Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Series (Primetime Emmy Award)

Primetime Emmy Award

This is a list of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winners. Beginning with the 18th Emmys 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 Telefilm, prior to the category's creation. § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation.

Date Established : 1974

Check all the winners of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Series presented under Primetime Emmy Award since 1974 .

News

68th Annual Primetime Emmy Award: Complete List of Nominations (Tue, Jul 19 2016)
66th Primetime Emmy Awards 2014 Complete List Of Winners (Tue, Aug 26 2014)

Jeff Daniels

Honored for : The Newsroom

(We Just Decided To, as Will McAvoy)

Damian Lewis

Honored for : Homeland

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Michael C. Hall	Dexter
Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad
Steve Buscemi	Boardwalk Empire
Damian Lewis	Homeland
Jon Hamm	Mad Men
Hugh Bonneville	Downton Abbey

Kyle Chandler

Honored for : Friday Night Lights

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Timothy Olyphant	Justified
Steve Buscemi	Boardwalk Empire
Michael C. Hall	Dexter
Jon Hamm	Mad Men
Hugh Laurie	House
Kyle Chandler	Friday Night Lights

Bryan Cranston

Honored for : Breaking Bad

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Kyle Chandler	Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad
Hugh Laurie	House
Matthew Fox	Lost
Jon Hamm	Mad Men
Michael C. Hall	Dexter

Bryan Cranston

Honored for : Breaking Bad

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Hugh Laurie	House Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Jon Hamm	Mad Men Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Simon Baker	The Mentalist Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Gabriel Byrne	In Treatment Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Michael C. Hall	Dexter Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Bryan Cranston

Honored for : Breaking Bad

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Jon Hamm	Mad Men
James Spader	Boston Legal
Michael C. Hall	Dexter
Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad
Hugh Laurie	House
Gabriel Byrne	In Treatment

James Spader

Honored for : Boston Legal

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Kiefer Sutherland	24
James Spader	Boston Legal
Hugh Laurie	House
Denis Leary	Rescue Me
James Gandolfini	The Sopranos

Kiefer Sutherland

Honored for : 24

(Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series)

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Kiefer Sutherland	24 Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Christopher Meloni	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Denis Leary	Rescue Me Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Peter Krause	Six Feet Under Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Martin Sheen	The West Wing Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

James Spader

Honored for : Boston Legal

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Kiefer Sutherland	24
James Spader	Boston Legal
Ian McShane	Deadwood
Hugh Laurie	House
Hank Azaria	Huff

James Spader

Honored for : The Practice

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Kiefer Sutherland	24
James Spader	The Practice
James Gandolfini	The Sopranos
Martin Sheen	The West Wing
Anthony LaPaglia	Without a Trace

James Gandolfini

Honored for : The Sopranos

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Kiefer Sutherland	24
Peter Krause	Six Feet Under
Michael Chiklis	The Shield
James Gandolfini	The Sopranos
Martin Sheen	The West Wing

Michael Chiklis

Honored for : The Shield

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Kiefer Sutherland	24
Michael C. Hall	Six Feet Under
Peter Krause	Six Feet Under
Michael Chiklis	The Shield
Martin Sheen	The West Wing

James Gandolfini

Honored for : The Sopranos

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Andre Braugher	Gideon's Crossing
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue
James Gandolfini	The Sopranos
Rob Lowe	The West Wing
Martin Sheen	The West Wing

James Gandolfini

Honored for : The Sopranos

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Sam Waterston	Law & Order
Jerry Orbach	Law & Order
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue
James Gandolfini	The Sopranos
Martin Sheen	The West Wing

Dennis Franz

Honored for : NYPD Blue

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Sam Waterston	Law & Order
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue
Jimmy Smits	NYPD Blue
Dylan McDermott	The Practice
James Gandolfini	The Sopranos

Andre Braugher

Honored for : Homicide: Life on the Street

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Anthony Edwards	ER
Andre Braugher	Homicide: Life on the Street
Jimmy Smits	NYPD Blue
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue
David Duchovny	The X-Files

Dennis Franz

Honored for : NYPD Blue

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Anthony Edwards	ER
Sam Waterston	Law & Order
Jimmy Smits	NYPD Blue
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue
David Duchovny	The X-Files

Dennis Franz

Honored for : NYPD Blue

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
George Clooney	ER
Anthony Edwards	ER
Andre Braugher	Homicide: Life on the Street
Jimmy Smits	NYPD Blue
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue

Mandy Patinkin

Honored for : Chicago Hope

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Mandy Patinkin	Chicago Hope
George Clooney	ER
Anthony Edwards	ER
Jimmy Smits	NYPD Blue
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz

Honored for : NYPD Blue

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Peter Falk	NBC Mystery Movie Columbo
Michael Moriarty	Law & Order
David Caruso	NYPD Blue
Dennis Franz	NYPD Blue
Tom Skerritt	Picket Fences

Tom Skerritt

Honored for : Picket Fences

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Sam Waterston	I'll Fly Away
Michael Moriarty	Law & Order
Rob Morrow	Northern Exposure
Tom Skerritt	Picket Fences
Scott Bakula	Quantum Leap

Christopher Lloyd

Honored for : Road to Avonlea

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Christopher Lloyd	Road to Avonlea
Sam Waterston	I'll Fly Away
Michael Moriarty	Law & Order
Rob Morrow	Northern Exposure
Scott Bakula	Quantum Leap
Harrison Page	Quantum Leap
Kirk Douglas	Tales from the Crypt

James Earl Jones

Honored for : Gabriel's Fire

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Peter Falk	NBC Mystery Movie Columbo
James Earl Jones	Gabriel's Fire
Michael Moriarty	Law & Order
Scott Bakula	Quantum Leap
Kyle MacLachlan	Twin Peaks

Peter Falk

Honored for : NBC Mystery Movie

(Columbo)

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Peter Falk	NBC Mystery Movie Columbo
Robert Loggia	Mancuso, F.B.I.
Scott Bakula	Quantum Leap
Edward Woodward	The Equalizer
Kyle MacLachlan	Twin Peaks

Carroll O'Connor

Honored for : In the Heat of the Night

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Ron Perlman	Beauty and the Beast
Carroll O'Connor	In the Heat of the Night
Michael Tucker	L.A. Law
Edward Woodward	The Equalizer
Ken Wahl	Wiseguy

Richard Kiley

Honored for : A Year in the Life

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Richard Kiley	A Year in the Life
Ron Perlman	Beauty and the Beast
Corbin Bernsen	L.A. Law
Michael Tucker	L.A. Law
Edward Woodward	The Equalizer

Bruce Willis

Honored for : Moonlighting

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Corbin Bernsen	L.A. Law
Bruce Willis	Moonlighting
William Daniels	St. Elsewhere
Ed Flanders	St. Elsewhere
Edward Woodward	The Equalizer

William Daniels

Honored for : St. Elsewhere

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Tom Selleck	Magnum, P.I.
Bruce Willis	Moonlighting
William Daniels	St. Elsewhere
Ed Flanders	St. Elsewhere
Edward Woodward	The Equalizer

William Daniels

Honored for : St. Elsewhere

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Daniel J. Travanti	Hill Street Blues
Tom Selleck	Magnum, P.I.
Don Johnson	Miami Vice
Ed Flanders	St. Elsewhere
William Daniels	St. Elsewhere

Tom Selleck

Honored for : Magnum, P.I.

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
John Forsythe	Dynasty
Daniel J. Travanti	Hill Street Blues
Tom Selleck	Magnum, P.I.
William Daniels	St. Elsewhere

Ed Flanders

Honored for : St. Elsewhere

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
John Forsythe	Dynasty
Daniel J. Travanti	Hill Street Blues
Tom Selleck	Magnum, P.I.
Ed Flanders	St. Elsewhere
William Daniels	St. Elsewhere

Daniel J. Travanti

Honored for : Hill Street Blues

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
James Garner	Bret Maverick
John Forsythe	Dynasty
Daniel J. Travanti	Hill Street Blues
Ed Asner	Lou Grant
Tom Selleck	Magnum, P.I.

Daniel J. Travanti

Honored for : Hill Street Blues

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Larry Hagman	Dallas
Jim Davis	Dallas
Daniel J. Travanti	Hill Street Blues
Ed Asner	Lou Grant
Louis Gossett, Jr.	Palmerstown, U.S.A.
Pernell Roberts	Trapper John, M.D.

Ed Asner

Honored for : Lou Grant

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Larry Hagman	Dallas
Ed Asner	Lou Grant
Jack Klugman	Quincy, M.E.
James Garner	The Rockford Files

Ron Leibman

Honored for : Kaz

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Ron Leibman	Kaz
Ed Asner	Lou Grant
Jack Klugman	Quincy, M.E.
James Garner	The Rockford Files

Ed Asner

Honored for : Lou Grant

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Peter Falk	NBC Mystery Movie Columbo
James Broderick	Family
Ed Asner	Lou Grant
Jack Klugman	Quincy, M.E.
James Garner	The Rockford Files
Ralph Waite	The Waltons

James Garner

Honored for : The Rockford Files

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Robert Blake	Baretta
Peter Falk	NBC Mystery Movie Columbo
Jack Klugman	Quincy, M.E.
James Garner	The Rockford Files
Karl Malden	The Streets of San Francisco

Peter Falk

Honored for : NBC Mystery Movie

(Columbo)

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Peter Falk	NBC Mystery Movie Columbo
James Garner	The Rockford Files
Karl Malden	The Streets of San Francisco

Robert Blake

Honored for : Baretta

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Robert Blake	Baretta
Telly Savalas	Kojak
Barry Newman	Petrocelli
Karl Malden	The Streets of San Francisco

Telly Savalas

Honored for : Kojak

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Martin Sheen	NBC Mystery Movie The Execution of Private Slovik","Best Lead Actor In A Drama
William Conrad	Cannon
Telly Savalas	Kojak
Karl Malden	The Streets of San Francisco
Richard Thomas	The Waltons
Alan Alda	6 Rms Riv Vu Best Lead Actor In A Drama
Hal Holbrook	ABC Theatre Pueblo","Best Lead Actor In A Drama
Laurence Olivier	ABC Theatre The Merchant of Venice","Best Lead Actor In A Drama
Dick Van Dyke	ABC Movie of the Week The Morning After","Best Lead Actor In A Drama

Hal Holbrook

Honored for : ABC Theatre

(Pueblo, Best Lead Actor In A Drama)

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Martin Sheen	NBC Mystery Movie The Execution of Private Slovik","Best Lead Actor In A Drama
William Conrad	Cannon
Telly Savalas	Kojak
Karl Malden	The Streets of San Francisco
Richard Thomas	The Waltons
Alan Alda	6 Rms Riv Vu Best Lead Actor In A Drama
Hal Holbrook	ABC Theatre Pueblo","Best Lead Actor In A Drama
Laurence Olivier	ABC Theatre The Merchant of Venice","Best Lead Actor In A Drama
Dick Van Dyke	ABC Movie of the Week The Morning After","Best Lead Actor In A Drama

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Series