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

Hiroyuki Sanada / Shōgun

Gary Oldman / Slow Horses

Idris Elba / Hijack

2023

Jeff Bridges / The Old Man

Kieran Culkin / Succession

Brian Cox / Succession

Jeremy Strong / Succession

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

2022

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

Brian Cox / Succession

Jeremy Strong / Succession

2021

Jonathan Majors / Lovecraft Country

Matthew Rhys / Perry Mason (2020)

2020

Brian Cox / Succession

Steve Carell / The Morning Show

Jeremy Strong / Succession

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)

House of Cards (US)

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

2016

House of Cards (US)

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

Matthew Rhys / The Americans (2013)

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

2015

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

Kyle Chandler / Bloodline

Liev Schreiber / Ray Donovan

Bob Odenkirk / Better Call Saul

House of Cards (US)

2014

Woody Harrelson / True Detective

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

House of Cards (US)

2013

House of Cards (US)

Jeff Daniels / The Newsroom (2012)

Damian Lewis / Homeland

2012

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

Damian Lewis / Homeland

2011

Steve Buscemi / Boardwalk Empire

Timothy Olyphant / Justified

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

Christopher Meloni / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

2005

Hank Azaria / Huff

James Spader / Boston Legal

2004

James Spader / The Practice

Anthony LaPaglia / Without a Trace

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2003

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

2002

Michael Chiklis / The Shield

Michael C. Hall / Six Feet Under

Peter Krause / Six Feet Under

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

2001

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

Rob Lowe / The West Wing

Andre Braugher / Gideon's Crossing

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

2000

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Martin Sheen / The West Wing

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

1999

James Gandolfini / The Sopranos

Dylan McDermott / The Practice

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

1998

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

David Duchovny / The X-Files

1997

David Duchovny / The X-Files

Anthony Edwards / ER

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

1996

Anthony Edwards / ER

George Clooney / ER

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Andre Braugher / Homicide: Life on the Street

1995

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

Anthony Edwards / ER

Mandy Patinkin / Chicago Hope

Jimmy Smits / NYPD Blue

George Clooney / ER

1994

David Caruso / NYPD Blue

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

Dennis Franz / NYPD Blue

1993

Tom Skerritt / Picket Fences

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

1992

Sam Waterston / I'll Fly Away

Kirk Douglas / Tales from the Crypt

Rob Morrow / Northern Exposure

Christopher Lloyd / Road to Avonlea

1991

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

James Earl Jones / Gabriel's Fire

1990

Kyle MacLachlan / Twin Peaks

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Robert Loggia / Mancuso, FBI

1989

Ken Wahl / Wiseguy

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Carroll O'Connor / In the Heat of the Night

Michael Tucker / L.A. Law

1988

Corbin Bernsen / L.A. Law

Edward Woodward / The Equalizer

Richard Kiley / A Year in the Life

Michael Tucker / L.A. Law

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

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

John Forsythe / Dynasty

1982

John Forsythe / Dynasty

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

James Garner / Bret Maverick

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

1981

Daniel J. Travanti / Hill Street Blues

Jim Davis / Dallas

Larry Hagman / Dallas

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

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

Pernell Roberts / Trapper John, M.D.

1980

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

Larry Hagman / Dallas

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

1979

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Ron Leibman / Kaz

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

1978

James Broderick / Family

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

Ed Asner / Lou Grant

1977

Robert Blake / Baretta

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

Jack Klugman / Quincy, M.E.

1976

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1975

Robert Blake / Baretta

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

Telly Savalas / Kojak

Barry Newman / Petrocelli

1974

Telly Savalas / Kojak

William Conrad / Cannon

Karl Malden / The Streets of San Francisco

1973

William Conrad / Cannon

David Carradine / Kung Fu

Mike Connors / Mannix

1972

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Keith Michell / The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Mike Connors / Mannix

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1971

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Hal Holbrook / The Bold Ones: The Senator

Mike Connors / Mannix

1970

Robert Young / Marcus Welby, M.D.

Mike Connors / Mannix

Robert Wagner / It Takes a Thief

Raymond Burr / Ironside

1969

Carl Betz / Judd for the Defense

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

Peter Graves / Mission: Impossible

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Ross Martin / The Wild Wild West

1968

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

Raymond Burr / Ironside

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Robert Culp / I Spy

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

1967

Ben Gazzara / Run for Your Life

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Robert Culp / I Spy

Martin Landau / Mission: Impossible

David Janssen / The Fugitive

1966

David Janssen / The Fugitive

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

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

Bill Cosby / I Spy

Robert Culp / I Spy

1965

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

Richard Crenna / Slattery's People

1964

David Janssen / The Fugitive

1963

E.G. Marshall / The Defenders

Vic Morrow / Combat!

1962

E.G. Marshall / The Defenders

1961

Robert Stack / The Untouchables

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

1960

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

Robert Stack / The Untouchables

1959

James Arness / Gunsmoke

Raymond Burr / Perry Mason

1958

James Arness / Gunsmoke

1957

James Arness / Gunsmoke

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

1956

Robert Young / Father Knows Best

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