Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

2025

Sterling K. Brown / Paradise (2025)

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

Noah Wyle / The Pitt

2024

Idris Elba / Hijack

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

Hiroyuki Sanada / Shōgun

2023

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Jeff Bridges / The Old Man

Kieran Culkin / Succession

Brian Cox / Succession

Jeremy Strong / Succession

2022

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Brian Cox / Succession

2021

Jonathan Majors / Lovecraft Country

Matthew Rhys / Perry Mason (2020)

2020

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Brian Cox / Succession

Steve Carell / The Morning Show

2019

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

House of Cards (US)

2018

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

2017

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

House of Cards (US)

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

2016

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

House of Cards (US)

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

2015

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

House of Cards (US)

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

2014

Woody Harrelson / True Detective

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

House of Cards (US)

2013

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

House of Cards (US)

Damian Lewis / Homeland

2012

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

Damian Lewis / Homeland

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

2011

Timothy Olyphant / Justified

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

Kyle Chandler / Friday Night Lights

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

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Christopher Meloni / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

2005

James Spader / Boston Legal

Hank Azaria / Huff

2004

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Anthony LaPaglia / Without a Trace

James Spader / The Practice

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2003

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

2002

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Michael C. Hall / Six Feet Under

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

2001

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Andre Braugher / Gideon's Crossing

Rob Lowe / The West Wing

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2000

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1999

Dylan McDermott / The Practice

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1998

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1997

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

Anthony Edwards / ER

1996

Anthony Edwards / ER

George Clooney / ER

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

1995

Mandy Patinkin / Chicago Hope

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

George Clooney / ER

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1994

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

David Caruso / NYPD Blue

1993

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

1992

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

Kirk Douglas / Tales from the Crypt

Christopher Lloyd / Road to Avonlea

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

1991

James Earl Jones / Gabriel's Fire

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

1990

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

Robert Loggia / Mancuso, FBI

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

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

Michael Tucker / L.A. Law

Richard Kiley / A Year in the Life

1987

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

1986

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

1985

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1984

John Forsythe / Dynasty

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1983

John Forsythe / Dynasty

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

1982

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

James Garner / Bret Maverick

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

John Forsythe / Dynasty

1981

Pernell Roberts / Trapper John, M.D.

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jim Davis / Dallas

Larry Hagman / Dallas

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

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

1980

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Larry Hagman / Dallas

1979

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Ron Leibman / Kaz

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

1978

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

James Broderick / Family

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

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

Barry Newman / Petrocelli

Telly Savalas / Kojak

Robert Blake / Baretta

1974

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

William Conrad / Cannon

Telly Savalas / Kojak

1973

Mike Connors / Mannix

William Conrad / Cannon

David Carradine / Kung Fu

1972

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Mike Connors / Mannix

Keith Michell / The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

1971

Hal Holbrook / The Bold Ones: The Senator

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Mike Connors / Mannix

1970

Mike Connors / Mannix

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Robert Wagner / It Takes a Thief

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1969

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Peter Graves / Mission: Impossible

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Carl Betz / Judd for the Defense

Ross Martin / The Wild Wild West

1968

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Robert Culp / I Spy

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

1967

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

David Janssen / The Fugitive

Robert Culp / I Spy

1966

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

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

David Janssen / The Fugitive

Robert Culp / I Spy

Bill Cosby / I Spy

1965

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

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

1964

David Janssen / The Fugitive

1963

Vic Morrow / Combat!

E.G. Marshall / The Defenders

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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