Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Series

This is a list of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winners.

Award winners and nominations

1950s

;1956: Robert Young as Jim Anderson - "Father Knows Best";1957: Robert Young as Jim Anderson - "Father Knows Best";1958: "no award";1959: Raymond Burr as Perry Mason - "Perry Mason"

1960s

;1960
Robert Stack as Eliot Ness - "The Untouchables"
* Raymond Burr as Perry Mason - "Perry Mason"
* Richard Boone as Paladin - "Have Gun – Will Travel"

;1961
Raymond Burr as Perry Mason - "Perry Mason"
* Jackie Cooper as Chick Hennesey - "Hennesey"
* Robert Stack as Eliot Ness - "The Untouchables"

;1962
E. G. Marshall as Lawrence Preston - "The Defenders"
* Vince Edwards as Dr. Ben Casey - "Ben Casey"
* Jackie Cooper as Chick Hennesey - "Hennesey"
* Paul Burke as Det. Adam Flint - "Naked City"
* George Maharis as Buz Murdock - "Route 66"

;1963
E. G. Marshall as Lawrence Preston - "The Defenders"
* Vic Morrow as Sgt. Sanders - "Combat!"
* Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie - "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
* Ernest Borgnine as Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale - "McHale's Navy"
* Paul Burke as Det. Adam Flint - "Naked City"

;1964: "no award"

;1965: "no award"

;1966
Bill Cosby as Alexander Scott - "I Spy"
* David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble - "The Fugitive"
* Robert Culp as Kelly Robinson - "I Spy"
* David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin - "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
* Richard Crenna as James Slattery - "Slattery's People"

;1967
Bill Cosby as Alexander Scott - "I Spy"
* David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble - "The Fugitive"
* Robert Culp as Kelly Robinson - "I Spy"
* Martin Landau as Rollin Hand - ""
* Ben Gazzara as Paul Bryan - "Run for Your Life"

;1968
Bill Cosby as Alexander Scott - "I Spy"
* Robert Culp as Kelly Robinson - "I Spy"
* Raymond Burr as Robert T. Ironside - "Ironside"
* Martin Landau as Rollin Hand - ""
* Ben Gazzara as Paul Bryan - "Run for Your Life"

;1969
Carl Betz as Clinton Judd - "Judd, for the Defense"
* Raymond Burr as Robert T. Ironside - "Ironside"
* Peter Graves as Jim Phelps - ""
* Martin Landau as Rollin Hand - ""
* Ross Martin as Artemus Gordon - "The Wild Wild West"

1970s

;1970
Robert Young as Dr. Marcus Welby - "Marcus Welby, M.D."
* Raymond Burr as Robert T. Ironside - "Ironside"
* Robert Wagner as Al Mundy - "It Takes a Thief"
* Mike Connors as Joe Mannix - "Mannix"

;1971
Hal Holbrook as Hays Stowe - ""
* Raymond Burr as Robert T. Ironside - "Ironside"
* Mike Connors as Joe Mannix - "Mannix"
* Robert Young as Dr. Marcus Welby - "Marcus Welby, M.D."

;1972
Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"
* Raymond Burr as Robert T. Ironside - "Ironside"
* Mike Connors as Joe Mannix - "Mannix"
* Robert Young as Dr. Marcus Welby - "Marcus Welby, M.D."
* Keith Michell as Henry VIII of England - "The Six Wives of Henry VIII"

;1973
Richard Thomas as John Walton, Jr. - "The Waltons"
* William Conrad as Frank Cannon - "Cannon"
* David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine - "Kung Fu"
* Mike Connors as Joe Mannix - "Mannix"
* Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"

;1974
Telly Savalas as Lt. Theo Kojak - "Kojak"
* William Conrad as Frank Cannon - "Cannon"
* Karl Malden as Det. Lt. Mike Stone - "The Streets of San Francisco"
* Richard Thomas as John Walton, Jr. - "The Waltons"

;1975
Robert Blake as Det. Tony Baretta - "Baretta"
* Telly Savalas as Lt. Theo Kojak - "Kojak"
* Barry Newman as Anthony J. Petrocelli - "Petrocelli"
* Karl Malden as Det. Lt. Mike Stone - "The Streets of San Francisco"

;1976
Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"
* James Garner as Jim Rockford - "The Rockford Files"
* Karl Malden as Det. Lt. Mike Stone - "The Streets of San Francisco"

;1977
James Garner as Jim Rockford - "The Rockford Files"
* Robert Blake as Det. Tony Baretta - "Baretta"
* Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"
* Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. - "Quincy, M.E."
* Karl Malden as Det. Lt. Mike Stone - "The Streets of San Francisco"

;1978
Edward Asner as Lou Grant - "Lou Grant"
* James Broderick as Doug Lawrence - "Family"
* Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"
* Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. - "Quincy, M.E."
* James Garner as Jim Rockford - "The Rockford Files"
* Ralph Waite as John Walton, Sr. - "The Waltons"

;1979
Ron Leibman as Martin Kazinsky - "Kaz"
* Edward Asner as Lou Grant - "Lou Grant"
* Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. - "Quincy, M.E."
* James Garner as Jim Rockford - "The Rockford Files"

1980s

;1980
Edward Asner as Lou Grant - "Lou Grant"
* Larry Hagman as J. R. Ewing - "Dallas"
* Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy, M.E. - "Quincy, M.E."
* James Garner as Jim Rockford - "The Rockford Files"

;1981
Daniel J. Travanti as Capt. Frank Furillo - "Hill Street Blues"
* Jim Davis as Jock Ewing - "Dallas"
* Larry Hagman as J. R. Ewing - "Dallas"
* Edward Asner as Lou Grant - "Lou Grant"
* Pernell Roberts as Trapper John McIntyre, M.D. - "Trapper John, M.D."

;1982
Daniel J. Travanti as Capt. Frank Furillo - "Hill Street Blues"
* James Garner as Bret Maverick - "Bret Maverick"
* John Forsythe as Blake Carrington - "Dynasty"
* Edward Asner as Lou Grant - "Lou Grant"
* Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum - "Magnum, P.I."

;1983
Ed Flanders as Dr. Donald Westphall - "St. Elsewhere"
* John Forsythe as Blake Carrington - "Dynasty"
* Daniel J. Travanti as Capt. Frank Furillo - "Hill Street Blues"
* Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum - "Magnum, P.I."
* William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig - "St. Elsewhere"

;1984
Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum - "Magnum, P.I."
* John Forsythe as Blake Carrington - "Dynasty"
* Daniel J. Travanti as Capt. Frank Furillo - "Hill Street Blues"
* William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig - "St. Elsewhere"

;1985
William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig - "St. Elsewhere"
* Daniel J. Travanti as Capt. Frank Furillo - "Hill Street Blues"
* Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum - "Magnum, P.I."
* Don Johnson as Det. James ‘Sonny’ Crockett - "Miami Vice"
* Ed Flanders as Dr. Donald Westphall - "St. Elsewhere"

;1986
William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig - "St. Elsewhere"
* Edward Woodward as Robert McCall - "The Equalizer"
* Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum - "Magnum, P.I."
* Bruce Willis as David Addison, Jr. - "Moonlighting"
* Ed Flanders as Dr. Donald Westphall - "St. Elsewhere"

;1987
Bruce Willis as David Addison, Jr. - "Moonlighting"
* Edward Woodward as Robert McCall - "The Equalizer"
* Corbin Bernsen as Arnie Becker - "L.A. Law"
* William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig - "St. Elsewhere"
* Ed Flanders as Dr. Donald Westphall - "St. Elsewhere"

;1988
Richard Kiley as Joe Gardner - "A Year in the Life"
* Ron Perlman as Vincent - "Beauty and the Beast"
* Edward Woodward as Robert McCall - "The Equalizer"
* Corbin Bernsen as Arnie Becker - "L.A. Law"
* Michael Tucker as Stuart Markowitz - "L.A. Law"

;1989
Carroll O'Connor as Chief William O. Gillespie - "In the Heat of the Night"
* Ron Perlman as Vincent - "Beauty and the Beast"
* Edward Woodward as Robert McCall - "The Equalizer"
* Michael Tucker as Stuart Markowitz - "L.A. Law"
* Ken Wahl as Vinnie Terranova - "Wiseguy"

1990s

;1990
Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"
* Edward Woodward as Robert McCall - "The Equalizer"
* Robert Loggia as Nick Mancuso - "Mancuso, F.B.I."
* Scott Bakula as Samuel Beckett - "Quantum Leap"
* Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper - "Twin Peaks"

;1991
James Earl Jones as Gabriel Bird - "Gabriel's Fire"
* Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone - "Law & Order"
* Scott Bakula as Samuel Beckett - "Quantum Leap"
* Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper - "Twin Peaks"
* Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"

;1992
Christopher Lloyd as - "Road to Avonlea"
* Sam Waterston as D.A. Forrest Bedford - "I'll Fly Away"
* Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone - "Law & Order"
* Rob Morrow as Joel Fleischman - "Northern Exposure"
* Scott Bakula as Samuel Beckett - "Quantum Leap"
* Harrison Page as Reverend Walters - "Quantum Leap"
* Kirk Douglas as General Kalthrob - "Tales from the Crypt"

;1993
Tom Skeritt as Sheriff Jimmy Brock - "Picket Fences"
* Sam Waterston as D.A. Forrest Bedford - "I'll Fly Away"
* Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone - "Law & Order"
* Rob Morrow as Joel Fleischman - "Northern Exposure"
* Scott Bakula as Samuel Beckett - "Quantum Leap"

;1994
Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* Michael Moriarty as Ben Stone - "Law & Order"
* David Caruso as John Kelly - "NYPD Blue"
* Tom Skeritt as Sheriff Jimmy Brock - "Picket Fences"
* Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo - "Columbo"

;1995
Mandy Patinkin as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger - "Chicago Hope"
* George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross - "ER"
* Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - "ER"
* Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* Jimmy Smits as Bobby Simone - "NYPD Blue"

;1996
Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross - "ER"
* Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - "ER"
* Andre Braugher as Frank Pembleton - ""
* Jimmy Smits as Bobby Simone - "NYPD Blue"

;1997
Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - "ER"
* Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy - "Law & Order"
* Jimmy Smits as Bobby Simone - "NYPD Blue"
* David Duchovny as Fox Mulder - "The X Files"

;1998
Andre Braugher as Frank Pembleton - ""
* Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - "ER"
* Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* Jimmy Smits as Bobby Simone - "NYPD Blue"
* David Duchovny as Fox Mulder - "The X Files"

;1999
Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy - "Law & Order"
* Jimmy Smits as Bobby Simone - "NYPD Blue"
* Dylan McDermott as Bobby Donnell - "The Practice"
* James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - "The Sopranos"

2000s

;2000
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - "The Sopranos"
* Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe - "Law & Order"
* Martin Sheen as Josiah Bartlet - "The West Wing"
* Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy - "Law & Order"

;2001
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - "The Sopranos"
* Andre Braugher as Dr. Ben Gideon - "Gideon's Crossing"
* Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz - "NYPD Blue"
* Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn - "The West Wing"
* Martin Sheen as Josiah Bartlet - "The West Wing"

;2002
Michael Chiklis as Vic Mackey - "The Shield"
* Michael C. Hall as David Fisher - "Six Feet Under"
* Peter Krause as Nate Fisher - "Six Feet Under"
* Martin Sheen as Josiah Bartlet - "The West Wing"
* Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer - "24"

;2003
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - "The Sopranos"
* Michael Chiklis as Vic Mackey - "The Shield"
* Peter Krause as Nate Fisher - "Six Feet Under"
* Martin Sheen as Josiah Bartlet - "The West Wing"
* Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer - "24"

;2004
James Spader as Alan Shore - "The Practice"
* James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - "The Sopranos"
* Anthony LaPaglia as Jack Malone - "Without a Trace"
* Martin Sheen as Josiah Bartlet - "The West Wing"
* Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer - "24"

;2005
James Spader as Alan Shore - "Boston Legal"
* Hank Azaria as Dr. Craig "Huff" Huffstodt - "Huff"
* Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House - "House, M.D."
* Ian McShane as Al Swearengen - "Deadwood"
* Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer - "24"

;2006
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer - "24"
* Peter Krause as Nate Fisher - "Six Feet Under"
* Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin - "Rescue Me"
* Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler - ""
* Martin Sheen as Josiah Bartlet - "The West Wing"

;2007
James Spader as Alan Shore - "Boston Legal"
* James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - "The Sopranos"
* Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House - "House, M.D."
* Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin - "Rescue Me"
* Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer - "24"

;2008
Bryan Cranston as Walt White - "Breaking Bad"
* Gabriel Byrne as Dr. Paul Weston - "In Treatment"
* Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan - "Dexter"
* Jon Hamm as Don Draper - "Mad Men"
* Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House - "House, M.D."
* James Spader as Alan Shore - "Boston Legal"