This is a list of the British Academy Television Awards for Best Actor. The Best Actor award was initially given as an "individual honour", without credit to a particular performance, until 1962, when Rupert Davies won for his performance in Maigret.
Since 1970, nominees have been announced in addition to the winner. The Actor category was split into Leading Actor and Supporting Actor starting in 2010.
Michael Gambon holds the record of most wins in this category with four, including three consecutive wins, followed by Robbie Coltrane with three, all of them also being consecutive. Additionally, Alan Badel, Peter Barkworth, Sean Bean, Alec Guinness, Mark Rylance, John Thaw, and Ben Whishaw, all have received the award twice. Benedict Cumberbatch has received the most nominations for this award with six, followed by Coltrane with five.
Winners and nominees
1950s Year Actor 1955 Paul Rogers 1956 Peter Cushing 1957 Michael Gough 1958 Michael Hordern 1959 Donald Pleasence
1960s
Year Actors Work 1960Patrick McGoohan 1961Lee Montague 1962 Rupert Davies Maigret 1963 Harry H. Corbett Steptoe and Son 1964Alan Badel 1965Patrick Wymark 1966 Alan Badel The Count Of Monte Cristo; Meeting Point; A Couple of Dry Martinis; Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life; Famous Gossips Richard Briers Simon and Laura; Marriage Lines; Points of View; Present Laughter - Excerpt; Charley's Aunt; To You At Home Today Ian Carmichael Simon and Laura; The World of Wooster Patrick Wymark The Plane Makers; Crime and Punishment; Once a Jolly Swagman; Malatesta; Sherlock Holmes; I Remember the Battle; Four of Hearts – Tilt 1967 Warren Mitchell Till Death Us Do Part 1968 Eric Porter The Forsyte Saga 1969 Roy Dotrice Brief Lives
1970s
Year Actors Work 1970 Edward Woodward Callan John Alderton Please Sir! Colin Blakely Son of Man, The Way We Live Now Arthur Lowe Dad's Army 1971 Keith Michell The Six Wives of Henry VIII Michael Bryant The Roads to Freedom Anthony Hopkins The Great Inimitable Mr. Dickens, Uncle Vanya, Hearts and Flowers, Danton Michael Jayston Charles Dickens, Mad Jack, Beethoven Freddie Jones Germinal/Omnibus: John Clare "I Am..."/Sweeney Todd/Uncle Vanya/Menace: The Straight And Narrow 1972 John Le Mesurier Traitor Alfred Burke Public Eye Frank Finlay Casanova Kenneth Haigh Search for the Nile, Man at the Top 1973 Anthony Hopkins War and Peace Michael Bryant The Duchess of Malfi, Colditz Nicol Williamson The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui 1974 Frank Finlay The Adventures of Don Quixote; Candide; The Death of Adolf Hitler Michael Crawford Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Bernard Hepton The Adventures of Don Quixote, Colditz Laurence Olivier Long Day's Journey Into Night 1975 Peter Barkworth Crown Matrimonial Michael Bryant Mr Axelford's Angel Gordon Jackson Upstairs, Downstairs Arthur Lowe Microbes and Men, David Copperfield 1976 John Hurt The Naked Civil Servant Alan Bates Plaintiffs and Defendants, Two Sundays Tony Britton The Nearly Man Timothy West Edward the Seventh 1977 Derek Jacobi I, Claudius James Bolam When the Boat Comes In Tom Conti The Glittering Prizes Jack Shepherd Bill Brand, Ready When You Are Mr McGill 1978 Peter Barkworth Professional Foul James Bolam When the Boat Comes In Derek Jacobi Philby, Burgess and Maclean Robert Powell Jesus of Nazareth 1979 Edward Fox Edward and Mrs Simpson Tom Bell Out Ian Holm Night School, Flayed, Mirage, The Lost Boys Bob Hoskins Pennies From Heaven
1980s
Year Actors Work 1980 Alec Guinness Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Robert Hardy Speed King & All Creatures Great and Small Leo McKern Rumpole of the Bailey Timothy West Churchill and the Generals; Henry VIII; Crime and Punishment; Timothy West as Beecham 1981 Denholm Elliott Gentle Folk; In Hiding; Blade on the Feather; The Stinker (Tales of the Unexpected)|- | Trevor Howard | The Shillingbury Blowers; Staying On |- | Leo McKern | Rumpole's Return |- | Sam Waterston | Oppenheimer |- |rowspan=6 style="text-align:center"| 1982|-style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Anthony Andrews| Brideshead Revisited Robert Hardy Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years; Fothergill John Gielgud Brideshead Revisited Nickolas Grace Jeremy Irons 1983 Alec Guinness Smiley's People George Cole Minder Bernard Hill Boys from the Blackstuff Laurence Olivier A Voyage Round My Father 1984 Alan Bates An Englishman Abroad Leo McKern Rumpole of the Bailey; Reilly, Ace of Spies Ronald Pickup Orwell on Jura; Waters of the Moon Martin Sheen Kennedy 1985 Tim Pigott-Smith The Jewel In The Crown George Cole Minder Charles Dance The Jewel In The Crown Art Malik 1986 Bob Peck Edge of Darkness Alec Guinness Monsignor Quioxte Joe Don Baker Edge of Darkness Ben Kingsley Silas Marner 1987 Michael Gambon The Singing Detective Colin Blakely Drums Along Balmoral Drive Denholm Elliott Hotel du Lac Paul McGann The Monocled Mutineer Patrick Malahide The Singing Detective David Threlfall Paradise Postponed 1988 David Jason Porterhouse Blue Kenneth Branagh Fortunes of War; The Lady's Not for Burning Ray McAnally A Perfect Spy; Scout Robbie Coltrane Tutti Frutti 1989 Ray McAnally A Very British Coup Alan Bennett A Chip in the Sugar Colin Firth Tumbledown Ian Holm Game, Set and Match
1990s
Year Actors Work Character Network 1990 John Thaw Inspector Morse Endeavour Morse ITV Joss Ackland First and Last Alan Holly BBC One Alfred Molina The Accountant Lionel Ellerman John Gielgud Summer's Lease Haverford Downs BBC Two 1991 Ian Richardson House of Cards Francis Urquhart BBC John Thaw Inspector Morse Endeavour MorseITV David Suchet Agatha Christie's Poirot Hercule Poirot Albert Finney The Green Man Maurice Allington BBC One 1992 Robert Lindsay G.B.H. Michael Murray Channel 4 John Thaw Inspector Morse Endeavour MorseITV Tom Bell Prime Suspect Bill Otley Michael Palin G.B.H. Jim Nelson Channel 4 1993 John Thaw Inspector Morse Endeavour Morse ITV Alan BatesUnnatural PursuitsHamish ParttBBC Two Brian CoxThe Lost Language of CranesOwen Benjamin Ian RichardsonAn Ungentlemanly ActRex Hunt 1994 Robbie Coltrane Cracker Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald ITVMichael KitchenTo Play the KingThe KingBBCIan RichardsonFrancis UrquhartNeil PearsonBetween the LinesTony Clark BBC One 1995 Robbie Coltrane Cracker Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald ITVPete PostlethwaiteMartin ChuzzlewitMontague TiggBBC TwoPaul ScofieldOld Martin ChuzzlewittTom WilkinsonSeth Pecksniff 1996(42nd) Robbie Coltrane Cracker Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald ITVColin FirthPride and PrejudiceMr. DarcyBBC OneBenjamin WhitrowMr. BennetRobert LindsayJake's ProgressJamie Diadoni Channel 4Ian RichardsonThe Final CutFrancis Urquhart BBC 1997(43rd) Nigel Hawthorne The Fragile Heart Edgar Pascoe Channel 4Albert FinneyCold Lazarus / KaraokeDaniel Feeld BBC One / Channel 4Christopher EcclestonOur Friends in the NorthDominic 'Nicky' HutchinsonBBC TwoPeter VaughanFelix Hutchinson 1998(44th) Simon Russell Beale A Dance to the Music of Time Kenneth Widmerpool Channel 4Derek JacobiBreaking the CodeAlan Turing BBCRobert CarlyleHamish MacbethHamish MacbethBBC OneTom WilkinsonCold Enough for SnowHugh Lloyd 1999(45th) Tom Courtenay A Rather English Marriage Roy Southgate BBCRobert CarlyleLooking After Jo JoJohn Joe "Jo Jo" McCannBBC TwoTimothy SpallOur Mutual FriendMr. VenusAlbert FinneyA Rather English MarriageReggie Conyngham-Jervis BBC
2000s
Year Actors Work Character Network 2000(46th) Michael Gambon Wives and Daughters Squire Hamley BBC OneAidan GillenQueer as FolkStuart Alan Jones Channel 4Pete PostlethwaiteLost for WordsDeric Longden ITVTimothy SpallShooting the PastOswald Bates BBC Two 2001(47th) Michael Gambon Longitude John Harrison Channel 4Steven MackintoshCareDavy YoungerBBC OnePete PostlethwaiteThe SinsLen GreenKen StottThe VicePat Chappel ITV 2002(48th) Michael Gambon Perfect Strangers Raymond Symon BBC TwoAlan BatesLove in a Cold ClimateMatthew AlconleighBBC OneDavid SuchetThe Way We Live NowAugustus MelmotteTimothy SpallVacuuming Completely Nude in ParadiseTommy Rag BBC Two 2003(49th) Albert Finney The Gathering Storm Winston Churchill BBCJames NesbittBloody SundayIvan Cooper ITVKenneth BranaghConspiracyReinhard Heydrich BBC Two/HBOShackletonErnest Shackleton Channel 4 2004 (50th) Bill Nighy State of Play Cameron Lloyd BBC OneChristopher EcclestonThe Second ComingSteven Baxter ITVJim BroadbentThe Young VisitersAlfred SalteenaBBC OneDavid MorrisseyState of PlayStephen Collins 2005 (51st) Rhys Ifans Not Only But Always Peter Cook Channel 4Benedict CumberbatchHawkingStephen HawkingBBC TwoMark StrongThe Long FirmHarry StarksMichael SheenDirty Filthy LoveMark Furness ITV 2006 (52nd) Mark Rylance The Government Inspector Dr. David Kelly Channel 4Denis LawsonBleak HouseJohn JarndyceBBC OneRufus SewellShakespeaRe-Told: The Taming of the ShrewPetruchioBernard HillA Very Social SecretaryDavid Blunkett Channel 4 2007 (53rd) Jim Broadbent Longford Frank Pakenham Channel 4John SimmLife on MarsSam Tyler BBC OneAndy SerkisLongfordIan Brady Channel 4Michael SheenKenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!Kenneth Williams BBC Four 2008 (54th) Andrew Garfield Boy A Jack Burridge / Eric Wilson Channel 4Tom HardyStuart: A Life BackwardsStuart Shorter BBC TwoMatthew MacFadyenSecret LifeCharlie Webb Channel 4Antony SherPrimoPrimo Levi BBC Four 2009 (55th) Stephen Dillane The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall Anthony Hurndall Channel 4Jason IsaacsThe Curse of SteptoeHarry H. CorbettBBC FourKen StottHancock & JoanTony Hancock Ben WhishawCriminal JusticeBen Coulter BBC One
2010s
Year Actors Work Character Network 2010 (56th) Kenneth BranaghWallander Kurt Wallander BBC OneBrendan Gleeson Into the Storm Winston Churchill BBCJohn Hurt An Englishman in New York Quentin Crisp ITVDavid OyelowoSmall Island Gilbert Joseph BBC One 2011 (57th) Daniel RigbyEric and Ernie Eric Morecambe BBC TwoJim Broadbent Any Human Heart Logan Mountstuart Channel 4Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Sherlock HolmesBBC OneMatt SmithDoctor Who The Doctor 2012 (58th) Dominic WestAppropriate Adult Fred West ITVBenedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Sherlock HolmesBBC OneJohn SimmExile Tom RonstadtJoseph GilgunThis Is England '88 Richard Woodford Channel 4 2013 (59th) Ben WhishawThe Hollow Crown Richard II BBC TwoSean Bean Accused Simon/TracieBBC OneDerek Jacobi Last Tango in Halifax Alan ButtershawToby Jones The Girl Alfred Hitchcock BBC Two 2014 (60th) Sean HarrisSouthcliffe Stephen Morton Channel 4Jamie DornanThe Fall Paul Spector BBC TwoLuke NewberryIn the Flesh Kieren Walker BBC ThreeDominic WestBurton & Taylor Richard Burton BBC Four 2015 (61st) Jason WatkinsThe Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies Christopher Jefferies ITVBenedict CumberbatchSherlock Sherlock HolmesBBC OneJames NesbittThe Missing Tony HughesToby JonesMarvellous Neil Baldwin BBC Two 2016 (62nd) Mark RylanceWolf Hall Thomas Cromwell BBC TwoStephen GrahamThis is England '90 Andrew "Combo" Gascoigne Channel 4Idris ElbaLuther John Luther BBC OneBen WhishawLondon Spy Daniel Holt BBC Two 2017 (63rd) Adeel AkhtarMurdered by My Father Shahzad Khan BBC ThreeBabou CeesayDamilola, Our Loved Boy Richard Taylor BBC OneRobbie ColtraneNational Treasure Paul Finchley Channel 4Benedict CumberbatchThe Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses Richard III BBC Two 2018 (64th) Sean BeanBroken Michael Kerrigan BBC OneJack RowanBorn to Kill Sam Woodford Channel 4Joe ColeBlack Mirror Frank NetflixTim Pigott-SmithKing Charles III King Charles III BBC Two 2019 (65th) Benedict CumberbatchPatrick Melrose Patrick Melrose Sky AtlanticHugh GrantA Very English Scandal Jeremy Thorpe BBC OneLucian MsamatiKiri Tobi Akindele Channel 4Chance PerdomoKilled by My Debt Jerome Rogers BBC Three
2020s