Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

2025

Noah Wyle / The Pitt

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

Sterling K. Brown / Paradise (2025)

2024

Idris Elba / Hijack

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

Hiroyuki Sanada / Shōgun

2023

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Brian Cox / Succession

Kieran Culkin / Succession

Jeff Bridges / The Old Man

Jeremy Strong / Succession

2022

Brian Cox / Succession

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Jeremy Strong / 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

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

House of Cards (US)

2016

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

House of Cards (US)

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

2015

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

House of Cards (US)

2014

House of Cards (US)

Woody Harrelson / True Detective

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

2013

Damian Lewis / Homeland

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

House of Cards (US)

2012

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

Damian Lewis / Homeland

2011

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

Kyle Chandler / Friday Night Lights

Timothy Olyphant / Justified

2010

Kyle Chandler / Friday Night Lights

2008

James Spader / Boston Legal

2007

James Spader / Boston Legal

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2006

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

Christopher Meloni / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

2005

Hank Azaria / Huff

James Spader / Boston Legal

2004

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

James Spader / The Practice

Anthony LaPaglia / Without a Trace

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

2003

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

2002

Michael C. Hall / Six Feet Under

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

2001

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Andre Braugher / Gideon's Crossing

Rob Lowe / The West Wing

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

2000

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

1999

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Dylan McDermott / The Practice

1998

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

Anthony Edwards / ER

1997

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1996

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

George Clooney / ER

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

1995

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Mandy Patinkin / Chicago Hope

Anthony Edwards / ER

George Clooney / ER

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

1994

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

David Caruso / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1993

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

1992

Kirk Douglas / Tales from the Crypt

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

Christopher Lloyd / Road to Avonlea

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

1991

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

James Earl Jones / Gabriel's Fire

1990

Robert Loggia / Mancuso, FBI

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

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

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Richard Kiley / A Year in the Life

1987

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

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

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

John Forsythe / Dynasty

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

James Garner / Bret Maverick

1981

Jim Davis / Dallas

Pernell Roberts / Trapper John, M.D.

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

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Larry Hagman / Dallas

1980

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Larry Hagman / Dallas

1979

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Ron Leibman / Kaz

1978

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

James Broderick / Family

1977

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Robert Blake / Baretta

1976

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1975

Robert Blake / Baretta

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

Barry Newman / Petrocelli

Telly Savalas / Kojak

1974

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

William Conrad / Cannon

Telly Savalas / Kojak

1973

David Carradine / Kung Fu

Mike Connors / Mannix

William Conrad / Cannon

1972

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Keith Michell / The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Mike Connors / Mannix

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1971

Mike Connors / Mannix

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Hal Holbrook / The Bold Ones: The Senator

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1970

Mike Connors / Mannix

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Robert Wagner / It Takes a Thief

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

1969

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Carl Betz / Judd for the Defense

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Peter Graves / Mission: Impossible

Ross Martin / The Wild Wild West

1968

Robert Culp / I Spy

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1967

David Janssen / The Fugitive

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

Robert Culp / I Spy

Bill Cosby / I Spy

1966

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

Bill Cosby / I Spy

David Janssen / The Fugitive

Robert Culp / I Spy

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

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

James Arness / Gunsmoke

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

1958

James Arness / Gunsmoke

1957

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

James Arness / Gunsmoke

1956

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

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