Awards & Winners

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured 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 Featured Actor in a Musical presented under Drama Desk Award since 1975 .


James Monroe Iglehart

Honored for : Aladdin

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Danny Burstein Cabaret
Nick Cordero Bullets Over Broadway
Joshua Henry Violet
James Monroe Iglehart Aladdin
Rory O'Malley Nobody Loves You
Bobby Steggert Big Fish

Bertie Carvel

Honored for : Matilda the Musical

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephen Bogardus Passion
John Dossett Giant
Bertie Carvel Matilda the Musical
John Bolton A Christmas Story: The Musical
Keith Carradine Hands on a Hardbody
Andy Karl The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Michael McGrath

Honored for : Nice Work If You Can Get It

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael McGrath Nice Work If You Can Get It
Matt Cavenaugh Death Takes a Holiday
Andrew Samonsky Queen of the Mist
Michael Cerveris Evita
Patrick Page Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Phillip Boykin Porgy and Bess

John Larroquette

Honored for : How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bob Stillman Hello Again
John Larroquette How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Adam Godley Anything Goes
Tom Wopat Catch Me if You Can
Rory O'Malley The Book of Mormon
Brian Stokes Mitchell Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Christopher Fitzgerald

Honored for : Finian's Rainbow

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Christopher Fitzgerald Finian's Rainbow
Kevin Chamberlin The Addams Family
Robin de Jesús La Cage aux Folles
Jeffry Denman Yank!
Jeremy Morse Bloodsong of Love
Bobby Steggert Ragtime

Gregory Jbara

Honored for : Billy Elliot: The Musical

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gregory Jbara Billy Elliot: The Musical
Hunter Foster Happiness
Demond Green The Toxic Avenger
Marc Kudisch 9 to 5
Bryce Ryness Hair
Christopher Sieber Shrek the Musical

Boyd Gaines

Honored for : Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Boyd Gaines Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Danny Burstein South Pacific
Shuler Hensley Young Frankenstein
Bobby Steggert The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island
Tom Wopat A Catered Affair
Christopher Fitzgerald Young Frankenstein

Gavin Lee

Honored for : Mary Poppins

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gavin Lee Mary Poppins
Orville Mendoza Adrift in Macao
Christian Borle Legally Blonde: The Musical
Aaron Lazar Les Misérables
David Pittu LoveMusik
Brooks Ashmanskas Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

Jim Dale

Honored for : The Threepenny Opera

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John McMartin Grey Gardens
Jim Dale The Threepenny Opera
Christian Hoff Jersey Boys
Daniel Reichard Jersey Boys
Alexander Gemignani Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Eddie Korbich The Drowsy Chaperone

Denis O'Hare

Honored for : Sweet Charity

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Denis O'Hare Sweet Charity
Norm Lewis Dessa Rose
Tyler Maynard Altar Boyz
Gregory Jbara Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Christian Borle Spamalot
Michael McGrath Spamalot

Raúl Esparza

Honored for : Taboo

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Raúl Esparza Taboo
Jeffrey Carlson Taboo
Joel Blum Golf: The Musical
Marc Kudisch Assassins
Mitchel David Federan The Boy from Oz
Raymond McLeod Wonderful Town

Dick Latessa

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dick Latessa Hairspray
Corey Reynolds Hairspray
Charles Keating A Man of No Importance
Steven Pasquale A Man of No Importance
Christopher Fitzgerald Amour
John Dossett Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Shuler Hensley

Honored for : Oklahoma!

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Shuler Hensley Oklahoma!
Norbert Leo Butz Thou Shalt Not
Marc Kudisch Thoroughly Modern Millie
Justin Bohon Oklahoma!
Gregg Edelman Into the Woods
Jerry Dixon Tick, Tick... Boom!

Gary Beach

Honored for : The Producers

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mark Jacoby Enter the Guardsman
Gary Beach The Producers
John Ellison Conlee The Full Monty
André DeShields The Full Monty
Roger Bart The Producers
Jeff McCarthy Urinetown

Stephen Spinella

Honored for : James Joyce's The Dead

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Christopher Fitzgerald Saturday Night Fever
Stephen Spinella James Joyce's The Dead
Jason Antoon Contact
Alistair Izobell Kat and the Kings
Michael Mulheren Kiss Me, Kate
Lee Wilkof Kiss Me, Kate

Roger Bart

Honored for : You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Roger Bart You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Bryan Batt Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act
Chip Zien A New Brain
Ron Taylor It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues
Rufus Bonds Jr. Parade
Michel Bell The Civil War

Gregg Edelman

Honored for : 1776

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John McMartin High Society
Gregg Edelman 1776
Steven Sutcliffe Ragtime
Renoly Santiago The Capeman
Max Casella The Lion King
Geoff Hoyle The Lion King

Joel Grey

Honored for : Chicago

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joel Grey Chicago
Stanley Bojarski Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly
Michael McElroy Violet
Jay Rogers Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly
André DeShields Play On
Sam Harris The Life
Joel Grey Chicago

Wilson Jermaine Heredia

Honored for : Rent

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Wilson Jermaine Heredia Rent
Brett Tabisel Big: the musical
Ben Wright State Fair
Scott Wise State Fair
Lewis Cleale Swinging on a Star
Michael McGrath Swinging on a Star

Jarrod Emick

Honored for : Damn Yankees

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jarrod Emick Damn Yankees
John Cameron Mitchell Hello Again
George de la Peña The Red Shoes
Sam Harris Grease
Burke Moses Beauty and the Beast

Mark Michael Hutchinson

Honored for : Blood Brothers

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mark Michael Hutchinson Blood Brothers
Jerry Lanning Anna Karenina
Josh Mostel My Favorite Year

Scott Waara

Honored for : The Most Happy Fella

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Scott Waara The Most Happy Fella
Bruce Adler Crazy for You
Walter Bobbie Guys and Dolls
Savion Glover Jelly's Last Jam

Bruce Adler

Honored for : Those Were the Days

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bruce Adler Those Were the Days
John Cameron Mitchell The Secret Garden
John Remme A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Lee Wilkof Assassins

Michael Jeter

Honored for : Grand Hotel

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Jeter Grand Hotel
Laurence Guittard The Sound of Music
Rene Auberjonois City of Angels
Jonathan Hadary Gypsy

Robert Westenberg

Honored for : Into the Woods

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Robert Westenberg Into the Woods
Anthony Heald Anything Goes
Bill McCutcheon Anything Goes
Harry Goz Chess
Herbert Rawlins Dreamgirls

Michael Rupert

Honored for : Sweet Charity

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joe Grifasi The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Gregg Burge Song and Dance
Michael Rupert Sweet Charity
Jason Alexander Personals

Rene Auberjonois

Honored for : Big River

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rene Auberjonois Big River
John Goodman Big River
Bob Gunton Big River
John Short Big River
Timothy Nolen Grind
Howard McGillin La Boheme

Martin Vidnovic

Honored for : Baby

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Martin Vidnovic Baby
Mace Barrett Taking My Turn
Charles Kimbrough Sunday in the Park with George
Hinton Battle The Tap Dance Kid

Charles Coles

Honored for : My One and Only

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Charles Coles My One and Only
Bruce Hubbard Show Boat
Franc Luz Little Shop of Horrors
Randle Mell The Cradle Will Rock

Cleavant Derricks

Honored for : Dreamgirls

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cleavant Derricks Dreamgirls
Ben Harney Dreamgirls
Mark Hardwick Pump Boys and Dinettes

Tony Azito

Honored for : The Pirates of Penzance

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tony Azito The Pirates of Penzance
Lee Roy Reams 42nd Street
Michael Davis Broadway Follies
Paxton Whitehead Camelot
Gregg Burge Sophisticated Ladies

Bob Gunton

Honored for : Evita

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bob Gunton Evita
Don Novello Gilda Radner - Live From New York
Harry Groener Oklahoma!
Martin Vidnovic Oklahoma!
Joe Grifasi The 1940's Radio Hour
Jeff Keller The 1940's Radio Hour

Ken Jennings

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

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ken Jennings Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Bob Gunton King of Hearts
Richard Cox Platinum

Kevin Kline

Honored for : On the Twentieth Century

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lee Wilkof The Present Tense
Kevin Kline On the Twentieth Century
Joel Higgins Angel
Charles Ward Dancin'
Matt Landers Working
Brad Sullivan Working

Ken Bichel, Michael Mark, John Miller, Joseph Saulter

Honored for : I Love My Wife

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ken Bichel I Love My Wife
Michael Mark I Love My Wife
Joseph Saulter I Love My Wife
John Miller I Love My Wife
George Rose She Loves Me
Daniel Benzali Music Is
Christopher Hewett Music Is
Larry Marshall Porgy and Bess

George Rose

Honored for : My Fair Lady

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Rose My Fair Lady
Barry Preston Bubbling Brown Sugar
Haruki Fujimoto Pacific Overtures
James Harder Very Good Eddie

Ted Ross

Honored for : The Wiz

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ted Ross The Wiz
Richard B. Shull Goodtime Charley
Gilbert Price The Night That Made America Famous
Hinton Battle The Wiz
Jerry Lanning Where's Charley?
Pinta DeCola In Gay Company