The Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series is an award given by the Screen Actors Guild to honor the finest acting achievements in dramatic television.
Dennis Franz holds the record for most nominations with 8. Actors who have won this award the most times are James Gandolfini playing Tony Soprano in The Sopranos and Jason Bateman playing Marty Bryde in Ozark, each having won thrice. Eight actors have won twice in this category: Steve Buscemi, Bryan Cranston, Anthony Edwards, Dennis Franz, Hugh Laurie, Martin Sheen, Kevin Spacey, and Kiefer Sutherland.
Winners and nominees
1990s Year Actress Film Role(s) 1994 (1st) Dennis Franz NYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz Héctor ElizondoChicago Hope Phillip Watters Mandy Patinkin Jeffrey Geiger Tom Skerritt Picket Fences Jimmy Brock Patrick Stewart Star Trek: The Next Generation Jean-Luc Picard 1995 (2nd) Anthony Edwards ER Mark Greene George Clooney ER Doug Ross David Duchovny The X-Files Fox Mulder Dennis FranzNYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone 1996 (3rd) Dennis Franz NYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz George Clooney ER Doug Ross Anthony Edwards Mark Greene David Duchovny The X-Files Fox Mulder Jimmy Smits NYPD Blue Bobby Simone 1997 (4th) Anthony Edwards ER Mark Greene David Duchovny The X-Files Fox Mulder Dennis FranzNYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone Sam Waterston Law & Order Jack McCoy 1998 (5th) Sam Waterston Law & Order Jack McCoy David Duchovny The X-Files Fox Mulder Anthony Edwards ER Mark Greene Dennis FranzNYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone 1999 (6th) James Gandolfini The Sopranos Tony Soprano David Duchovny The X-Files Fox Mulder Dennis FranzNYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz Rick Schroder Danny Sorenson Martin Sheen The West Wing Josiah Bartlet
2000s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2000 (7th) Martin Sheen The West Wing Josiah Bartlet Tim Daly The Fugitive Richard Kimble Anthony Edwards ER Mark Greene Dennis Franz NYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz James Gandolfini The Sopranos Tony Soprano 2001 (8th) Martin Sheen The West Wing Josiah Bartlet Richard Dreyfuss The Education of Max Bickford Max Bickford Dennis Franz NYPD Blue Andy Sipowicz James Gandolfini The Sopranos Tony Soprano Peter Krause Six Feet Under Nate Fisher 2002 (9th) James Gandolfini The Sopranos Tony Soprano Michael Chiklis The Shield Vic Mackey Martin Sheen The West Wing Josiah Bartlet Kiefer Sutherland 24 Jack Bauer Treat Williams Everwood Andy Brown 2003 (10th) Kiefer Sutherland 24 Jack Bauer Peter Krause Six Feet Under Nate Fisher Anthony LaPaglia Without a Trace Jack Malone Martin Sheen The West Wing Josiah Bartlet Treat Williams Everwood Andy Brown 2004 (11th) Jerry Orbach (posthumous) Law & Order Lennie Briscoe Hank Azaria Huff Craig Huffstodt James Gandolfini The Sopranos Tony Soprano Anthony LaPaglia Without a Trace Jack Malone Kiefer Sutherland 24 Jack Bauer 2005 (12th) Kiefer Sutherland 24 Jack Bauer Alan Alda The West Wing Arnold Vinick Patrick DempseyGrey's Anatomy Derek Shepherd Hugh Laurie House Gregory House Ian McShane Deadwood Al Swearengen 2006 (13th) Hugh Laurie House Gregory House James Gandolfini The Sopranos Tony Soprano Michael C. Hall Dexter Dexter Morgan James Spader Boston Legal Alan Shore Kiefer Sutherland 24 Jack Bauer 2007 (14th) James Gandolfini The Sopranos Tony Soprano Michael C. Hall Dexter Dexter Morgan Jon Hamm Mad Men Don Draper Hugh Laurie House Gregory House James Spader Boston Legal Alan Shore 2008 (15th) Hugh Laurie House Gregory House Michael C. Hall Dexter Dexter Morgan Jon Hamm Mad Men Don Draper William ShatnerBoston Legal Denny Crane James Spader Alan Shore 2009 (16th) Michael C. Hall Dexter Dexter Morgan Simon Baker The Mentalist Patrick Jane Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad Walter White Jon Hamm Mad Men Don Draper Hugh Laurie House Gregory House
2010s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2010 (17th) Steve Buscemi Boardwalk Empire Nucky Thompson Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad Walter White Michael C. Hall Dexter Dexter Morgan Jon Hamm Mad Men Don Draper Hugh Laurie House Gregory House 2011 (18th) Steve Buscemi Boardwalk Empire Nucky Thompson Patrick J. Adams Suits Mike Ross Kyle Chandler Friday Night Lights Eric Taylor Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad Walter White Michael C. Hall Dexter Dexter Morgan 2012 (19th) Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad Walter White Steve Buscemi Boardwalk Empire Nucky Thompson Jeff Daniels The Newsroom Will McAvoy Jon Hamm Mad Men Don Draper Damian Lewis Homeland Nicholas Brody 2013 (20th) Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad Walter White Steve Buscemi Boardwalk Empire Nucky Thompson Jeff Daniels The Newsroom Will McAvoy Peter Dinklage Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister Kevin Spacey House of Cards Francis Underwood 2014 (21st) Kevin Spacey House of Cards Francis Underwood Steve Buscemi Boardwalk Empire Nucky Thompson Peter Dinklage Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister Woody HarrelsonTrue Detective Martin Hart Matthew McConaughey Rust Cohle 2015 (22nd) Kevin Spacey House of Cards Francis Underwood Peter Dinklage Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister Jon Hamm Mad Men Don Draper Rami Malek Mr. Robot Elliot Alderson Bob Odenkirk Better Call Saul Jimmy McGill 2016 (23rd) John Lithgow The Crown Winston Churchill Sterling K. Brown This Is Us Randall Pearson Peter Dinklage Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister Rami Malek Mr. Robot Elliot Alderson Kevin Spacey House of Cards Francis Underwood 2017 (24th) Sterling K. Brown This Is Us Randall Pearson Jason Bateman Ozark Marty Byrde Peter Dinklage Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister David Harbour Stranger Things Jim Hopper Bob Odenkirk Better Call Saul Jimmy McGill 2018 (25th) Jason Bateman Ozark Marty Byrde Sterling K. Brown This Is Us Randall Pearson Joseph Fiennes The Handmaid's Tale Commander Fred Waterford John Krasinski Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Jack Ryan Bob Odenkirk Better Call Saul Jimmy McGill 2019 (26th) Peter Dinklage Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister Sterling K. Brown This Is Us Randall Pearson Steve CarellThe Morning Show Mitch Kessler Billy Crudup Corey Ellison David Harbour Stranger Things Jim Hopper
2020s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2020 (27th) Jason Bateman Ozark Marty Bryde Sterling K. Brown This Is Us Randall Pearson Josh O'Connor The Crown Prince Charles Bob Odenkirk Better Call Saul Jimmy McGill Regé-Jean Page Bridgerton Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings 2021 (28th) Lee Jung-jae Squid Game Seong Gi-hun Brian Cox Succession Logan Roy Billy Crudup The Morning Show Cory Ellison Kieran Culkin Succession Roman Roy Jeremy Strong Kendall Roy 2022 (29th) Jason Bateman Ozark Marty Bryde Jonathan Banks Better Call Saul Mike Ehrmantraut Jeff Bridges The Old Man Dan Chase Bob Odenkirk Better Call Saul Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic Adam Scott Severance Mark Scout / Mark S. 2023 (30th) Pedro Pascal The Last of Us Joel Miller Brian Cox Succession Logan Roy Billy Crudup The Morning Show Cory Ellison Kieran Culkin Succession Roman Roy Matthew Macfadyen Tom Wambsgans 2024 (31st) Hiroyuki Sanada Shōgun Lord Yoshii Toranaga Tadanobu Asano Shōgun Kashigi YabushigeJeff Bridges The Old Man Dan Chase Gary Oldman Slow Horses Jackson Lamb Eddie Redmayne The Day of the Jackal The Jackal 2025 (32nd) Noah WyleThe PittMichael "Robby" Robinavitch Sterling K. Brown Paradise Xavier Collins Billy Crudup The Morning Show Cory Ellison Walton Goggins The White Lotus Rick Hatchett Gary Oldman Slow Horses Jackson Lamb
Superlatives Superlative Male Actor - Drama Series Male Actor - Comedy Series Overall Actor with most awards Jason Bateman, James Gandolfini 3 Alec Baldwin 7 Alec Baldwin 7 Actor with most nominations Dennis Franz 8 Tony Shalhoub 9 Tony Shalhoub 9 Actor with most nominations without ever winning Jon Hamm 6 Kelsey Grammer 8 Kelsey Grammer 8 Television program with most wins Ozark, The Sopranos 3 30 Rock 7 30 Rock 7 Television program with most nominations NYPD Blue 13 Frasier 16 Frasier 16
Actors with multiple awards
3 wins Jason Bateman James Gandolfini
2 wins Steve Buscemi Bryan Cranston Anthony Edwards Dennis Franz Hugh Laurie Martin Sheen Kevin Spacey Kiefer Sutherland
Series with multiple awards
3 wins Ozark (Netflix) The Sopranos (HBO)
2 wins 24 (Fox) Boardwalk Empire (HBO) Breaking Bad (AMC) ER (NBC) House (Fox) House of Cards (Netflix) Law & Order (NBC) NYPD Blue (ABC) The West Wing (NBC)
Actors with multiple nominations
8 nominations Dennis Franz
7 nominations James Gandolfini
6 nominations Sterling K. Brown Peter Dinklage Michael C. Hall Jon Hamm Hugh Laurie
5 nominations Steve Buscemi Bryan Cranston David Duchovny Anthony Edwards Bob Odenkirk Martin Sheen Kiefer Sutherland
4 nominations Jason Bateman Billy Crudup Jimmy Smits Kevin Spacey
3 nominations James Spader
2 nominations Jeff Bridges George Clooney Brian Cox Kieran Culkin Jeff Daniels David Harbour Peter Krause Anthony LaPaglia Rami Malek Gary Oldman Sam Waterston Treat Williams
Series with multiple nominations
13 nominations NYPD Blue (ABC)
9 nominations The Crown (Netflix)
8 nominations The West Wing (NBC)
7 nominations ER (ABC) The Sopranos (HBO)
6 nominations Better Call Saul (AMC) Dexter (Showtime) Game of Thrones (HBO) House (Fox) Mad Men (AMC) Succession (HBO) The West Wing (NBC)
5 nominations 24 (Fox) Boardwalk Empire (HBO) Breaking Bad (AMC) The Morning Show (Apple TV) This Is Us (NBC)
4 nominations Boston Legal (ABC) House of Cards (Netflix) Ozark (Netflix) The X-Files (Fox)
3 nominations Law & Order (NBC)
2 nominations Chicago Hope (CBS) The Crown (Netflix) Everwood (The WB) Mr. Robot (USA) The Newsroom (HBO) The Old Man (FX) Shōgun (FX) Six Feet Under (HBO) Slow Horses (Apple TV) Stranger Things (Netflix) True Detective (HBO) Without a Trace (CBS)
See also Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama
External links SAG Awards official site