Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search 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 Josh O'Connor, The Crown (2021) 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 1.8 2020s 2 Programs with multiple wins 3 Programs with multiple nominations 4 Performers with multiple wins 5 Performers with multiple nominations 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References Winners and nominations[edit] 1950s[edit] 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[edit] 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[edit] 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[edit] 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[edit] 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[edit] 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[edit] 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[edit] 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[edit] 4 wins Breaking Bad (3 consecutive) NYPD Blue (2 consecutive) 3 wins Columbo I Spy (consecutive) The Sopranos (2 consecutive) St. Elsewhere (2 consecutive) 2 wins Boston Legal The Defenders Father Knows Best (consecutive) Hill Street Blues (consecutive) Lou Grant Perry Mason Programs with multiple nominations[edit] 14 nominations NYPD Blue 10 nominations St. Elsewhere 8 nominations Columbo Law & Order Mad Men This Is Us 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 Better Call Saul L.A. Law Mannix Mission: Impossible Quincy, M.E. Six Feet Under The Streets of San Francisco 3 nominations The Americans Boston Legal Dallas The Danny Thomas Show [note 2] Dynasty Father Knows Best The Fugitive Gunsmoke The Jackie Gleason Show Marcus Welby, M.D. The Newsroom Ozark Perry Mason Pose 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 Succession True Detective Twin Peaks The Untouchables The X-Files Performers with multiple wins[edit] 4 wins Bryan Cranston (3 consecutive) Dennis Franz (2 consecutive) 3 wins Bill Cosby (consecutive) Peter Falk James Gandolfini (2 consecutive) James Spader (2 consecutive) Robert Young (2 consecutive) 2 wins Ed Asner Raymond Burr William Daniels (consecutive) E. G. Marshall (consecutive) Daniel J. Travanti (consecutive) Performers with multiple nominations[edit] 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 Sterling K. Brown 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 Bob Odenkirk Karl Malden Michael Moriarty Matthew Rhys James Spader 3 nominations James Arness Jason Bateman Andre Braugher Bill Cosby Robert Culp Jeff Daniels John Forsythe David Janssen Peter Krause Martin Landau Billy Porter Liev Schreiber Milo Ventimiglia 2 nominations Corbin Bernsen Robert Blake Hugh Bonneville 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 Jack Webb Bruce Willis See also[edit] 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[edit] ^ a b c d e f g h i Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre specific acting categories ^ Originally titled "Make Room for Daddy", where the series was nominated twice. References[edit] ^ "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. vte Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 1956–1975 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) 1976–2000 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) 2001–present 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) Billy Porter (2019) Jeremy Strong (2020) Josh O'Connor (2021) vte Primetime Emmy Award categories Programs Comedy Series Drama Series Limited or Anthology Series Television Movie Competition Program Variety Talk Series Variety Sketch Series Animated Program Short Form Animated Program Documentary or Nonfiction Series Documentary or Nonfiction Special Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series Short Form Nonfiction or Reality 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 or Anthology Series or Movie Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Lead Actress in a Drama Series Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology 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 Competition Program Narrator Directing Directing for a Comedy Series Directing for a Drama Series Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie 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 or Anthology Series or Movie Writing for a Variety Series Writing for a Variety Special Writing for a Nonfiction Programming Animation Individual Achievement in Animation Casting Casting for a Comedy Series Casting for a Drama Series Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Casting for a Reality Program Choreography Choreography for Scripted Programming Choreography for Variety and Reality Programming Cinematography Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology 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 Contemporary Hairstyling Contemporary Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program Period and/or Character Hairstyling 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 Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) Contemporary Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program (Non-Prosthetic) Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) Prosthetic Makeup Music Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology 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 or Anthology 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 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 or Anthology Series, Movie or Special Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program (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 or Anthology Series or Movie Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera) Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special Special Effects Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie / Special and Visual Effects in a Single Episode Stunts Stunt Coordination Stunt Performance Technical Direction Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a 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 Children's Program Costumes for a Series Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) New Series Program of the Year Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Short Form Variety Series Super Emmy Variety Series Voice-Over Performance Categories: Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winnersTelevision awards for Best Actor Not logged in Talk Contributions Create account Log in Article Talk Read Edit View history Search Main page Contents Current events Random article About Wikipedia Contact us Donate Contribute Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file Tools What links here Related changes Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Wikidata item Print/export Download as PDF Printable version Languages বাংলা Català Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français Magyar Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Türkçe Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 21 October 2021, at 12:28 (UTC). 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