The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series is an award presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Beginning with 1966, 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 television film, before the category's creation § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, before and after the category's creation
Winners and nominations
1950s Year Actor Role Program NetworkBest Male Star of a Regular Series 1954(6th)Early 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 1955(7th) 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(8th) 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 an Actor 1957(9th) Robert Young Jim Anderson Father Knows Best NBC James Arness Matt Dillon GunsmokeCBS Charles Boyer Various characters Four Star Playhouse David Niven Hugh O'Brian Wyatt Earp The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ABCBest Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series 1958(10th) 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 Dramatic Series 1959(11th) Raymond Burr Perry Mason Perry Mason CBS James Arness Matt Dillon GunsmokeCBS Richard Boone Paladin Have Gun – Will Travel James Garner Bret Maverick Maverick ABC Craig Stevens Peter Gunn Peter Gunn NBC Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Stuart Bailey 77 Sunset Strip ABC
1960s Year Actor Role Program NetworkOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead or Support) 1960(12th) 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(13th) 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(14th) 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(15th) 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(16th) Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS Richard Boone Various characters 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 1965 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 Dramatic Series 1966(18th) Bill Cosby Alexander Scott I Spy NBC Richard Crenna James Slattery Slattery's People CBS Robert Culp Kelly Robinson I Spy NBC David Janssen Dr. Richard Kimble The Fugitive ABC David McCallum Illya Kuryakin The Man from U.N.C.L.E. NBC 1967(19th) Bill Cosby Alexander Scott I Spy NBC Robert Culp Kelly Robinson I Spy NBC Ben Gazzara Paul Bryan Run for Your Life NBC David Janssen Dr. Richard Kimble The Fugitive ABC Martin Landau Rollin Hand Mission: Impossible CBS 1968(20th) Bill Cosby Alexander Scott I Spy NBC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside IronsideNBC Robert Culp Kelly Robinson I Spy Ben Gazzara Paul Bryan Run for Your Life Martin Landau Rollin Hand Mission: Impossible CBS 1969(21st) Carl Betz Clinton Judd Judd, for the Defense ABC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside Ironside NBC Peter Graves Jim PhelpsMission: ImpossibleCBS Martin Landau Rollin Hand Ross Martin Artemus Gordon The Wild Wild West
1970s Year Actor Role Program Network Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series 1970(22nd) Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside Ironside NBC Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS Robert Wagner Al Mundy It Takes a Thief ABC 1971(23rd) Hal Holbrook Hays Stowe The Bold Ones: The Senator NBC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside Ironside NBC Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC 1972(24th) Peter Falk Columbo Columbo NBC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside Ironside NBC Mike Connors Joe Mannix MannixCBS Keith Michell # Henry VIII of England The Six Wives of Henry VIII Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Drama Series - Continuing) 1973(25th) Richard Thomas John-Boy Walton The Waltons CBS David Carradine Kwai Chang Caine Kung Fu ABC Mike Connors Joe Mannix MannixCBS William Conrad Frank Cannon Cannon Peter Falk Columbo Columbo NBC Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series 1974(26th) Telly Savalas Lt. Theo Kojak Kojak CBS William Conrad Frank Cannon Cannon CBS Karl Malden Lt. Mike Stone The Streets of San Francisco ABC Richard Thomas John-Boy Walton The Waltons CBS Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 1975(27th) Robert Blake Det. Tony Baretta Baretta ABC Karl Malden Lt. Mike Stone The Streets of San Francisco ABC Barry Newman Anthony J. Petrocelli Petrocelli NBC Telly Savalas Lt. Theo Kojak Kojak CBS 1976(28th) Peter Falk Columbo Columbo NBC James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files NBC Karl Malden Lt. Mike Stone The Streets of San Francisco ABC 1977(29th) James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files NBC Robert Blake Det. Tony Baretta Baretta ABC Peter Falk Columbo ColumboNBC Jack Klugman Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. Quincy, M.E. Karl Malden Lt. Mike Stone The Streets of San Francisco ABC 1978(30th) Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS James Broderick Doug Lawrence Family ABC Peter Falk Columbo ColumboNBC James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files Jack Klugman Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. Quincy, M.E. Ralph Waite John Walton, Sr. The Waltons CBS 1979(31st) Ron Leibman Martin Kazinski Kaz CBS Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford FilesNBC Jack Klugman Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. Quincy, M.E.
1980s Year Actor Role Program Network 1980(32nd) Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford FilesNBC Jack Klugman R. Quincy Quincy, M.E. Larry Hagman J. R. Ewing Dallas CBS 1981(33rd) Daniel J. Travanti Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues NBC Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou GrantCBS Jim Davis (posthumously) Jock EwingDallas Larry Hagman J. R. Ewing Louis Gossett Jr. § Bessie's Father Palmerstown, U.S.A. Pernell Roberts Trapper John McIntyre Trapper John, M.D. 1982(34th) Daniel J. Travanti Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues NBC Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou GrantCBS Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. James Garner Bret Maverick Bret Maverick NBC John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC 1983(35th) Ed Flanders Donald Westphall St. Elsewhere NBC Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS William Daniels Mark Craig St. Elsewhere NBC John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC Daniel J. Travanti Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues NBC 1984(36th) Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS William Daniels Mark CraigSt. ElsewhereNBC Ed Flanders Donald Westphall Daniel J. Travanti Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC 1985(37th) William Daniels Mark Craig St. Elsewhere NBC Don Johnson Sonny Crockett Miami ViceNBC Ed Flanders Donald Westphall St. Elsewhere Daniel J. Travanti Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS 1986(38th) William Daniels Mark Craig St. Elsewhere NBC Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I.CBS Edward Woodward Robert McCall The Equalizer Bruce Willis David Addison Moonlighting ABC Ed Flanders Donald Westphall St. Elsewhere NBC 1987(39th) Bruce Willis David Addison Moonlighting ABCWilliam DanielsMark CraigSt. ElsewhereNBCEd FlandersDonald Westphall Corbin Bernsen Arnie Becker L.A. Law Edward Woodward Robert McCall The Equalizer CBS 1988(40th) Richard Kiley Joe Gardner A Year in the Life NBCCorbin BernsenArnie BeckerL.A. LawNBCMichael TuckerStuart Markowitz Ron Perlman Vincent Beauty and the Beast CBS Edward Woodward Robert McCall The Equalizer CBS 1989(41st) Carroll O'Connor Bill Gillespie In the Heat of the Night NBC Ken Wahl Vinnie Terranova WiseguyCBS Edward Woodward Robert McCall The Equalizer Ron Perlman Vincent Beauty and the Beast Michael Tucker Stuart Markowitz L.A. Law NBC
1990s