Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - wikipedia Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Not to be confused with the Daytime Emmy Award with the same name. 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 Matthew Rhys, The Americans ( 2018 ) Website emmys.com 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. Contents 1 Winners and nominations 1.1 1950s 1.2 1960s 1.3 1970s 1.4 1980s 1.5 1990s 1.6 2000s 1.7 2010s 2 Performers with multiple awards 3 Programs with multiple awards 4 Performers with multiple nominations 5 Programs with multiple nominations 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References Winners and nominations 1950s Year Actor Role Program Network 1953 ( 6th ) 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 Ralph Kramden The Jackie Gleason Show CBS Jack Webb Sgt. Joe Friday Dragnet NBC 1954 ( 7th ) Danny Thomas Danny Williams Make Room for Daddy ABC Richard Boone Dr. Konrad Styner Medic NBC Robert Cummings Robert Beanblossom My Hero Jackie Gleason Ralph Kramden The Jackie Gleason Show CBS Jack Webb Sgt. Joe Friday Dragnet NBC 1955 ( 8th ) Phil Silvers MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko The Phil Silvers Show CBS Bob Cummings Bob Collins The Bob Cummings Show CBS Jackie Gleason Ralph Kramden The Jackie Gleason Show Danny Thomas Danny Williams Make Room for Daddy ABC Robert Young Jim Anderson Father Knows Best CBS 1956 ( 9th ) Robert Young Jim Anderson Father Knows Best NBC James Arness Marshal 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 1957 ( 10th ) Robert Young Jim Anderson Father Knows Best NBC James Arness Marshal Matt Dillon Gunsmoke CBS Bob 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 1959 ( 11th ) Raymond Burr Perry Mason Perry Mason CBS James Arness Marshal 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 1960 ( 12th ) Robert Stack Eliot Ness The Untouchables ABC Raymond Burr Perry Mason Perry Mason CBS Richard Boone Paladin Have Gun -- Will Travel 1961 ( 13th ) Raymond Burr Perry Mason Perry Mason CBS Jackie Cooper Chick Hennesey Hennesey CBS Robert Stack Eliot Ness The Untouchables 1962 ( 14th ) E.G. Marshall Lawrence Preston The Defenders CBS Vincent Edwards Ben Casey Ben Casey ABC Jackie Cooper Chick Hennesey Hennesey CBS Paul Burke Adam Flint Naked City ABC George Maharis Buz Murdock Route 66 CBS 1963 ( 15th ) E.G. Marshall Lawrence Preston The Defenders CBS Vic Morrow Sgt. Sanders Combat ! ABC Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS Ernest Borgnine Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale McHale 's Navy Paul Burke Det. Adam Flint Naked City ABC 1964 ( 16th ) 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 1965 ( 17th ) No Award 1966 ( 18th ) Bill Cosby Alexander Scott I Spy NBC David Janssen Dr. Richard Kimble The Fugitive ABC Robert Culp Kelly Robinson I Spy NBC David McCallum Illya Kuryakin The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Richard Crenna James Slattery Slattery 's People CBS 1967 ( 19th ) Bill Cosby Alexander Scott I Spy NBC David Janssen Dr. Richard Kimble The Fugitive ABC Robert Culp Kelly Robinson I Spy NBC Martin Landau Rollin Hand Mission : Impossible CBS Ben Gazzara Paul Bryan Run for Your Life NBC 1968 ( 20th ) Bill Cosby Alexander Scott I Spy NBC Robert Culp Kelly Robinson I Spy NBC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside Ironside Martin Landau Rollin Hand Mission : Impossible CBS Ben Gazzara Paul Bryan Run for Your Life NBC 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 Robert Wagner Al Mundy It Takes a Thief ABC Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS 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 Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Keith Michell # Henry VIII of England The Six Wives of Henry VIII CBS 1973 ( 25th ) Richard Thomas John - Boy Walton The Waltons CBS William Conrad Frank Cannon Cannon CBS David Carradine Kwai Chang Caine Kung Fu ABC Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS Peter Falk Columbo Columbo NBC ( 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 ( 27th ) Robert Blake Det. Tony Baretta Baretta ABC Telly Savalas Theo Kojak Kojak CBS Barry Newman Anthony J. Petrocelli Petrocelli NBC Karl Malden Lt. Mike Stone The Streets of San Francisco ABC 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 Jack Klugman Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. Quincy, M.E. James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files Ralph Waite John Walton, Sr. The Waltons CBS 1979 ( 31st ) Ron Leibman Kazinsky Kaz CBS Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS Jack Klugman Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. Quincy, M.E. NBC James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files 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 ( 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 ) 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 42nd ) Peter Falk Columbo Columbo ABC Scott Bakula Dr. 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 Dr. Sam Beckett Quantum Leap NBC Peter Falk Columbo Columbo ABC Kyle MacLachlan Dale Cooper Twin Peaks Michael Moriarty Benjamin Stone Law & Order NBC ( 44th ) Christopher Lloyd § Alistair Dimple Road to Avonlea Disney Scott Bakula Dr. 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 ( 45th ) Tom Skerritt Jimmy Brock Picket Fences CBS Scott Bakula Dr. 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 ( 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 Dr. Jeffrey Geiger Chicago Hope CBS George Clooney Dr. Doug Ross ER NBC Anthony Edwards Dr. Mark Greene Dennis Franz Andy Sipowicz NYPD Blue ABC Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone ( 48th ) Dennis Franz Andy Sipowicz NYPD Blue ABC Andre Braugher Frank Pembleton Homicide : Life on the Street NBC George Clooney Dr. Doug Ross ER Anthony Edwards Dr. Mark Greene Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone NYPD Blue ABC ( 49th ) Dennis Franz Andy Sipowicz NYPD Blue ABC David Duchovny Fox Mulder The X-Files Fox Anthony Edwards Dr. 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 Dr. 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 ( 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 ( 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 Dr. 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 Dr. 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 Dr. Paul Weston In Treatment HBO Michael C. Hall Dexter Morgan Dexter Showtime Jon Hamm Don Draper Mad Men AMC Hugh Laurie Dr. 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 Dr. Paul Weston In Treatment HBO Michael C. Hall Dexter Morgan Dexter Showtime Jon Hamm Don Draper Mad Men AMC Hugh Laurie Dr. Gregory House House Fox 2010s Year Actor Role Program Network ( 62nd ) Bryan Cranston Walter White Breaking Bad AMC Kyle Chandler Eric Taylor Friday Night Lights DirecTV Matthew Fox Dr. Jack Shephard Lost ABC Michael C. Hall Dexter Morgan Dexter Showtime Jon Hamm Don Draper Mad Men AMC Hugh Laurie Dr. Gregory House House Fox 2011 ( 63rd ) 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 Dr. Gregory House House Fox Timothy Olyphant Raylan Givens Justified FX 2012 ( 64th ) 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 ) 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 ) 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 Rustin Cohle Kevin Spacey Frank Underwood House of Cards Netflix 2015 ( 67th ) 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 ) 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 ) 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 ) Matthew Rhys Philip Jennings The Americans FX Jason Bateman 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 Performers with multiple awards 4 awards Bryan Cranston ( 3 consecutive ) Dennis Franz ( 2 consecutive ) 3 awards Bill Cosby ( consecutive ) Peter Falk James Gandolfini ( 2 consecutive ) James Spader ( 2 consecutive for same role on different shows ) Robert Young ( 2 different roles ; 2 consecutive for same role ) 2 awards Ed Asner Raymond Burr William Daniels ( consecutive ) E.G. Marshall ( consecutive ) Daniel J. Travanti ( consecutive ) Programs with multiple awards 4 awards Breaking Bad ( 3 consecutive ) NYPD Blue ( 2 consecutive ) 3 awards Columbo I Spy ( consecutive ) The Sopranos St. Elsewhere ( 2 consecutive ) 2 awards Boston Legal The Defenders Father Knows Best ( consecutive ) Hill Street Blues ( consecutive ) Lou Grant Perry Mason Performers with multiple nominations 8 nominations Raymond Burr Peter Falk Dennis Franz Jon Hamm 7 nominations James Garner 6 nominations Bryan Cranston James Gandolfini Michael C. Hall Hugh Laurie Martin Sheen Kiefer Sutherland Robert Young 5 nominations Ed Asner William Daniels Ed Flanders Tom Selleck Jimmy Smits Kevin Spacey Daniel J. Travanti Sam Waterston Edward Woodward 4 nominations Scott Bakula Richard Boone Kyle Chandler Mike Connors Anthony Edwards Jack Klugman Karl Malden Michael Moriarty James Spader 3 nominations James Arness Andre Braugher Bill Cosby Robert Culp Jeff Daniels John Forsythe David Janssen Peter Krause Martin Landau Bob Odenkirk Matthew Rhys Liev Schreiber 2 nominations Corbin Bernsen Robert Blake Hugh Bonneville Sterling K. Brown Paul Burke Steve Buscemi Gabriel Byrne Michael Chiklis George Clooney William Conrad Jackie Cooper David Duchovny Ben Gazzara Larry Hagman Denis Leary Damian Lewis Kyle MacLachlan E.G. Marshall Rob Morrow Ron Perlman Telly Savalas Tom Skerritt Robert Stack Richard Thomas Michael Tucker Milo Ventimiglia Jack Webb Bruce Willis Programs with multiple nominations 14 nominations NYPD Blue 10 nominations St. Elsewhere 8 nominations Columbo Law & Order Mad Men 7 nominations The West Wing 6 nominations 24 Breaking Bad ER House I Spy The Sopranos 5 nominations Dexter The Equalizer Hill Street Blues House of Cards Ironside Lou Grant Magnum, P.I. Quantum Leap The Rockford Files 4 nominations L.A. Law Mannix Mission : Impossible Quincy, M.E. Six Feet Under The Streets of San Francisco This Is Us 3 nominations The Americans Better Call Saul Boston Legal Dallas The Danny Thomas Show Dynasty Father Knows Best The Fugitive Gunsmoke The Jackie Gleason Show Marcus Welby, M.D. The Newsroom Perry Mason Ray Donovan The Waltons Westworld 2 nominations Baretta Beauty and the Beast Bloodline Boardwalk Empire The Bob Cummings Show Cannon The Defenders The Dick Van Dyke Show Downton Abbey Dragnet Four Star Playhouse Friday Night Lights Have Gun -- Will Travel Hennesey Homeland Homicide : Life on the Street I 'll Fly Away In Treatment Kojak Moonlighting Naked City Northern Exposure The Phil Silvers Show Picket Fences The Practice Rescue Me Run for Your Life The Shield True Detective Twin Peaks The Untouchables The X-Files See also 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 ^ Jump up to : Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre specific acting categories Jump up ^ Originally titled `` Make Room for Daddy '', where the series was nominated twice. References Jump up ^ `` Boone, Mike. `` The Emmy List : Here 's the Best in Television ''. The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved July 18, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nominees / Winners ''. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 17, 2018. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Robert Young ( 1956 ) Robert Young ( 1957 ) Raymond Burr ( 1959 ) Robert Stack ( 1960 ) Raymond Burr ( 1961 ) E.G. Marshall ( 1962 ) E.G. Marshall ( 1963 ) Bill Cosby ( 1966 ) Bill Cosby ( 1967 ) Bill Cosby ( 1968 ) Carl Betz ( 1969 ) Robert Young ( 1970 ) Hal Holbrook ( 1971 ) Peter Falk ( 1972 ) Richard Thomas ( 1973 ) Telly Savalas ( 1974 ) Robert Blake ( 1975 ) Peter Falk ( 1976 ) James Garner ( 1977 ) Ed Asner ( 1978 ) Ron Leibman ( 1979 ) Ed Asner ( 1980 ) Daniel J. Travanti ( 1981 ) Daniel J. Travanti ( 1982 ) Ed Flanders ( 1983 ) Tom Selleck ( 1984 ) William Daniels ( 1985 ) William Daniels ( 1986 ) Bruce Willis ( 1987 ) Richard Kiley ( 1988 ) Carroll O'Connor ( 1989 ) Peter Falk ( 1990 ) James Earl Jones ( 1991 ) Christopher Lloyd ( 1992 ) Tom Skerritt ( 1993 ) Dennis Franz ( 1994 ) Mandy Patinkin ( 1995 ) Dennis Franz ( 1996 ) Dennis Franz ( 1997 ) Andre Braugher ( 1998 ) Dennis Franz ( 1999 ) James Gandolfini ( 2000 ) James Gandolfini ( 2001 ) Michael Chiklis ( 2002 ) James Gandolfini ( 2003 ) James Spader ( 2004 ) James Spader ( 2005 ) Kiefer Sutherland ( 2006 ) James Spader ( 2007 ) Bryan Cranston ( 2008 ) Bryan Cranston ( 2009 ) Bryan Cranston ( 2010 ) Kyle Chandler ( 2011 ) Damian Lewis ( 2012 ) Jeff Daniels ( 2013 ) Bryan Cranston ( 2014 ) Jon Hamm ( 2015 ) Rami Malek ( 2016 ) Sterling K. Brown ( 2017 ) Matthew Rhys ( 2018 ) Primetime Emmy Award categories Programs Comedy Series Drama Series Limited Series Television Movie Variety Talk Series Variety Sketch Series Animated Program Short Form Animated Program Reality - Competition Program Children 's Program Documentary or Nonfiction Series Documentary or Nonfiction Special Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Informational Series or Special Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series Short Form Variety Series Structured Reality Program Unstructured Reality Program Variety Special ( Live ) Variety Special ( Pre-Recorded ) Performance Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Lead Actor in a Drama Series Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Lead Actress in a Drama Series Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Guest Actor in a Drama Series Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Guest Actress in a Drama Series Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Character Voice - Over Performance Host for a Reality or Reality - Competition Program Narrator Directing Directing for a Comedy Series Directing for a Drama Series Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special Directing for a Variety Series Directing for a Variety Special Directing for a Documentary / Nonfiction Program Directing for a Reality Program Writing Writing for a Comedy Series Writing for a Drama Series Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special Writing for a Variety Series Writing for a Variety Special Writing for Nonfiction Programming Animation Individual Achievement in Animation Casting Casting for a Comedy Series Casting for a Drama Series Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Casting for a Reality Program Choreography Choreography Cinematography Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Cinematography for a Reality Program Cinematography for a Single - Camera Series ( Half - Hour ) Cinematography for a Single - Camera Series ( One Hour ) Commercials Commercial Costume Design Contemporary Costumes Fantasy / Sci - Fi Costumes Period Costumes Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming Hairstyling Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special Hairstyling for a Single - Camera Series Interactive Media Interactive Program Original Interactive Program Creative Achievement in Interactive Media within a Scripted Program Creative Achievement in Interactive Media within an Unscripted Program Lighting Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Series Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special Makeup Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie ( Non-Prosthetic ) Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special ( Non-Prosthetic ) Makeup for a Single - Camera Series ( Non-Prosthetic ) Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie, or Special Music Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Music Composition for a Series Music Direction Music Supervision Original Main Title Theme Music Original Music and Lyrics Picture Editing Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program Picture Editing for a Structured or Competition Reality Program Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program Picture Editing for Variety Programming Single - Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series Single - Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series Single - Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie Production Design Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program ( One Hour or More ) Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program ( One Hour or More ) Production Design for a Narrative Program ( Half - Hour or Less ) Production Design for a Variety, Reality or Reality - Competition Series Production Design for a Variety Special Sound Editing Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series ( Half - Hour ) and Animation Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series ( One - Hour ) Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming ( Single or Multi-Camera ) Sound Mixing Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series ( Half - Hour ) and Animation Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series ( One - Hour ) Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program ( Single or Multi-Camera ) Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special Special Effects Special and Visual Effects / Special and Visual Effects in a Supporting Role Stunts Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series, or Movie Technical Direction Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Title Design Main Title Design Engineering Engineering Philo T. Farnsworth Award Retired Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Art Direction for a Single - Camera Series Costumes for a Series Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program New Series Program of the Year Short - Format Live - Action Entertainment Program Super Emmy Variety Series Voice - Over Performance Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primetime_Emmy_Award_for_Outstanding_Lead_Actor_in_a_Drama_Series&oldid=864815674 '' Categories : Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners Primetime Emmy Awards Television awards for Best Actor Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Español فارسی Français Magyar Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Türkçe Українська 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 19 October 2018, at 17 : 12 ( UTC ). About Wikipedia

Question: who won the emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series
Answer: Matthew Rhys