laureldb Entertainment awards

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Primetime Emmy Awards · 332 nominations across 64 ceremonies · 64 wins

78th Emmys · 2026

77th Emmys · 2025

76th Emmys · 2024

Winner Hiroyuki Sanada · Shōgun
Nominee Idris Elba · Hijack
Nominee Donald Glover · Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Nominee Dominic West · The Crown
Nominee Walton Goggins · Fallout
Nominee Gary Oldman · Slow Horses

75th Emmys · 2023

74th Emmys · 2022

73rd Emmys · 2021

Winner Josh O'Connor · The Crown
Nominee Regé-Jean Page · Bridgerton
Nominee Matthew Rhys · Perry Mason
Nominee Jonathan Majors · Lovecraft Country
Nominee Sterling K. Brown · This Is Us
Nominee Billy Porter · Pose

72nd Emmys · 2020

71st Emmys · 2019

70th Emmys · 2018

69th Emmys · 2017

68th Emmys · 2016

67th Emmys · 2015

66th Emmys · 2014

Winner Bryan Cranston · Breaking Bad
Nominee Kevin Spacey · House of Cards
Nominee Woody Harrelson · True Detective
Nominee Jon Hamm · Mad Men
Nominee Matthew McConaughey · True Detective
Nominee Jeff Daniels · The Newsroom

65th Emmys · 2013

64th Emmys · 2012

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

63rd Emmys · 2011

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

62nd Emmys · 2010

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

61st Emmys · 2009

60th Emmys · 2008

59th Emmys · 2007

58th Emmys · 2006

Winner Kiefer Sutherland · 24
Nominee Martin Sheen · The West Wing
Nominee Denis Leary · Rescue Me
Nominee Peter Krause · Six Feet Under
Nominee Christopher Meloni · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

57th Emmys · 2005

Winner James Spader · Boston Legal
Nominee Kiefer Sutherland · 24
Nominee Ian McShane · Deadwood
Nominee Hugh Laurie · House M.D.
Nominee Hank Azaria · Huff

56th Emmys · 2004

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

55th Emmys · 2003

54th Emmys · 2002

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

53rd Emmys · 2001

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

52nd Emmys · 2000

51st Emmys · 1999

50th Emmys · 1998

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

49th Emmys · 1997

48th Emmys · 1996

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

47th Emmys · 1995

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

46th Emmys · 1994

45th Emmys · 1993

44th Emmys · 1992

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

43rd Emmys · 1991

Winner James Earl Jones · Gabriel's Fire
Nominee Kyle MacLachlan · Twin Peaks
Nominee Scott Bakula · Quantum Leap
Nominee Peter Falk · Columbo
Nominee Michael Moriarty · Law & Order

42nd Emmys · 1990

41st Emmys · 1989

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

40th Emmys · 1988

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

39th Emmys · 1987

38th Emmys · 1986

37th Emmys · 1985

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

36th Emmys · 1984

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

35th Emmys · 1983

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

34th Emmys · 1982

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

33rd Emmys · 1981

Winner Daniel J. Travanti · Hill Street Blues
Nominee Jim Davis · Dallas
Nominee Larry Hagman · Dallas
Nominee Louis Gossett Jr.
Nominee Ed Asner · Lou Grant
Nominee Pernell Roberts · Trapper John, M.D.

32nd Emmys · 1980

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

31st Emmys · 1979

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

30th Emmys · 1978

Winner Ed Asner · Lou Grant
Winner Ed Asner · Lou Grant
Nominee James Garner · The Rockford Files
Nominee Jack Klugman · Quincy, M.E.
Nominee James Broderick · Family
Nominee Peter Falk · Columbo
Nominee Ralph Waite · The Waltons

29th Emmys · 1977

Winner James Garner · The Rockford Files
Nominee Robert Blake · Baretta
Nominee Jack Klugman · Quincy, M.E.
Nominee Karl Malden · The Streets of San Francisco
Nominee Peter Falk · Columbo

28th Emmys · 1976

Winner Peter Falk · Columbo
Nominee Karl Malden · The Streets of San Francisco
Nominee James Garner · The Rockford Files

27th Emmys · 1975

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

26th Emmys · 1974

Winner Telly Savalas · Kojak
Nominee Richard Thomas · The Waltons
Nominee William Conrad · Cannon
Nominee Karl Malden · The Streets of San Francisco

25th Emmys · 1973

24th Emmys · 1972

Winner Peter Falk · Columbo
Nominee Mike Connors · Mannix
Nominee Keith Michell · The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Nominee Raymond Burr · Ironside
Nominee Robert Young · Marcus Welby, M.D.

23rd Emmys · 1971

Winner Hal Holbrook · The Bold Ones: The Senator
Nominee Robert Young · Marcus Welby, M.D.
Nominee Mike Connors · Mannix
Nominee Raymond Burr · Ironside

22nd Emmys · 1970

Winner Robert Young · Marcus Welby, M.D.
Nominee Robert Wagner · It Takes a Thief
Nominee Mike Connors · Mannix
Nominee Raymond Burr · Ironside

21st Emmys · 1969

Winner Carl Betz · Judd, for the Defense
Nominee Martin Landau · Mission: Impossible
Nominee Peter Graves · Mission: Impossible
Nominee Ross Martin · The Wild Wild West
Nominee Raymond Burr · Ironside

20th Emmys · 1968

Winner Bill Cosby · I Spy
Nominee Martin Landau · Mission: Impossible
Nominee Robert Culp · I Spy
Nominee Ben Gazzara · Run for Your Life
Nominee Raymond Burr · Ironside

19th Emmys · 1967

Winner Bill Cosby · I Spy
Nominee Martin Landau · Mission: Impossible
Nominee Ben Gazzara · Run for Your Life
Nominee David Janssen · The Fugitive
Nominee Robert Culp · I Spy

18th Emmys · 1966

Winner Bill Cosby · I Spy
Nominee David Janssen · The Fugitive
Nominee David McCallum · The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Nominee Robert Culp · I Spy
Nominee Richard Crenna · Slattery's People

12th Emmys · 1960

Winner Robert Stack · The Untouchables

11th Emmys · 1959

Winner Raymond Burr · Perry Mason
Nominee James Garner · Maverick
Nominee James Arness · Gunsmoke
Nominee Richard Boone · Have Gun – Will Travel
Nominee Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. · 77 Sunset Strip
Nominee Craig Stevens · Peter Gunn

9th Emmys · 1957

Winner Robert Young · Father Knows Best
Nominee James Arness · Gunsmoke
Nominee Charles Boyer · Four Star Playhouse
Nominee Hugh O'Brian · The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Nominee David Niven · Four Star Playhouse