Tony award for Best Actor in a Musical - wikipedia Tony award for Best Actor in a Musical Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical Awarded for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Location New York City Presented by American Theatre Wing The Broadway League Currently held by Tony Shalhoub for The Band 's Visit ( 2018 ) Website TonyAwards.com The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956. Contents 1 Winners and nominees 1.1 1940s 1.2 1950s 1.3 1960s 1.4 1970s 1.5 1980s 1.6 1990s 1.7 2000s 1.8 2010s 2 Award records 2.1 Multiple wins 2.2 Multiple nominations 3 Multiple character wins 4 Multiple character nominations 5 Productions with multiple nominations 6 Facts 7 References 8 External links Winners and nominees indicates the winner 1940s Year Actor Musical Character 1947 1st Tony Awards N / A 1948 2nd Tony Awards Paul Hartman Angel in the Wings Various Characters 1949 3rd Tony Awards Ray Bolger Where 's Charley ? Charley Wykeham 1950s Year Actor Musical Character 1950 4th Tony Awards Ezio Pinza South Pacific Emile De Beque 1951 5th Tony Awards Robert Alda Guys and Dolls Sky Masterson 1952 6th Tony Awards Phil Silvers Top Banana Jerry Biffle 1953 7th Tony Awards Thomas Mitchell Hazel Flagg Dr. Downer 1954 8th Tony Awards Alfred Drake Kismet Hajj 1955 9th Tony Awards Walter Slezak Fanny Panisse 1956 10th Tony Awards Ray Walston Damn Yankees Mr. Applegate Stephen Douglass Damn Yankees Joe Hardy Bill Johnson Pipe Dream Doc 1957 11th Tony Awards Rex Harrison My Fair Lady Henry Higgins Fernando Lamas Happy Hunting Duke of Granada Robert Weede The Most Happy Fella Tony 1958 12th Tony Awards Robert Preston The Music Man Harold Hill Ricardo Montalbán Jamaica Koli Eddie Foy, Jr. Rumple Rumple Tony Randall Oh, Captain ! Captain Henry St. James 1959 13th Tony Awards Richard Kiley Redhead Tom Baxter Larry Blyden Flower Drum Song Sammy Fong 1960s Year Actor Musical Character 1960 14th Tony Awards Jackie Gleason Take Me Along Sid Davis Robert Morse Take Me Along Richard Miller Walter Pidgeon Nat Miller Andy Griffith Destry Rides Again Destry Anthony Perkins Greenwillow Gideon Briggs 1961 15th Tony Awards Richard Burton Camelot Arthur Phil Silvers Do Re Mi Hubert Cram Maurice Evans Tenderloin Reverend Brock 1962 16th Tony Awards Robert Morse How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch Ray Bolger All - American Professor Fodorski Alfred Drake Kean Edmund Kean Richard Kiley No Strings David Jordan 1963 17th Tony Awards Zero Mostel A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Pseudolus Sid Caesar Little Me Various Characters Anthony Newley Stop the World -- I Want to Get Off Littlechap Clive Revill Oliver ! Fagin 1964 18th Tony Awards Bert Lahr Foxy Foxy Sydney Chaplin Funny Girl Nick Arnstein Bob Fosse Pal Joey Joey Evans Steve Lawrence What Makes Sammy Run ? Sammy Glick 1965 19th Tony Awards Zero Mostel Fiddler on the Roof Tevye Sammy Davis, Jr. Golden Boy Joe Wellington Cyril Ritchard The Roar of the Greasepaint -- The Smell of the Crowd Sir Tommy Steele Half a Sixpence Arthur Kipps 1966 20th Tony Awards Richard Kiley Man of La Mancha Don Quixote / Cervantes Jack Cassidy It 's a Bird... It 's a Plane... It 's Superman Max Mencken John Cullum On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Dr. Mark Bruckner Harry Secombe Pickwick Pickwick 1967 21st Tony Awards Robert Preston I Do ! I Do ! Michael Alan Alda The Apple Tree Various Characters Jack Gilford Cabaret Herr Schultz Norman Wisdom Walking Happy Will Mossop 1968 22nd Tony Awards Robert Goulet The Happy Time ' Jacques Bonnard Robert Hooks Hallelujah, Baby ! Clem Tony Roberts How Now, Dow Jones Charley David Wayne The Happy Time Grandpere Bonnard 1969 23rd Tony Awards Jerry Orbach Promises, Promises Chuck Baxter Herschel Bernardi Zorba Zorba Jack Cassidy Maggie Flynn The Clown Joel Grey George M ! George M. Cohan 1970s Year Actor Musical Character 1970 24th Tony Awards Cleavon Little Purlie Purlie Len Cariou Applause Bill Sampson Robert Weede Cry for Us All Edward Quinn 1971 25th Tony Awards Hal Linden The Rothschilds Mayer Rothschild David Burns Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen Col. Wainwright Purdy III Larry Kert Company Bobby Bobby Van No, No, Nanette Billy Early 1972 26th Tony Awards Phil Silvers A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Pseudolus Clifton Davis Two Gentlemen of Verona Valentine Raúl Juliá Proteus Barry Bostwick Grease Danny Zuko 1973 27th Tony Awards Ben Vereen Pippin The Leading Player Len Cariou A Little Night Music Frederick Egerman Robert Morse Sugar Jerry Brock Peters Lost in the Stars Stephen Kumalo 28th Tony Awards Christopher Plummer Cyrano Cyrano de Bergerac Alfred Drake Gigi Honore Lachailles Joe Morton Raisin Walter Lee Younger Lewis J. Stadlen Candide Various Characters 29th Tony Awards John Cullum Shenandoah Charlie Anderson Joel Grey Goodtime Charley Charley Raúl Juliá Where 's Charley ? Charley Wykeham Eddie Mekka The Lieutenant Lieutenant Robert Preston Mack & Mabel Mack Sennett 1976 30th Tony Awards George Rose My Fair Lady Alfred P. Doolittle Mako Pacific Overtures Various Characters Jerry Orbach Chicago Billy Flynn Ian Richardson My Fair Lady Henry Higgins 1977 31st Tony Awards Barry Bostwick The Robber Bridegroom Jamie Lockhart Robert Guillaume Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Raúl Juliá The Threepenny Opera Macheath Reid Shelton Annie Oliver Warbucks 1978 32nd Tony Awards John Cullum On the Twentieth Century Oscar Jaffee Eddie Bracken Hello, Dolly ! Horace Vandergelder Barry Nelson The Act Dan Conners Gilbert Price Timbuktu ! The Mansa of Mali 1979 33rd Tony Awards Len Cariou Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Vincent Gardenia Ballroom Alfred Rossi Joel Grey The Grand Tour S.L. Jacobowsky Robert Klein They 're Playing Our Song Vernon Gersch 1980s Year Actor Musical Character 1980 34th Tony Awards Jim Dale Barnum P.T. Barnum Gregory Hines Comin ' Uptown Scrooge Mickey Rooney Sugar Babies Mickey Giorgio Tozzi The Most Happy Fella Tony 1981 35th Tony Awards Kevin Kline The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King Gregory Hines Sophisticated Ladies Performer George Rose The Pirates of Penzance Major - General Martin Vidnovic Brigadoon Tommy Albright 1982 36th Tony Awards Ben Harney Dreamgirls Curtis Taylor Jr. Herschel Bernardi Fiddler on the Roof Tevye Victor Garber Little Me Various Characters Raúl Juliá Nine Guido Contini 37th Tony Awards Tommy Tune My One and Only Captain Billy Buck Chandler Al Green Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Performer George Hearn A Doll 's Life Various Characters Michael V. Smartt Porgy and Bess Porgy 1984 38th Tony Awards George Hearn La Cage aux Folles Albin Gene Barry La Cage aux Folles Georges Ron Moody Oliver ! Fagin Mandy Patinkin Sunday in the Park with George Georges Seurat / George 1985 39th Tony Awards N / A 1986 40th Tony Awards George Rose The Mystery of Edwin Drood Mayor Thomas Sapsea / William Cartwright Don Correia Singin ' in the Rain Don Lockwood Cleavant Derricks Big Deal Charley Maurice Hines Uptown... It 's Hot ! Performer 41st Tony Awards Robert Lindsay Me and My Girl Bill Snibson Roderick Cook Oh, Coward ! Performer Terrence Mann Les Misérables Javert Colm Wilkinson Jean Valjean 1988 42nd Tony Awards Michael Crawford The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera Scott Bakula Romance / Romance Alfred Von Wilmers / Sam David Carroll Chess Anatoly Sergievsky Howard McGillin Anything Goes Billy Crocker 1989 43rd Tony Awards Jason Alexander Jerome Robbins ' Broadway Various Characters Gabriel Barre Starmites Trinkulus Brian Lane Green Spacepunk Robert La Fosse Jerome Robbins ' Broadway Various Characters 1990s Year Actor Musical Character 1990 44th Tony Awards James Naughton City of Angels Stone David Carroll Grand Hotel Felix Von Gaigern Gregg Edelman City of Angels Stine Bob Gunton Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd 1991 45th Tony Awards Jonathan Pryce Miss Saigon The Engineer Keith Carradine The Will Rogers Follies Will Rogers Paul Hipp Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story Buddy Holly Topol Fiddler on the Roof Tevye 1992 46th Tony Awards Gregory Hines Jelly 's Last Jam Jelly Roll Morton Harry Groener Crazy for You Bobby Child Nathan Lane Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Michael Rupert Falsettos Marvin 1993 47th Tony Awards Brent Carver Kiss of the Spider Woman Luis Molina Tim Curry My Favorite Year Alan Swann Con O'Neill Blood Brothers Mickey Martin Short The Goodbye Girl Elliot Garfield 1994 48th Tony Awards Boyd Gaines She Loves Me Georg Nowack Victor Garber Damn Yankees Mr. Applegate Terrence Mann Beauty and the Beast The Beast Jere Shea Passion Giorgio 1995 49th Tony Awards Matthew Broderick How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch Alan Campbell Sunset Boulevard Joe Gillis Mark Jacoby Show Boat Gaylord Ravenal John McMartin Cap'n Andy 50th Tony Awards Nathan Lane A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Pseudolus Savion Glover Bring in ' da Noise, Bring in ' da Funk ' da Beat / Lil ' Dahlin ' Adam Pascal Rent Roger Davis Lou Diamond Phillips The King and I The King of Siam 1997 51st Tony Awards James Naughton Chicago Billy Flynn Robert Cuccioli Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde Jim Dale Candide Dr. Pangloss Daniel McDonald Steel Pier Bill Kelly 1998 52nd Tony Awards Alan Cumming Cabaret The Master of Ceremonies Peter Friedman Ragtime Tateh Brian Stokes Mitchell Coalhouse Walker, Jr. Douglas Sills The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney 1999 53rd Tony Awards Martin Short Little Me Various Characters Brent Carver Parade Leo Frank Adam Cooper Swan Lake The Swan Tom Wopat Annie Get Your Gun Frank Butler 2000s Year Actor Musical Character 2000 54th Tony Awards Brian Stokes Mitchell Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham / Petruchio Craig Bierko The Music Man Harold Hill George Hearn Putting It Together The Husband Mandy Patinkin The Wild Party Burrs Christopher Walken The Dead Gabriel Conroy 2001 55th Tony Awards Nathan Lane The Producers Max Bialystock Matthew Broderick The Producers Leo Bloom Kevin Chamberlin Seussical Horton the Elephant Tom Hewitt The Rocky Horror Show Dr. Frank N. Furter Patrick Wilson The Full Monty Jerry Lukowski 2002 56th Tony Awards John Lithgow Sweet Smell of Success J.J. Hunsecker Gavin Creel Thoroughly Modern Millie Jimmy Smith John McMartin Into the Woods Narrator / Mysterious Man Patrick Wilson Oklahoma ! Curly John Cullum Urinetown Caldwell B. Cladwell 2003 57th Tony Awards Harvey Fierstein Hairspray Edna Turnblad Antonio Banderas Nine Guido Contini Malcolm Gets Amour Dusoleil Brian Stokes Mitchell Man of La Mancha Don Quixote / Cervantes John Selya Movin ' Out Eddie 58th Tony Awards Hugh Jackman The Boy from Oz Peter Allen Hunter Foster Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Alfred Molina Fiddler on the Roof Tevye Euan Morton Taboo George John Tartaglia Avenue Q Princeton / Rod 2005 59th Tony Awards Norbert Leo Butz Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Freddy Benson Hank Azaria Spamalot Various Characters Gary Beach La Cage aux Folles Albin Tim Curry Spamalot King Arthur John Lithgow Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Lawrence Jameson 2006 60th Tony Awards John Lloyd Young Jersey Boys Frankie Valli Michael Cerveris Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Harry Connick, Jr. The Pajama Game Sid Sorokin Stephen Lynch The Wedding Singer Robbie Hart Bob Martin The Drowsy Chaperone Man in Chair 2007 61st Tony Awards David Hyde Pierce Curtains Lieutenant Frank Cioffi Michael Cerveris LoveMusik Kurt Weill Raúl Esparza Company Robert Jonathan Groff Spring Awakening Melchior Gabor Gavin Lee Mary Poppins Bert 2008 62nd Tony Awards Paulo Szot South Pacific Emile de Becque Daniel Evans Sunday in the Park with George Georges Seurat / George Lin - Manuel Miranda In the Heights Usnavi Stew Passing Strange Narrator Tom Wopat A Catered Affair Tom Hurley 2009 63rd Tony Awards David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik & Kiril Kulish Billy Elliot the Musical Billy Elliot Gavin Creel Hair Claude Brian d'Arcy James Shrek the Musical Shrek Constantine Maroulis Rock of Ages Drew J. Robert Spencer Next to Normal Dan Goodman 2010s Year Actor Musical Character 64th Tony Awards Douglas Hodge La Cage aux Folles Albin Kelsey Grammer La Cage aux Folles Georges Sean Hayes Promises, Promises Chuck Baxter Chad Kimball Memphis Huey Calhoun Sahr Ngaujah Fela ! Fela Kuti 2011 65th Tony Awards Norbert Leo Butz Catch Me If You Can Carl Hanratty Josh Gad The Book of Mormon Elder Cunningham Joshua Henry The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson Andrew Rannells The Book of Mormon Elder Price Tony Sheldon Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Bernadette Bassenger 2012 66th Tony Awards Steve Kazee Once Guy Danny Burstein Follies Buddy Plummer Jeremy Jordan Newsies Jack Kelly Norm Lewis Porgy and Bess Porgy Ron Raines Follies Ben Stone 2013 67th Tony Awards Billy Porter Kinky Boots Lola / Simon Bertie Carvel Matilda the Musical Miss Trunchbull Santino Fontana Cinderella Prince Topher Rob McClure Chaplin Charlie Chaplin Stark Sands Kinky Boots Charlie Price 2014 68th Tony Awards Neil Patrick Harris Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig Ramin Karimloo Les Misérables Jean Valjean Andy Karl Rocky the Musical Rocky Balboa Jefferson Mays A Gentleman 's Guide to Love and Murder The D'Ysquith Family Bryce Pinkham Monty Navarro 2015 69th Tony Awards Michael Cerveris Fun Home Bruce Bechdel Brian d'Arcy James Something Rotten ! Nick Bottom Robert Fairchild An American in Paris Jerry Mulligan Ken Watanabe The King and I The King of Siam Tony Yazbeck On the Town Gabey 2016 70th Tony Awards Leslie Odom, Jr. Hamilton Aaron Burr Alex Brightman School of Rock Dewey Finn Danny Burstein Fiddler on the Roof Tevye Zachary Levi She Loves Me Georg Nowack Lin - Manuel Miranda Hamilton Alexander Hamilton 2017 71st Tony Awards Ben Platt Dear Evan Hansen Evan Hansen Christian Borle Falsettos Marvin Josh Groban Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Pierre Bezukhov Andy Karl Groundhog Day Phil Connors David Hyde Pierce Hello, Dolly ! Horace Vandergelder 2018 72nd Tony Awards Tony Shalhoub The Band 's Visit Tewfiq Zakaria Harry Hadden - Paton My Fair Lady Henry Higgins Joshua Henry Carousel Billy Bigelow Ethan Slater SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants Award records Multiple wins 2 Wins Norbert Leo Butz John Cullum Richard Kiley Nathan Lane Zero Mostel James Naughton Robert Preston George Rose Phil Silvers Multiple nominations 4 Nominations John Cullum Raúl Juliá 3 Nominations Len Cariou Michael Cerveris Alfred Drake Joel Grey George Hearn Gregory Hines Richard Kiley Nathan Lane Brian Stokes Mitchell Robert Morse Robert Preston George Rose Phil Silvers 2 Nominations Herschel Bernardi Ray Bolger Barry Bostwick Matthew Broderick Danny Burstein Norbert Leo Butz David Carroll Brent Carver Jack Cassidy Gavin Creel Tim Curry Jim Dale Victor Garber Joshua Henry Brian d'Arcy James Andy Karl John Lithgow Terrence Mann John McMartin Lin - Manuel Miranda Zero Mostel James Naughton Jerry Orbach Mandy Patinkin David Hyde Pierce Martin Short Robert Weede Patrick Wilson Tom Wopat Multiple character wins 3 Wins Pseudolus from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 2 Wins Albin from La Cage aux Folles Emile de Becque from South Pacific J. Pierrepont Finch from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Multiple character nominations 5 Nominations Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof 3 Nominations Albin from La Cage aux Folles Noble Eggleston / Val du Val / Fred Poitrine from Little Me * Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady Pseudolus from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd 2 Nominations Billy Flynn from Chicago Bobby from Company Charley Wykeham from Where 's Charley ? Chuck Baxter from Promises, Promises Don Quixote / Cervantes from Man of La Mancha Dr. Pangloss from Candide Emile de Becque from South Pacific Fagin from Oliver ! Georg Nowack from She Loves Me George from La Cage aux Folles Georges from Sunday in the Park with George Guido Contini from Nine Harold Hill from The Music Man Horace Vandergelder from Hello, Dolly ! J. Pierrepont Finch from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Jean Valjean from Les Misérables The King of Siam from The King and I Marvin from Falsettos Mr. Applegate from Damn Yankees Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls Amos Pinchley / Otto Schnitzler / Prince Cherney / Noble Junior from Little Me * Porgy from Porgy and Bess Tony from The Most Happy Fella - * Most of the leading male characters in Little Me are played by the same actor, but the actual roles vary. In the original 1962 Broadway production and the 1998 revival, Sid Caesar and Martin Short ( respectively ) played Noble Eggleston, Amos Pinchley, Val du Val, Fred Poitrine, Otto Schnitzler, and Prince Cherney. Caesar also played Noble Junior. In the 1981 revival, the lead roles were split among James Coco and Victor Garber with Garber playing Noble Eggleston, Val du Val, Fred Poitrine, and Noble Junior. Productions with multiple nominations Damn Yankees -- Ray Walston ( winner ) and Stephen Douglass Take Me Along -- Jackie Gleason ( winner ), Robert Morse, and Walter Pidgeon Two Gentlemen of Verona -- Clifton Davis and Raul Julia My Fair Lady -- George Rose ( winner ) and Ian Richardson The Pirates of Penzance -- Kevin Kline ( winner ) and George Rose La Cage aux Folles -- George Hearn ( winner ) and Gene Barry Les Misérables -- Terrence Mann and Colm Wilkinson Jerome Robbins ' Broadway -- Jason Alexander ( winner ) and Robert La Fosse Starmites -- Gabriel Barre and Brian Lane Green ( Jerome Robbins ' Broadway and Starmites were competing in the same year ) City of Angels -- James Naughton ( winner ) and Gregg Edelman Show Boat -- Mark Jacoby and John McMartin Ragtime -- Peter Friedman and Brian Stokes Mitchell The Producers -- Nathan Lane ( winner ) and Matthew Broderick Dirty Rotten Scoundrels -- Norbert Leo Butz ( winner ) and John Lithgow Monty Python 's Spamalot -- Hank Azaria and Tim Curry ( Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Monty Python 's Spamalot were competing in the same year ) La Cage aux Folles -- Douglas Hodge ( winner ) and Kelsey Grammer ( the second time this show received two nominations ) The Book of Mormon -- Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells Follies -- Danny Burstein and Ron Raines Kinky Boots -- Billy Porter ( winner ) and Stark Sands A Gentleman 's Guide to Love and Murder -- Jefferson Mays and Bryce Pinkham Hamilton -- Lin - Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr. ( winner ) Facts This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2016 ) The lead role of Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has earned the Tony Award for the three different actors who have performed the character : 1963 -- Zero Mostel 1972 -- Phil Silvers 1996 -- Nathan Lane In 1989, Jason Alexander won the award for portraying several characters in Jerome Robbins ' Broadway, amongst them, the role of Pseudolus. Three other male roles have produced multiple Tony Award winners : J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying : 1962 -- Robert Morse 1995 -- Matthew Broderick Emile de Beque in South Pacific : 1950 -- Ezio Pinza 2008 -- Paulo Szot and Albin in La Cage Aux Folles : 1984 -- George Hearn 2010 -- Douglas Hodge Gary Beach, who played Albin in the 2005 revival, was nominated but lost the award to Norbert Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Two actors have won for their performances in My Fair Lady, each for a different character : 1957 -- Rex Harrison, playing Henry Higgins 1976 -- George Rose, playing Alfred P. Doolitle Ian Richardson and Harry Hadden - Paton, who played Henry Higgins in 1976 and 2018, respectively, were also nominated. The lead role with most nominations is Tevye, in Fiddler on the Roof. Five actors have been nominated for their portrayals, with one win : 1965 -- Zero Mostel ( winner ) 1982 -- Herschel Bernardi 1991 -- Chaim Topol 2004 -- Alfred Molina 2016 -- Danny Burstein Take Me Along is the only production to receive three nominations for the award -- Jackie Gleason ( winner ), Robert Morse and Walter Pidgeon. The lead role of Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has received 3 nominations, though only Len Cariou has won the award for playing the role, which he originated. Actors have won Tonys for both Best Actor in a Play and `` Best Actor in a Musical '' for playing Cyrano de Bergerac : Jose Ferrer in Cyrano de Bergerac and Christopher Plummer in Cyrano. Four actors were nominated in this category for roles that have also been classified as Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. George Rose won the 1976 Best Actor Award for playing Alfred P. Doolitle in My Fair Lady whereas Stanley Holloway and Norbert Leo Butz were nominated in the featured category for playing the part in 1956 and 2018, respectively. Similarly, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ken Watanabe were nominated for Best Actor for playing the King of Siam in The King and I in 1996 and 2015, respectively, while Yul Brynner won the Best Featured Actor Tony for the same role in 1951. Also, Alan Cumming won for his role as the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret in 1998, which Joel Grey won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for in 1966. Harvey Fierstein was the first actor to win the award by portraying a female character, for his 2003 performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Neil Patrick Harris won in 2014 for his performance as Hedwig, a transgender woman in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. There have never been consecutive victories, and only four actors have managed, over the decades, to score consecutive nominations : Gregory Hines ( 1980 / 1981 ), George Hearn ( 1983 / 1984 ), Patrick Wilson ( 2001 / 2002 ) and Michael Cerveris ( 2006 / 2007 ). In 2009, David Álvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish were jointly nominated for the award for their performances in Billy Elliot the Musical as the titular character. They won the award, marking the first time three actors have received it. The oldest performer to win in this category is Bert Lahr who was 68 when he won for Foxy in 1964. The youngest winner is Trent Kowalik who won for Billy Elliot at age 14. He shared the award with David Álvarez and Kiril Kulish - both 15 at the time. The role of The Leading Player in Pippin holds the distinction of winning in both Best Leading Actor and Leading Actress categories. Ben Vereen won in 1972, while Patina Miller won in the leading actress category for the 2013 revival. References Jump up ^ The category was not given due to an insufficient number of musicals during the season. Winship, Frederick M. ( 1985 - 06 - 03 ). `` ' Big River, ' ' Biloxi Blues ' win Tony Awards ''. UPI. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 03. External links Official website Tony Award, Actor in A Musical, at Internet Broadway Database Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Paul Hartman ( 1948 ) Ray Bolger ( 1949 ) Ezio Pinza ( 1950 ) Robert Alda ( 1951 ) Phil Silvers ( 1952 ) Thomas Mitchell ( 1953 ) Alfred Drake ( 1954 ) Walter Slezak ( 1955 ) Ray Walston ( 1956 ) Rex Harrison ( 1957 ) Robert Preston ( 1958 ) Richard Kiley ( 1959 ) Jackie Gleason ( 1960 ) Richard Burton ( 1961 ) Robert Morse ( 1962 ) Zero Mostel ( 1963 ) Bert Lahr ( 1964 ) Zero Mostel ( 1965 ) Richard Kiley ( 1966 ) Robert Preston ( 1967 ) Robert Goulet ( 1968 ) Jerry Orbach ( 1969 ) Cleavon Little ( 1970 ) Hal Linden ( 1971 ) Phil Silvers ( 1972 ) Ben Vereen ( 1973 ) Christopher Plummer ( 1974 ) John Cullum ( 1975 ) George Rose ( 1976 ) Barry Bostwick ( 1977 ) John Cullum ( 1978 ) Len Cariou ( 1979 ) Jim Dale ( 1980 ) Kevin Kline ( 1981 ) Ben Harney ( 1982 ) Tommy Tune ( 1983 ) George Hearn ( 1984 ) No Award ( 1985 ) George Rose ( 1986 ) Robert Lindsay ( 1987 ) Michael Crawford ( 1988 ) Jason Alexander ( 1989 ) James Naughton ( 1990 ) Jonathan Pryce ( 1991 ) Gregory Hines ( 1992 ) Brent Carver ( 1993 ) Boyd Gaines ( 1994 ) Matthew Broderick ( 1995 ) Nathan Lane ( 1996 ) James Naughton ( 1997 ) Alan Cumming ( 1998 ) Martin Short ( 1999 ) Brian Stokes Mitchell ( 2000 ) Nathan Lane ( 2001 ) John Lithgow ( 2002 ) Harvey Fierstein ( 2003 ) Hugh Jackman ( 2004 ) Norbert Leo Butz ( 2005 ) John Lloyd Young ( 2006 ) David Hyde Pierce ( 2007 ) Paulo Szot ( 2008 ) David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish ( 2009 ) Douglas Hodge ( 2010 ) Norbert Leo Butz ( 2011 ) Steve Kazee ( 2012 ) Billy Porter ( 2013 ) Neil Patrick Harris ( 2014 ) Michael Cerveris ( 2015 ) Leslie Odom Jr. ( 2016 ) Ben Platt ( 2017 ) Tony Shalhoub ( 2018 ) Tony Awards American Theatre Wing The Broadway League List of people who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards Play Best Play Best Direction of a Play Best Leading Actor in a Play Best Leading Actress in a Play Best Featured Actor in a Play Best Featured Actress in a Play Best Costume Design in a Play Best Lighting Design in a Play Best Revival of a Play Best Scenic Design in a Play Best Sound Design of a Play Musical Best Musical Best Direction of a Musical Best Leading Actor in a Musical Best Leading Actress in a Musical Best Featured Actor in a Musical Best Featured Actress in a Musical Best Book of a Musical Best Choreography Best Costume Design in a Musical Best Lighting Design in a Musical Best Orchestrations Best Original Score Best Revival of a Musical Best Scenic Design in a Musical Best Sound Design of a Musical Special ( non-competitive ) Regional Theatre Tony Award Special Tony Award Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre Isabelle Stevenson Award Retired Best Author Best Conductor and Musical Director Best Costume Design Best Director Best Lighting Design Best Newcomer Best Revival Best Scenic Design Best Special Theatrical Event Best Stage Technician Ceremonies 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tony_Award_for_Best_Actor_in_a_Musical&oldid=848926300 '' Categories : Tony Awards Theatre acting awards Awards established in 1948 1948 establishments in the United States Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from May 2016 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Español Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk Português Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски 中文 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 5 July 2018, at 08 : 49 ( UTC ). 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Question: who won the tony for best actor in a musical
Answer: Tony Shalhoub