# AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama

The AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama is an accolade given by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), a non-profit organisation whose aim is to "identify, award, promote and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and television." The award is handed out at the annual AACTA Awards, which rewards achievements in Australian feature film, television, documentaries and short films. From 1986 to 2010, the category was presented by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), the Academy's parent organisation, at the annual Australian Film Institute Awards (known as the AFI Awards). When the AFI launched the Academy in 2011, it changed the annual ceremony to the AACTA Awards, with the current prize being a continuum of the AFI Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama.
The award was first presented in 1986, as two separate categories for performances in a miniseries and tele feature. These were then merged in 1990 to become Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini Series, and by 1991, the award was renamed Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama. In 2000, the Best Performance in a Telefeature or Mini Series accolade was re-introduced as a separate prize from the drama award. All of these were then combined in 2002, under the title Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama, and two years later, in 2004, was renamed Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy. A separate comedy award was established in 2006, and the name reverted to Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama.
The AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama is given for performances in television drama series, miniseries, telefeature, children's animation or children's drama series. Candidates for this award must be human and male, and cannot be nominated for best guest or supporting actor in a television drama in the same year, for the same production.

## Winners and nominees

In the following table, the years listed correspond to the year that the television programme aired on Australian television; the ceremonies are usually held the following year. The actor whose name is emphasised in boldface and highlighted in yellow have won the award. Those that are neither highlighted nor in bold are the nominees. When sorted chronologically, the table always lists the winning actor first and then the other nominees. There was no nomination announcement for television categories leading up to the 1986 awards, and therefore only the winners are known.
All sources used in this article make no mention of the episode or series that the actor was nominated for prior to 1991, and therefore have "N/A" template in the "Episode/Series" column. After 1991, the winners and nominees with the "N/A" template in the "Episode/Series" column are television films or miniseries. Those winners and nominees which have the "N/A" template and crosses (†) in the "Episode/Series" column, are TV series, but all reliable sources do not indicate which episode or series the actor was nominated for.

### Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Mini Series (1986–1989)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 1986 (28th) | Simon Chilvers | The Dunera Boys | Col. Berry | — | ABC |
| 1987 (29th) |
| 1987 (29th) | Nicholas Eadie | Vietnam | Phil Goddard | — | Network Ten |
| 1987 (29th) | Martyn Sanderson | The Harp in the South | Hughie Darcy | — | Network Ten |
| 1987 (29th) | Vichea Ten | In Between | Saret | — | SBS |
| 1987 (29th) | John Wood | The Challenge | Alan Bond | — | Nine Network |
| 1988 (30th) |
| 1988 (30th) | Ed Devereaux | True Believers | Ben Chifley | — | ABC |
| 1988 (30th) | Simon Chilvers | True Believers | H. V. Evatt | — | ABC |
| 1988 (30th) | Shane Connor | Poor Man's Orange | Charlie Rothe | — | Network Ten |
| 1988 (30th) | Keith Michell | Captain James Cook | Captain James Cook | — | ABC |
| 1989 (31st) |
| 1989 (31st) | Peter Kowitz | Bodysurfer | David Lang | — | ABC |
| 1989 (31st) | Patrick Bergin | Act of Betrayal | Michael McGurk | — | ABC |
| 1989 (31st) | John Jarratt | Fields of Fire III | Jacko | — | Nine Network |
| 1989 (31st) | John Polson | Barlow & Chambers: A Long Way From Home | Kevin Barlow | — | Nine Network |

### Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature (1986–1989)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 1986 (28th) | Peter Kowitz | The Long Way Home | Graham | — | ABC |
| 1987 (29th) |
| 1987 (29th) | Steve Jacobs | A Single Life | Richard Bennett | — | ABC |
| 1987 (29th) | Shane Connor | Army Wives | Grant | — | Network Ten |
| 1987 (29th) | Ernie Dingo | Tudawali | Robert Tudawali | — | SBS |
| 1987 (29th) | Brendan Higgins | Hunger | Michael Radulesco | — | ABC |
| 1988 (30th) |
| 1988 (30th) | Ernie Dingo | A Waltz Through the Hills | Frank Smith | — | Nine Network |
| 1988 (30th) | Nicholas Eadie | Fragments of War: The Story of Damien Parer | Damien Parer | — | Network Ten |
| 1988 (30th) | John Hargreaves | The Lizard King | | — | ABC |
| 1988 (30th) | Nick Tate | Olive | Anthony Wheeler | — | ABC |
| 1989 (31st) |
| 1989 (31st) | Bill Hunter | Police State | Graeme Parker | — | ABC |
| 1989 (31st) | Bob Baines | Malpractice | Doug Davis | — | ABC |
| 1989 (31st) | Gary Sweet | Police Rescue | Sgt. Steve 'Mickey' McClintock | — | ABC |
| 1989 (31st) | Max Phipps | Police State | Terry Lewis | — | ABC |

### Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, in a Mini-Series or Telefeature (1990)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 1990 (32nd) |
| 1990 (32nd) | Frankie J. Holden | Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy | Det. Con. Max Chapman | — | ABC |
| 1990 (32nd) | Terry Gill | Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy | Det. Sgt. Bill Cullen | — | ABC |
| 1990 (32nd) | Rhys McConnochie | Come In Spinner | Angus McFarland | — | ABC |
| 1990 (32nd) | Franco Nero | The Magistrate | Paolo Pizzi | — | ABC |

### Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama (1991–2002)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 1991 (33rd) |
| 1991 (33rd) | Gary Sweet | Police Rescue | Sgt. Steve "Mickey" McClintock | Series 1, Episode 1: "Mates" | ABC |
| 1991 (33rd) | Steve Bastoni | Police Rescue | Yiannis Angelopoulos | Series 1, Episode 2: "Angel After Hours" | ABC |
| 1991 (33rd) | Nico Lathouris | Police Rescue | Nicos Angelopoulos | Series 1, Episode 2: "Angel After Hours" | ABC |
| 1991 (33rd) | Cameron Nugent | More Winners | CW | — | ABC |
| 1992 (34th) |
| 1992 (34th) | Gary Sweet | Police Rescue | Sgt. Steve "Mickey" McClintock | Series 2, Episode 2: "Off the Track" | ABC |
| 1992 (34th) | Alan Fletcher | Embassy | Michael Clayton | Series 3, Episode 12: "Hostage" | ABC |
| 1992 (34th) | Marshall Napier | Police Rescue | Sgt. Fred "Frog" Catteau | Series 2, Episode 5: "Judgement Day" | ABC |
| 1992 (34th) | Sean Scully | Phoenix | Ian "Goose" Cochrane | Series 1, Episode 10: "Blessed Are the Peacemakers" | ABC |
| 1993 (35th) |
| 1993 (35th) | Peter Phelps | G.P. | Sam Hill | Series 5, Episode 20: "Exposed" | ABC |
| 1993 (35th) | Jeremy Callaghan | Police Rescue | Const. Brian Morley | Series 3, Episode 10: "Whirlwind" | ABC |
| 1993 (35th) | John Howard | Joh's Jury | Hedley | — | ABC |
| 1993 (35th) | Malcolm Kennard | Joh's Jury | Luke | — | ABC |
| 1994 (36th) |
| 1994 (36th) | Aaron Blabey | The Damnation of Harvey McHugh | Harvey McHugh | Episode 1: "Spray Misty for Me" | ABC |
| 1994 (36th) | Hugh Baldwin | Heartbreak High | Graham Brown | Series 1, Episode 14 | Network Ten |
| 1994 (36th) | Bradley Byquar | Heartland | Ricky Dyer | Episode 4 | ABC |
| 1994 (36th) | Ernie Dingo | Heartland | Vincent Burunga | Episode 7 | ABC |
| 1994 (36th) | Peter Kowitz | G.P. | Neil Hatton | Series 6, Episode 8: "Innocent Bystander" | ABC |
| 1995 (37th) |
| 1995 (37th) | Colin Friels | Halifax f.p. | Kevin Tait | Series 1, Episode 5: "Hard Corps" | Nine Network |
| 1995 (37th) | Steven Vidler | Halifax f.p. | Steve Kingsley | Series 1, Episode 5: "Hard Corps" | Nine Network |
| 1995 (37th) | Steve Bisley | Halifax f.p. | Jonah Cole | Series 1, Episode 3: "The Feeding" | Nine Network |
| 1995 (37th) | Grant Piro | Janus | Cassidy | Series 1, Episode 4: "A Rare Crushing Reversal" | ABC |
| 1995 (37th) | Richard Roxburgh | Halifax f.p. | Sergeant Paul Santos | Series 1, Episode 6: "Lies of the Mind" | Nine Network |
| 1996 (38th) |
| 1996 (38th) | Tony Martin | Blue Murder | Arthur "Neddy" Smith | — | ABC |
| 1996 (38th) | Steve Bastoni | Police Rescue | Yiannis Angelopoulos | Series 5, Episode 8: "Tomorrow Never Knows" | ABC |
| 1996 (38th) | Marton Csokas | G.P. | Mr Paul Deacon | Series 8, Episode 8: "Ceremony of Innocence" | ABC |
| 1996 (38th) | Richard Roxburgh | Blue Murder | Roger Rogerson | — | ABC |
| 1997 (39th) |
| 1997 (39th) | David Wenham | Simone de Beauvoir's Babies | Ian | — | ABC |
| 1997 (39th) | Marcus Graham | Good Guys, Bad Guys | Elvis Maginnis | — | Nine Network |
| 1997 (39th) | Geoff Morrell | Fallen Angels | Jack Landers | Series 1, Episode 15: "Pig in Shit" | ABC |
| 1997 (39th) | Jeremy Sims | Kangaroo Palace | Jack Gill | — | Seven Network |
| 1998 (40th) |
| 1998 (40th) | Stephen Dillane | Kings in Grass Castles | Patsy | — | Seven Network |
| 1998 (40th) | Shane Connor | Halifax f.p. | Ray | Series 3, Episode 3: "Afraid of the Dark" | Nine Network |
| 1998 (40th) | Tony Martin | Wildside | Detective Bill McCoy | — † | ABC |
| 1998 (40th) | David Wenham | SeaChange | Daniel Della Bosca | Series 1, Episode 9: "Balls and Friggin' Good Luck" | ABC |
| 1999 (41st) |
| 1999 (41st) | Jeremy Sims | Aftershocks | John Constable | — | SBS |
| 1999 (41st) | John Howard | SeaChange | Bob Jelly | Series 2, Episode 13: "Law and Order" | ABC |
| 1999 (41st) | Samuel Johnson | Wildside | Troy Cunningham | Series 2, Episode 19 | ABC |
| 1999 (41st) | David Tredinnick | Halifax f.p. | David Neilson | Series 4, Episode 2: "Swimming with Sharks" | Nine Network |
| 2000 (42nd) |
| 2000 (42nd) | Geoff Morrell | Grass Roots | Col Dunkley | Series 1, Episode 8: "The Whole Year" | ABC |
| 2000 (42nd) | Tom Long | SeaChange | Angus Kabiri | Series 3, Episode 2: "How Much Greener Was My Neighbour's Valley" | ABC |
| 2000 (42nd) | Geoff Morrell | Grass Roots | Col Dunkley | Series 1, Episode 7: "Late July, Friday 4pm to 10.30pm" | ABC |
| 2000 (42nd) | Rhys Muldoon | Grass Roots | Greg Dominelli | Series 1, Episode 7: "Late July, Friday 4pm to 10.30pm" | ABC |
| 2001 (43rd) |
| 2001 (43rd) | Samuel Johnson | The Secret Life of Us | Evan Wylde | — † | Network Ten |
| 2001 (43rd) | Nicholas Bell | The Games | Nicholas | — † | ABC |
| 2001 (43rd) | John Howard | SeaChange | Bob Jelly | — † | ABC |
| 2001 (43rd) | William McInnes | SeaChange | Max Connors | — † | ABC |
| 2002 (44th) |
| 2002 (44th) | Joel Edgerton | The Secret Life of Us | Will McGill | — † | Network Ten |
| 2002 (44th) | Shane Bourne | MDA | Bill "Happy" Henderson | — † | ABC |
| 2002 (44th) | Tom Long | Young Lions | Det Snr Constable Guy "Guido" Martin | — † | Nine Network |
| 2002 (44th) | Peter O'Brien | White Collar Blue | Detective Joe Hill | — † | Network Ten |

### Best Performance by an Actor in a Telefeature or Mini Series (2000–2001)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 2000 (42nd) |
| 2000 (42nd) | Andy Anderson | Halifax f.p. | Laurie Downes | Series 5, Episode 1: "A Person of Interest" | Nine Network |
| 2000 (42nd) | Simon Baker | Secret Men's Business | Andy Greville | — | ABC |
| 2000 (42nd) | Nicholas Eadie | Halifax f.p. | Simon Laser | Series 5, Episode 3: "A Hate Worse Than Death" | Nine Network |
| 2000 (42nd) | Joel Edgerton | The Secret Life of Us | Will McGill | Series 1 | Network Ten |
| 2001 (43rd) |
| 2001 (43rd) | David Field | My Husband, My Killer | Bill Vandenberg | — | Network Ten |
| 2001 (43rd) | Simon Lyndon | My Brother Jack | Jack Meredith | — | Network Ten |
| 2001 (43rd) | William McInnes | My Brother Jack | Mr Meredith | — | Network Ten |
| 2001 (43rd) | Geoff Morrell | Changi | Dr Rowdy Lawson | — | ABC |

### Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy (2003–2004)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 2003 (45th) |
| 2003 (45th) | Shane Bourne | MDA | Bill "Happy" Henderson | Series 2 | ABC |
| 2003 (45th) | Ray Barrett | After the Deluge | Old Cliff Kirby | — | Network Ten |
| 2003 (45th) | Geoff Morrell | Grass Roots | Col Dunkley | Series 2 | ABC |
| 2003 (45th) | Glenn Robbins | Kath & Kim | Kel Knight | Series 2 | ABC |
| 2004 (46th) |
| 2004 (46th) | Abe Forsythe | Marking Time | Hal Fleming | — | ABC |
| 2004 (46th) | Geoff Morrell | Marking Time | Geoff Fleming | — | ABC |
| 2004 (46th) | Sam Neill | Jessica | Richard Runche | — | Network Ten |
| 2004 (46th) | David Wenham | The Brush-Off | Murray Whelan | — | Seven Network |

### Best Lead Actor in Television (2005)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 2005 (47th) |
| 2005 (47th) | Shane Bourne | MDA | Bill "Happy" Henderson | Series 3 | ABC |
| 2005 (47th) | Chris Lilley | We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year | Daniel Sims, Ja'mie King, Pat Mullins, Phil Olivetti and Ricky Wong | — | ABC |
| 2005 (47th) | Alex O'Loughlin | The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant | Will Bryant | — | Network Ten |
| 2005 (47th) | Daniel Wyllie | Love My Way | Charlie Jackson | Series 1 | Fox8 |

### Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama (2006–current)

| Year | Actor | Program | Character(s) | Episode/Series | Network |
| 2006 (48th) |
| 2006 (48th) | David Wenham | Answered by Fire | Mark Waldman | — | ABC |
| 2006 (48th) | Charles Passi | RAN Remote Area Nurse | Russ Gaibui | — | SBS |
| 2006 (48th) | Richard Roxburgh | The Silence | Richard Treloar | — | ABC |
| 2006 (48th) | Daniel Wyllie | Love My Way | Charlie Jackson | Series 2 | W |
| 2007 (49th) |
| 2007 (49th) | Stephen Curry | The King | Graham Kennedy | — | TV1 |
| 2007 (49th) | Khan Chittenden | Dangerous | Dean | — | Fox8 |
| 2007 (49th) | Daniel Frederiksen | Bastard Boys | Greg Combet | — | ABC |
| 2007 (49th) | Ben Mendelsohn | Love My Way | Lewis Feingold | Series 3 | Showcase |
| 2008 (50th) |
| 2008 (50th) | Gyton Grantley | Underbelly | Carl Williams | — | Nine Network |
| 2008 (50th) | Don Hany | East West 101 | Detective Zane Malik | Series 1 | SBS One |
| 2008 (50th) | William McInnes | East West 101 | Detective Sergeant Ray Crowley | Series 1 | SBS One |
| 2008 (50th) | Callan Mulvey | Rush | Brendan "Josh" Joshua | Series 1 | Network Ten |
| 2009 (51st) |
| 2009 (51st) | Roy Billing | Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities | Robert Trimbole | — | Nine Network |
| 2009 (51st) | Don Hany | East West 101 | Detective Zane Malik | Series 2 | SBS One |
| 2009 (51st) | Robert Menzies | 3 Acts of Murder | Arthur Upfield | — | ABC |
| 2009 (51st) | Dougray Scott | False Witness | Ian Porter | — | UKTV |
| 2010 (52nd) |
| 2010 (52nd) | Richard Roxburgh | Hawke | Bob Hawke | — | Network Ten |
| 2010 (52nd) | Garry McDonald | A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne | Tony Byrne | — | Network Ten |
| 2010 (52nd) | Corey McKernan | Lockie Leonard | Phillip Leonard | — | Nine Network |
| 2010 (52nd) | Aaron Pedersen | The Circuit | Drew Ellis | Series 2 | SBS |
| AACTA Awards ||||||
| 2011 (1st) |
| 2011 (1st) | Alex Dimitriades | The Slap | Harry | — | ABC1 |
| 2011 (1st) | Rob Carlton | Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo | Kerry Packer | — | ABC1 |
| 2011 (1st) | Don Hany | East West 101 | Detective Zane Malik | Season 3, Episode 1: "The Hero's Standard" | SBS One |
| 2011 (1st) | Jonathan LaPaglia | The Slap | Hector | — | ABC1 |
| 2012 (2nd) |
| 2012 (2nd) | Richard Roxburgh | Rake | Cleaver Greene | Series 2 | ABC1 |
| 2012 (2nd) | Jimi Bani | Mabo | Eddie Mabo | — | ABC1 |
| 2012 (2nd) | Anthony Hayes | Devil's Dust | Bernie Banton | — | ABC1 |
| 2012 (2nd) | Lachy Hulme | Howzat! Kerry Packer's War | Kerry Packer | — | Nine Network |
| 2013 (3rd) |
| 2013 (3rd) | Lachy Hulme | Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War | Frank Packer | — | Nine Network |
| 2013 (3rd) | Ernie Dingo | Redfern Now | Ernie Johnson | Series 2, Episode 6: "Dogs of War" | ABC1 |
| 2013 (3rd) | Remy Hii | Better Man | Van Tuong Nguyen | — | SBS |
| 2013 (3rd) | Meyne Wyatt | Redfern Now | Justin | Series 2, Episode 3: "Babe in Arms" | ABC1 |
| 2014 (4th) |
| 2014 (4th) | Ashley Zukerman | The Code | | | ABC |
| 2014 (4th) | Luke Arnold | INXS: Never Tear Us Apart | | | Seven Network |
| 2014 (4th) | Richard Roxburgh | Rake | | Series 3 | ABC |
| 2014 (4th) | Dan Spielman | The Code | | | ABC |
| 2015 (5th) |
| 2015 (5th) | Joel Jackson | Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door | | | Seven Network |
| 2015 (5th) | Wayne Blair | Redfern Now | | | ABC |
| 2015 (5th) | Joel Jackson | Deadline Gallipoli | | | FOXTEL |
| 2015 (5th) | Oliver Jackson-Cohen | The Secret River | | | ABC |
| 2016 (6th) |
| 2016 (6th) | Samuel Johnson | Molly | | | Seven Network |
| 2016 (6th) | Matt Nable | Barracuda | | | ABC |
| 2016 (6th) | Richard Roxburgh | Rake | | | ABC |
| 2016 (6th) | Ashley Zukerman | The Code | | | ABC |
| 2017 (7th) |
| 2017 (7th) | Hugo Weaving | Seven Types of Ambiguity | | | ABC |
| 2017 (7th) | David Dencik | Top of the Lake: China Girl | | | Foxtel/BBC First |
| 2017 (7th) | Sean Keenan | Wake in Fright | | | Network Ten |
| 2017 (7th) | Richard Roxburgh | Blue Murder: Killer Cop | | | Seven Network |
| 2018 (8th) |
| 2018 (8th) | Damon Herriman | Riot | | | ABC |
| 2018 (8th) | Aaron Pedersen | Mystery Road | | | ABC |
| 2018 (8th) | Richard Roxburgh | Rake | | | ABC1 |
| 2018 (8th) | Scott Ryan | Mr Inbetween | | | FX |
| 2018 (8th) | Hazem Shammas | Safe Harbour | | | SBS |
| 2019 (9th) |
| 2019 (9th) | Scott Ryan | Mr Inbetween | Ray Shoesmith | | FX |
| 2019 (9th) | Patrick Brammall | Glitch | Sgt. James Hayes | | ABC |
| 2019 (9th) | Bryan Brown | Bloom | Ray Reed | | Stan |
| 2019 (9th) | Ewen Leslie | The Cry | Alistair Robertson | | ABC |
| 2019 (9th) | Sam Reid | Lambs of God | Father Ignatius | | Foxtel |
| 2020 (10th) |
| 2020 (10th) | Fayssal Bazzi | Stateless | Ameer | | ABC |
| 2020 (10th) | Bryan Brown | Bloom | Ray Reed | | Stan |
| 2020 (10th) | Jai Courtney | Stateless | Cam Sandford | | ABC |
| 2020 (10th) | Ewen Leslie | Operation Buffalo | Major Leo Carmichael | | ABC |
| 2020 (10th) | Aaron Pedersen | Mystery Road | Jay Swan | | ABC |
| 2021 (11th) |
| 2021 (11th) | Scott Ryan | Mr Inbetween | Ray Shoesmith | | Fox Showcase |
| 2021 (11th) | Rudi Dharmalingam | Wakefield | Nikhil 'Nik' Katira | | ABC |
| 2021 (11th) | Guy Pearce | Jack Irish | Jack Irish | | ABC |
| 2021 (11th) | Sam Reid | The Newsreader | Dale Jennings | | ABC |
| 2021 (11th) | Richard Roxburgh | Fires | Duncan Simpson | | ABC |
| 2022 (12th) |
| 2022 (12th) | Mark Coles Smith | Mystery Road | Jay Swan | Season 3 | ABC |
| 2022 (12th) | Jamie Dornan | The Tourist | The Man/Elliott Stanley | | Stan |
| 2022 (12th) | James Majoos | Heartbreak High | Darren Rivers | | Netflix |
| 2022 (12th) | Sam Neill | The Twelve | Brett Colby | | Fox Showcase |
| 2022 (12th) | Hugo Weaving | Love Me | Glen Mathieson | | BINGE, Foxtel |