Awards & Winners

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The awards were established in 1955, with acting awards being given without making distinctions between roles in plays and musicals, or actors and actresses. The new award categories were later created in the 1975 ceremony. † - indicates the performance won the Tony Award ‡ - indicates the performance was also nominated for the Tony Award

Check all the winners of Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical presented under Drama Desk Award since 1975 .


Neil Patrick Harris

Honored for : Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Neil Patrick Harris Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Adam Jacobs Aladdin
Andy Karl Rocky
Jefferson Mays A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Steven Pasquale The Bridges of Madison County
Bryce Pinkham A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Jefferson Mays

Honored for : A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Neil Patrick Harris Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Adam Jacobs Aladdin
Andy Karl Rocky
Jefferson Mays A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Steven Pasquale The Bridges of Madison County
Bryce Pinkham A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Billy Porter

Honored for : Kinky Boots

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Eric Anderson Soul Doctor
Brian d'Arcy James Giant
Steve Rosen The Other Josh Cohen
Ryan Silverman Passion
Billy Porter Kinky Boots
Anthony Warlow Annie
Jim Norton The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Danny Burstein

Honored for : Follies

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kevin Earley Death Takes a Holiday
Danny Burstein Follies
Ricky Martin Evita
Raúl Esparza Leap of Faith
Jeremy Jordan Newsies
Norm Lewis Porgy and Bess

Norbert Leo Butz

Honored for : Catch Me if You Can

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Norbert Leo Butz Catch Me if You Can
Colin Donnell Anything Goes
Daniel Radcliffe How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Andrew Rannells The Book of Mormon
Tony Sheldon Priscilla: Queen of the Desert
Christopher Sieber The Kid

Douglas Hodge

Honored for : La Cage aux Folles

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brandon Victor Dixon The Scottsboro Boys
Bobby Steggert Yank!
Douglas Hodge La Cage aux Folles
Cheyenne Jackson Finian's Rainbow
Chad Kimball Memphis
Nathan Lane The Addams Family

Brian d'Arcy James

Honored for : Shrek the Musical

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brian d'Arcy James Shrek the Musical
Josh Grisetti Enter Laughing The Musical
Sahr Ngaujah Fela!
James Stacy Barbour A Tale of Two Cities
Will Swenson Hair
Daniel Breaker Shrek the Musical

Paulo Szot

Honored for : South Pacific

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Paulo Szot South Pacific
André DeShields Black Nativity
Matthew Morrison 10 Million Miles
Daniel Breaker Passing Strange
Daniel Evans Sunday in the Park with George
Cheyenne Jackson Xanadu

Raúl Esparza

Honored for : Company

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Raúl Esparza Company
David Hyde Pierce Curtains
Michael Cerveris LoveMusik
Martin Short Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
John Gallagher Jr. Spring Awakening
Jonathan Groff Spring Awakening

John Lloyd Young

Honored for : Jersey Boys

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Lloyd Young Jersey Boys
Marc Kudisch See What I Wanna See
Michael Cerveris Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Bob Martin The Drowsy Chaperone
Harry Connick, Jr. The Pajama Game
Stephen Lynch The Wedding Singer

Norbert Leo Butz

Honored for : Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Norbert Leo Butz Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Hank Azaria Spamalot
David Hyde Pierce Spamalot
Matthew Morrison The Light in the Piazza
Mike Burstyn On Second Avenue
Bill Thompson God Hates The Irish: The Ballad of Armless Johnny

Hugh Jackman

Honored for : The Boy from Oz

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hugh Jackman The Boy from Oz
Tyrone Giordano Big River
Alfred Molina Fiddler on the Roof
Hunter Foster Little Shop of Horrors
Euan Morton Taboo
Michael McElroy Big River

Harvey Fierstein

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Petty Hank Williams: Lost Highway
Harvey Fierstein Hairspray
Antonio Banderas Nine
Malcolm Gets Amour
Brian Stokes Mitchell Man of La Mancha
John Selya Movin' Out

Antonio Banderas

Honored for : Nine

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Petty Hank Williams: Lost Highway
Harvey Fierstein Hairspray
Antonio Banderas Nine
Malcolm Gets Amour
Brian Stokes Mitchell Man of La Mancha
John Selya Movin' Out

John Lithgow

Honored for : Sweet Smell of Success

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Norbert Leo Butz The Last 5 Years
Raúl Esparza Tick, Tick... Boom!
John Lithgow Sweet Smell of Success
Patrick Wilson Oklahoma!
Brian d'Arcy James Sweet Smell of Success

Nathan Lane

Honored for : The Producers

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Deven May Bat Boy: The Musical
Nathan Lane The Producers
Kevin Chamberlin Seussical
Patrick Wilson The Full Monty
Matthew Broderick The Producers
Tom Hewitt The Rocky Horror Show

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Honored for : Kiss Me, Kate

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brian d'Arcy James The Wild Party
Brian Stokes Mitchell Kiss Me, Kate
Boyd Gaines Contact
Craig Bierko The Music Man
Mandy Patinkin The Wild Party

Brent Carver

Honored for : Parade

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brent Carver Parade
Tom Wopat Annie Get Your Gun
Martin Short Little Me
Patrick Wilson Bright Lights Big City

Alan Cumming

Honored for : Cabaret

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Cumming Cabaret
John Cameron Mitchell Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Brent Spiner 1776
Peter Friedman Ragtime
Brian Stokes Mitchell Ragtime
Douglas Sills The Scarlet Pimpernel

Robert Cuccioli

Honored for : Jekyll & Hyde

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Robert Cuccioli Jekyll & Hyde
Jim Dale Candide
James Naughton Chicago
Daniel McDonald Steel Pier
Jason Danieley Candide

Nathan Lane

Honored for : A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nathan Lane A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
David Garrison I Do! I Do!
Daniel H. Jenkins Big: the musical
Savion Glover Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk
Adam Pascal Rent
Lou Diamond Phillips The King and I

Matthew Broderick

Honored for : How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Matthew Broderick How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Vernel Bagneris Jelly Roll!
Malcolm Gets Merrily We Roll Along
J.K. Simmons Das Barbecu
George Hearn Sunset Boulevard

Boyd Gaines

Honored for : She Loves Me

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Boyd Gaines She Loves Me
Terrence Mann Beauty and the Beast
Michael Hayden Carousel
Jere Shea Passion

Brent Carver

Honored for : Kiss of the Spider Woman

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brent Carver Kiss of the Spider Woman
Jason Graae Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
Con O'Neill Blood Brothers
Martin Short The Goodbye Girl

Nathan Lane

Honored for : Guys and Dolls

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nathan Lane Guys and Dolls
Gregory Hines Jelly's Last Jam
Peter Gallagher Guys and Dolls
Spiro Malas The Most Happy Fella

Gregory Hines

Honored for : Jelly's Last Jam

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nathan Lane Guys and Dolls
Gregory Hines Jelly's Last Jam
Peter Gallagher Guys and Dolls
Spiro Malas The Most Happy Fella

Jonathan Pryce

Honored for : Miss Saigon

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jonathan Pryce Miss Saigon
Paul Hipp Buddy \u2013 The Buddy Holly Story
Mandy Patinkin The Secret Garden
Keith Carradine Will Rogers Follies

James Naughton

Honored for : City of Angels

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mike Burstyn The Rothschilds
Philip Casnoff Up Against It
James Naughton City of Angels
David Carroll Grand Hotel

Jason Alexander

Honored for : Jerome Robbins' Broadway

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jason Alexander Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Richard Muenz The Pajama Game
Scott Wise Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Bob Gunton Sweeney Todd

Michael Crawford

Honored for : The Phantom of the Opera

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Crawford The Phantom of the Opera
Howard McGillin Anything Goes
David Carroll Chess
George Merritt Lost in the Stars

Robert Lindsay

Honored for : Me and My Girl

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Robert Lindsay Me and My Girl
Colm Wilkinson Les Misérables
Ed Dixon Shylock
Mandy Patinkin The Knife

George Rose

Honored for : The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Rose The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Cleavant Derricks Big Deal
Howard McGillin The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Ron Richardson

Honored for : Big River

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mark Hamill Harrigan 'n Hart
Daniel H. Jenkins Big River
Ron Richardson Big River
Harry Groener Harrigan 'n Hart
Gary Morris La Boheme
David Carroll La Boheme

George Hearn

Honored for : La Cage aux Folles

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Hearn La Cage aux Folles
Gene Barry La Cage aux Folles
Mandy Patinkin Sunday in the Park with George

Kevin Kline

Honored for : The Pirates of Penzance

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kevin Kline The Pirates of Penzance
George Rose The Pirates of Penzance
Martin Vidnovic Brigadoon

Jim Dale

Honored for : Barnum

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jerry Zaks Tintypes
Giorgio Tozzi The Most Happy Fella
Mickey Rooney Sugar Babies
Mandy Patinkin Evita
Jim Dale Barnum
Christopher Durang Das Lusitania Spongspiel

Len Cariou

Honored for : Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Len Cariou Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Peter Walker My Old Friends
Joel Grey The Grand Tour
Charles Repole Whoopee!

Ken Page

Honored for : Ain't Misbehavin'

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ken Page Ain't Misbehavin'
Gary Bayer A History Of The American FIlm
André DeShields Ain't Misbehavin'
Richard Kiley Man of La Mancha
Henderson Forsythe The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Lenny Baker

Honored for : I Love My Wife

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Barry Bostwick The Robber Bridegroom","She Loves Me
Yul Brynner The King And I
Robert Guillaume Guys and Dolls
Reid Shelton Annie
Lenny Baker I Love My Wife

Ian Richardson

Honored for : My Fair Lady

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ian Richardson My Fair Lady
Jerry Orbach Chicago
Nicol Williamson Rex
Raúl Juliá The Threepenny Opera

John Cullum

Honored for : Shenandoah

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Cullum Shenandoah
Charles Pierce The Charles Pierce Show
Joel Grey Goodtime Charley
Robert Preston Mack & Mabel
Eddie Mekka The Lieutenant
Tim Curry The Rocky Horror Show
Raúl Juliá Where's Charley?