Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

2024

Idris Elba / Hijack

Hiroyuki Sanada / Shōgun

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

2023

Brian Cox / Succession

Kieran Culkin / Succession

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Jeff Bridges / The Old Man

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

2022

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Brian Cox / Succession

2021

Matthew Rhys / Perry Mason (2020)

Jonathan Majors / Lovecraft Country

2020

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Brian Cox / 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

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

House of Cards (US)

2016

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

House of Cards (US)

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

2015

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

House of Cards (US)

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

2014

Woody Harrelson / True Detective

House of Cards (US)

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

2013

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

House of Cards (US)

Damian Lewis / Homeland

2012

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

Damian Lewis / Homeland

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

2011

Kyle Chandler / Friday Night Lights

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

Timothy Olyphant / Justified

2010

Kyle Chandler / Friday Night Lights

2008

James Spader / Boston Legal

2007

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

James Spader / Boston Legal

2006

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Christopher Meloni / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

2005

James Spader / Boston Legal

Hank Azaria / Huff

2004

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

James Spader / The Practice

Anthony LaPaglia / Without a Trace

2003

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2002

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Michael C. Hall / Six Feet Under

2001

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Rob Lowe / The West Wing

Andre Braugher / Gideon's Crossing

2000

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

1999

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Dylan McDermott / The Practice

1998

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Anthony Edwards / ER

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

1997

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Anthony Edwards / ER

David Duchovny / The X-Files

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

1996

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

Anthony Edwards / ER

George Clooney / ER

1995

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

George Clooney / ER

Anthony Edwards / ER

Mandy Patinkin / Chicago Hope

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1994

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

David Caruso / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1993

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

1992

Kirk Douglas / Tales from the Crypt

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

Christopher Lloyd / Road to Avonlea

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

1991

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

James Earl Jones / Gabriel's Fire

1990

Robert Loggia / Mancuso, FBI

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

1989

Carroll O'Connor / In the Heat of the Night

Michael Tucker / L.A. Law

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Ken Wahl / Wiseguy

1988

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

Michael Tucker / L.A. Law

Richard Kiley / A Year in the Life

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

1987

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

1986

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

1985

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1984

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

John Forsythe / Dynasty

1983

John Forsythe / Dynasty

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1982

James Garner / Bret Maverick

John Forsythe / Dynasty

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1981

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

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

Pernell Roberts / Trapper John, M.D.

Jim Davis / Dallas

Larry Hagman / Dallas

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

1980

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Larry Hagman / Dallas

1979

Ron Leibman / Kaz

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

1978

James Broderick / Family

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

1977

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

Robert Blake / Baretta

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

1976

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1975

Robert Blake / Baretta

Telly Savalas / Kojak

Barry Newman / Petrocelli

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1974

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

Telly Savalas / Kojak

William Conrad / Cannon

1973

David Carradine / Kung Fu

Mike Connors / Mannix

William Conrad / Cannon

1972

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Mike Connors / Mannix

Keith Michell / The Six Wives of Henry VIII

1971

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Mike Connors / Mannix

Hal Holbrook / The Bold Ones: The Senator

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

1970

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Mike Connors / Mannix

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Robert Wagner / It Takes a Thief

1969

Ross Martin / The Wild Wild West

Carl Betz / Judd for the Defense

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Peter Graves / Mission: Impossible

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1968

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Robert Culp / I Spy

1967

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

David Janssen / The Fugitive

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Robert Culp / I Spy

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

1966

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

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

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Robert Culp / 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

E.G. Marshall / The Defenders

Vic Morrow / Combat!

1962

E.G. Marshall / The Defenders

1961

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

Robert Stack / The Untouchables

1960

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

Robert Stack / The Untouchables

1959

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

James Arness / Gunsmoke

1958

James Arness / Gunsmoke

1957

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

James Arness / Gunsmoke

1956

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

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