Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

2025

Sterling K. Brown / Paradise (2025)

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

Noah Wyle / The Pitt

2024

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

Hiroyuki Sanada / Shōgun

Idris Elba / Hijack

2023

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Jeff Bridges / The Old Man

Kieran Culkin / Succession

Brian Cox / Succession

2022

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Brian Cox / Succession

2021

Matthew Rhys / Perry Mason (2020)

Jonathan Majors / Lovecraft Country

2020

Brian Cox / Succession

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Steve Carell / The Morning Show

2019

House of Cards (US)

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

2018

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

2017

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

House of Cards (US)

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

2016

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

House of Cards (US)

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

2015

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

House of Cards (US)

2014

Woody Harrelson / True Detective

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

House of Cards (US)

2013

House of Cards (US)

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

Damian Lewis / Homeland

2012

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

Damian Lewis / Homeland

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

2011

Timothy Olyphant / Justified

Kyle Chandler / Friday Night Lights

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

2010

Kyle Chandler / Friday Night Lights

2008

James Spader / Boston Legal

2007

James Spader / Boston Legal

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2006

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Christopher Meloni / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

2005

James Spader / Boston Legal

Hank Azaria / Huff

2004

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Anthony LaPaglia / Without a Trace

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

James Spader / The Practice

2003

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2002

Michael C. Hall / Six Feet Under

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

2001

Andre Braugher / Gideon's Crossing

Rob Lowe / The West Wing

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

2000

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

1999

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Dylan McDermott / The Practice

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

1998

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

1997

Anthony Edwards / ER

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

1996

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

George Clooney / ER

1995

Mandy Patinkin / Chicago Hope

Anthony Edwards / ER

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

George Clooney / ER

1994

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

David Caruso / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1993

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

1992

Christopher Lloyd / Road to Avonlea

Kirk Douglas / Tales from the Crypt

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

1991

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

James Earl Jones / Gabriel's Fire

1990

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Robert Loggia / Mancuso, FBI

1989

Michael Tucker / L.A. Law

Ken Wahl / Wiseguy

Carroll O'Connor / In the Heat of the Night

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

1988

Michael Tucker / L.A. Law

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Richard Kiley / A Year in the Life

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

1987

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

1986

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

1985

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1984

John Forsythe / Dynasty

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1983

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

John Forsythe / Dynasty

1982

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

John Forsythe / Dynasty

James Garner / Bret Maverick

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

1981

Louis Gossett Jr. / Palmerstown, U.S.A.

Larry Hagman / Dallas

Jim Davis / Dallas

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Pernell Roberts / Trapper John, M.D.

1980

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Larry Hagman / Dallas

1979

Ron Leibman / Kaz

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

1978

James Broderick / Family

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

1977

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Robert Blake / Baretta

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1976

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1975

Robert Blake / Baretta

Barry Newman / Petrocelli

Telly Savalas / Kojak

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1974

William Conrad / Cannon

Telly Savalas / Kojak

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1973

William Conrad / Cannon

David Carradine / Kung Fu

Mike Connors / Mannix

1972

Keith Michell / The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Mike Connors / Mannix

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

1971

Mike Connors / Mannix

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Hal Holbrook / The Bold Ones: The Senator

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1970

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Mike Connors / Mannix

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Robert Wagner / It Takes a Thief

1969

Peter Graves / Mission: Impossible

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Ross Martin / The Wild Wild West

Carl Betz / Judd for the Defense

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1968

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Robert Culp / I Spy

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

1967

Bill Cosby / I Spy

David Janssen / The Fugitive

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Robert Culp / I Spy

1966

David McCallum / The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

Robert Culp / I Spy

Bill Cosby / I Spy

David Janssen / The Fugitive

1965

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

David McCallum / The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

1964

David Janssen / The Fugitive

1963

Vic Morrow / Combat!

E.G. Marshall / The Defenders

1962

E.G. Marshall / The Defenders

1961

Robert Stack / The Untouchables

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

1960

Robert Stack / The Untouchables

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

1959

James Arness / Gunsmoke

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

1958

James Arness / Gunsmoke

1957

James Arness / Gunsmoke

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

1956

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

Toolbox

Delete Award Category

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Toolbox

Edit Tag