Pearson | This Is Us | NBC |
2020s[]
| Year | Actor | Role | Program | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (72nd) [11] | ||||
| Jeremy Strong | Kendall Roy | Succession | HBO | |
| Jason Bateman | Martin "Marty" Byrde | Ozark | Netflix | |
| Sterling K. Brown | Randall Pearson | This Is Us | NBC | |
| Steve Carell | Mitch Kessler | The Morning Show | Apple TV+ | |
| Brian Cox | Logan Roy | Succession | HBO | |
| Billy Porter | Pray Tell | Pose | FX | |
| 2021 (73rd) [12] | ||||
| Josh O'Connor | Prince Charles | The Crown | Netflix | |
| Sterling K. Brown | Randall Pearson | This Is Us | NBC | |
| Jonathan Majors | Atticus Freeman | Lovecraft Country | HBO | |
| Regé-Jean Page | Simon Bassett | Bridgerton | Netflix | |
| Billy Porter | Pray Tell | Pose | FX | |
| Matthew Rhys | Perry Mason | Perry Mason | HBO |
Programs with multiple wins[]
|
|
Programs with multiple nominations[]
|
|
|
Performers with multiple wins[]
|
|
Performers with multiple nominations[]
|
|
|
See also[]
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "Boone, Mike. "The Emmy List: Here's the Best in Television". The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
Categories:
- Primetime Emmy Awards
- Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Television awards for Best Actor