This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The award is presented to the best performance by a lead actor in a television comedy series. Beginning with 1966, leading actors in comedy have competed alone. However, these comedic 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 television film, prior to the category's creation § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation
Winners and nominations 1950s Year Actor Role Program NetworkBest Male Star of a Regular Series 1954Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre specific acting categories. Donald O'Connor Himself The Colgate Comedy Hour NBC Sid Caesar Various characters Your Show of ShowsNBC Wally Cox Robinson Peepers Mister Peepers Jackie Gleason Various characters The Jackie Gleason Show CBS Jack Webb Joe Friday Dragnet NBCBest Actor Starring in a Regular Series 1955Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre specific acting categories. Danny Thomas Danny Williams Make Room for Daddy ABC Richard Boone Dr. Konrad Styner MedicNBC Robert Cummings Robert Beanblossom My Hero Jackie Gleason Various characters The Jackie Gleason Show CBS Jack Webb Joe Friday Dragnet NBCBest Actor - Continuing Performance 1956 Phil Silvers MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko The Phil Silvers Show CBS Robert Cummings Bob Collins The Bob Cummings ShowCBS Jackie Gleason Ralph Kramden The Honeymooners Danny Thomas Danny Williams Make Room for Daddy ABC Robert Young Jim Anderson Father Knows Best CBSBest Continuing Performance by a Comedian in a Series 1957 Sid Caesar Various characters Caesar's Hour NBC Jack Benny Various characters The Jack Benny ProgramCBS Robert Cummings Bob Collins The Bob Cummings Show Ernie Kovacs Himself The Ernie Kovacs Show NBC Phil Silvers MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko The Phil Silvers Show CBSBest Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series 1958 Robert Young Jim Anderson Father Knows Best NBC James Arness Matt Dillon GunsmokeCBS Robert Cummings Bob Collins The Bob Cummings Show Phil Silvers MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko The Phil Silvers Show Danny Thomas Danny Williams The Danny Thomas Show ABC & CBSBest Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series 1959 Jack Benny Various characters The Jack Benny Program CBS Walter Brennan Grandpa Amos McCoy The Real McCoys ABC Robert Cummings Bob Collins The Bob Cummings Show NBC Phil Silvers MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko The Phil Silvers ShowCBS Danny Thomas Danny Williams The Danny Thomas Show Robert Young Jim Anderson Father Knows Best CBS & NBC
1960s Year Actor Role Program NetworkOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead or Support) 1960 Robert Stack Eliot Ness The Untouchables ABC Richard Boone Paladin Have Gun – Will TravelCBS Raymond Burr Perry Mason Perry MasonOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead) 1961 Raymond Burr Perry Mason Perry Mason CBS Jackie Cooper Chick Hennesey Hennesey CBS Robert Stack Eliot Ness The Untouchables ABCOutstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead) 1962 E. G. Marshall Lawrence Preston The Defenders CBS Paul Burke Det. Adam Flint Naked City ABC Jackie Cooper Chick Hennesey Hennesey CBS Vince Edwards Ben Casey Ben Casey ABC George Maharis Buz Murdock Route 66 CBS 1963 E. G. Marshall Lawrence Preston The Defenders CBS Ernest Borgnine Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale McHale's NavyABC Paul Burke Det. Adam Flint Naked City Vic Morrow Sgt. Sanders Combat! Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS 1964 Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS Richard Boone Host The Richard Boone ShowNBC Dean Jagger Principal Albert Vane Mr. Novak David Janssen Dr. Richard Kimble The Fugitive ABC George C. Scott Neil Brock East Side/West Side CBSOutstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Actors and Performers 1965Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre specific acting categories. Leonard Bernstein Conductor New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein CBS Lynn Fontanne Fanny Bowditch HolmesHallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee"| rowspan="2"|NBC|-style="background:#FAEB86" | Alfred Lunt| Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.|-style="background:#FAEB86" | Barbra Streisand| Herself| My Name Is BarbraCBS Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show Julie Andrews Herself The Andy Williams Show: "November 30, 1964"NBC Johnny Carson Host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Gladys Cooper Margaret St. ClairThe Rogues Robert Coote Timmy St. Clair Richard Crenna James Slattery Slattery's People CBS Julie Harris Florence Nightingale Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Holy Terror"NBC Bob Hope Himself Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special Dean Jagger Principal Albert Vane Mr. Novak Danny Kaye Host The Danny Kaye Show CBS David McCallum Illya Kuryakin The Man from U.N.C.L.E. NBC Red Skelton Himself The Red Skelton Hour CBSOutstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series 1966 Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS Don Adams Maxwell Smart Get Smart NBC Bob Crane Colonel Robert E. Hogan Hogan's Heroes CBS 1967 Don Adams Maxwell Smart Get Smart NBC Bob Crane Colonel Robert E. Hogan Hogan's HeroesCBS Brian Keith Bill Davis Family Affair Larry Storch Corporal Randolph Agarn F Troop ABC 1968 Don Adams Maxwell Smart Get Smart NBC Richard Benjamin Dick Hollister He & SheCBS Sebastian Cabot Giles FrenchFamily Affair Brian Keith Bill Davis Dick York Darrin Stephens Bewitched ABC 1969 Don Adams Maxwell Smart Get Smart NBC Brian Keith Bill Davis Family Affair CBS Edward Mulhare Captain Daniel Gregg The Ghost and Mrs. MuirNBC Lloyd Nolan Dr. Morton Chegley Julia
1970s Year Actor Role Program Network 1970 William Windom John Monroe My World and Welcome to It NBC Bill Cosby Chet Kincaid The Bill Cosby Show NBC Lloyd Haynes Pete Dixon Room 222 ABC 1971 Jack Klugman Oscar Madison The Odd Couple ABC Ted Bessell Donald Hollinger That GirlABC Bill Bixby Tom Corbett The Courtship of Eddie's Father Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS Tony Randall Felix Unger The Odd Couple ABC 1972 Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS Redd Foxx Fred G. Sanford Sanford and Son NBC Jack Klugman Oscar MadisonThe Odd CoupleABC Tony Randall Felix Unger 1973 Jack Klugman Oscar Madison The Odd Couple ABC Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Redd Foxx Fred G. Sanford Sanford and Son NBC Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS Tony Randall Felix Unger The Odd Couple ABC 1974 Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Redd Foxx Fred G. Sanford Sanford and Son NBC Jack Klugman Oscar Madison The Odd Couple ABC Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS Tony Randall Felix Unger The Odd Couple ABC 1975 Tony Randall Felix Unger The Odd Couple ABC Jack Albertson Ed Brown Chico and the Man NBC Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Jack Klugman Oscar Madison The Odd Couple ABC Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS 1976 Jack Albertson Ed Brown Chico and the Man NBC Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Hal Linden Barney Miller Barney MillerABC Henry Winkler Fonzie Happy Days 1977 Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS Jack Albertson Ed Brown Chico and the Man NBC Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Hal Linden Barney Miller Barney MillerABC Henry Winkler Fonzie Happy Days 1978 Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Hal Linden Barney Miller Barney MillerABC John Ritter Jack Tripper Three's Company Henry Winkler Fonzie Happy Days 1979 Carroll O'Connor Archie Bunker All in the Family CBS Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Judd Hirsch Alex Reiger TaxiABC Hal Linden Barney Miller Barney Miller Robin Williams Mork Mork & Mindy
1980s Year Actor Role Program Episode Submissions Network 1980 Richard Mulligan Burt Campbell Soap "Episode 51" ABC Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Robert Guillaume Benson DuBois Benson ABC Judd Hirsch Alex Reiger Taxi Hal Linden Barney Miller Barney Miller 1981 Judd Hirsch Alex Reiger Taxi "Elaine's Strange Triangle" ABC Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Hal Linden Barney Miller Barney Miller ABC Richard Mulligan Burt Campbell Soap John Ritter Jack Tripper Three's Company 1982 Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H "Where There's a Will, There's a War" CBS Robert Guillaume Benson DuBois Benson ABC Judd Hirsch Alex Reiger Taxi Hal Linden Barney Miller Barney Miller Leslie Nielsen Frank Drebin Police Squad! 1983 Judd Hirsch Alex Reiger Taxi "Alex's Old Buddy" NBC Alan Alda Hawkeye Pierce M*A*S*H CBS Dabney Coleman Bill Bittinger Buffalo Bill NBC Ted Danson Sam Malone Cheers Robert Guillaume Benson DuBois Benson ABC 1984 John Ritter Jack Tripper Three's Company "Cupid Works Overtime" ABC Dabney Coleman Bill Bittinger Buffalo Bill NBC Ted Danson Sam Malone Cheers Robert Guillaume Benson DuBois Benson ABC Sherman Hemsley George Jefferson The Jeffersons CBS 1985 Robert Guillaume Benson DuBois Benson ABC Harry Anderson Judge Harry Stone Night Court NBC Ted Danson Sam Malone Cheers Bob Newhart Dick Loudon Newhart CBS Jack Warden Harry Fox Crazy Like a Fox 1986 Michael J. Fox Alex P. Keaton Family Ties "The Real Thing" NBC Harry Anderson Judge Harry Stone Night Court NBC Ted Danson Sam Malone Cheers Bob Newhart Dick Loudon Newhart CBS Jack Warden Harry Fox Crazy Like a Fox 1987 Michael J. Fox Alex P. Keaton Family Ties "A, My Name Is Alex" NBC Harry Anderson Judge Harry Stone Night Court NBC Ted Danson Sam Malone Cheers "Diamond Sam" Bob Newhart Dick Loudon Newhart "Co-Hostess Twinkie" CBS Bronson Pinchot Balki Bartokomous Perfect Strangers ABC 1988 Michael J. Fox Alex P. Keaton Family Ties "The Last of the Red Hot Psychologists" NBC Dabney Coleman Slap Maxwell The Slap Maxwell Story "Episode 2" ABC Ted Danson Sam Malone Cheers NBC Tim Reid Frank Parrish Frank's Place "The Bridge" CBS John Ritter Det. Harry Hooperman Hooperman "Pilot" ABC 1989 Richard Mulligan Dr. Harry Weston Empty Nest "Pilot" NBC Ted Danson Sam Malone Cheers "Swear to God"NBC Michael J. Fox Alex P. Keaton Family Ties "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore" John Goodman Dan Conner Roseanne "Dan's Birthday Bash"ABC Fred Savage Kevin Arnold The Wonder Years "Birthday Boy"
1990s