A list of actors and television series that won and were nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
open/close all folders
1950s
- 1954note : Donald O'Connor for The Colgate Comedy Hour as himself
- Sid Caesar for Your Show of Shows as various characters
- Wally Cox for Mister Peepers as Robinson J. Peepers
- Jackie Gleason for The Jackie Gleason Show as various characters
- Jack Webb for Dragnet as Sergeant Joe Friday
- 1955note : Danny Thomas for Make Room for Daddy as Danny Williams
- Richard Boone for Medic as Dr. Konrad Styner
- Robert Cummings for My Hero as Robert Beanblossom
- Jackie Gleason for The Jackie Gleason Show as various characters
- Jack Webb for Dragnet as Sergeant Joe Friday
- 1956note : Phil Silvers for The Phil Silvers Show as Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko
- Robert Cummings for The Bob Cummings Show as Bob Collins
- Jackie Gleason for The Honeymooners as Ralph Kramden
- Danny Thomas for Make Room for Daddy as Danny Williams
- Robert Young for Father Knows Best as James "Jim" Anderson
- 1957note : Robert Young for Father Knows Best as James "Jim" Anderson
- James Arness for Gunsmoke as US Marshal Matt Dillon
- Charles Boyer for Four Star Playhouse as various characters
- David Niven for Four Star Playhouse as various characters
- Hugh O'Brian for The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp as Wyatt Earp
- 1958note : Robert Young for Father Knows Best as James "Jim" Anderson
- James Arness for Gunsmoke as US Marshal Matt Dillon
- Robert Cummings for The Bob Cummings Show as Bob Collins
- Phil Silvers for The Phil Silvers Show as Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko
- Danny Thomas for The Danny Thomas Show as Danny Williams
- 1959note : Raymond Burr for Perry Mason as Perry Mason
- James Arness for Gunsmoke as US Marshal Matt Dillon
- Richard Boone for Have Gun – Will Travel as Paladin
- James Garner for Maverick as Bret Maverick
- Craig Stevens for Peter Gunn as Peter Gunn
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr. for 77 Sunset Strip as Stuart "Stu" Bailey
1960s
- 1960note : Robert Stack for The Untouchables as Eliot Ness
- Richard Boone for Have Gun – Will Travel as Paladin
- Raymond Burr for Perry Mason as Perry Mason
- 1961note : Raymond Burr for Perry Mason as Perry Mason
- Jackie Cooper for Hennessy as Lieutenant Charles "Chick" Hennessy
- Robert Stack for The Untouchables as Eliot Ness
- 1962note : E. G. Marshall for The Defenders as Lawrence Preston
- Paul Burke for Naked City as Detective Adam Flint
- Jackie Cooper for Hennessy as Lieutenant Charles "Chick" Hennessy
- Vince Edwards for Ben Casey as Dr. Ben Casey
- George Maharis for Route 66 as Buz Murdock
- 1963note : E. G. Marshall for The Defenders as Lawrence Preston
- Ernest Borgnine for McHale's Navy as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale
- Paul Burke for Naked City as Detective Adam Flint
- Vic Morrow for Combat as Sergeant Chip Saunders
- Dick Van Dyke for The Dick Van Dyke Show as Robert "Rob" Petrie
- 1964note : Dick Van Dyke for The Dick Van Dyke Show as Robert "Rob" Petrie
- Richard Boone for The Richard Boone Show as various characters
- Dean Jagger for Mr. Novak as Albert Vane
- David Janssen for The Fugitive as Dr. Richard Kimble
- George C. Scott for East Side/West Side as Neil Brock
- 1965note :
- Leonard Bernstein for New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein as himself
- Lynne Fontanne for Hallmark Hall of Fame as Fanny Bowditch Holmes
- Alfred Lunt for Hallmark Hall of Fame as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
- Barbra Streisand for My Name Is Barbra as herself
- Dick Van Dyke for The Dick Van Dyke Show as Robert "Rob" Petrie
- Julie Andrews for The Andy Williams Show as herself
- Johnny Carson for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as himself
- Gladys Cooper for The Rogues as Margaret St. Clair
- Robert Coote for The Rogues as Timmy St. Clair
- Richard Crenna for Slattery's People as James Slattery
- Julie Harris for Hallmark Hall of Fame as Florence Nightingale
- Bob Hope for Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special as himself
- Dean Jagger for Mr. Novak as Albert Vane
- Danny Kaye for The Danny Kaye Show as himself
- David McCallum for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as Illya Kuryakin
- Red Skelton for The Red Skelton Show as himself
- 1966note : Bill Cosby for I Spy as Alexander "Scotty" Scott
- Richard Crenna for Slattery's People as James Slattery
- Robert Culp for I Spy as Kelly Robinson
- David Janssen for The Fugitive as Dr. Richard Kimble
- David McCallum for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as Illya Kuryakin
- 1967note : Bill Cosby for I Spy as Alexander "Scotty" Scott
- Robert Culp for I Spy as Kelly Robinson
- Ben Gazzara for Run for Your Life as Paul Bryan
- David Janssen for The Fugitive as Dr. Richard Kimble
- Martin Landau for Mission: Impossible as Rollin Hand
- 1968note : Bill Cosby for I Spy as Alexander "Scotty" Scott
- Raymond Burr for Ironside as Robert T. Ironside
- Robert Culp for I Spy as Kelly Robinson
- Ben Gazzara for Run for Your Life as Paul Bryan
- Martin Landau for Mission: Impossible as Rollin Hand
- 1969note : Carl Betz for Judd, For the Defense as Clinton Judd
- Raymond Burr for Ironside as Robert T. Ironside
- Peter Graves for Mission: Impossible as Jim Phelps
- Martin Landau for Mission: Impossible as Rollin Hand
- Ross Martin for The Wild Wild West as Artemus Gordon
1970s
- 1970note : Robert Young for Marcus Welby, M.D. as Dr. Marcus Welby
- Raymond Burr for Ironside as Robert T. Ironside
- Mike Connors for Mannix as Joseph "Joe" Mannix
- Robert Wagner for It Takes a Thief as Alexander Mundy
- 1971note : Hal Holbrook for The Bold Ones: The Senator as Senator Hays Stowe
- Raymond Burr for Ironside as Robert T. Ironside
- Mike Connors for Mannix as Joseph "Joe" Mannix
- Robert Young for Marcus Welby, M.D. as Dr. Marcus Welby
- 1972note : Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- Raymond Burr for Ironside as Robert T. Ironside
- Mike Connors for Mannix as Joseph "Joe" Mannix
- Keith Mitchell for The Six Wives of Henry VIII as King Henry VIII of England
- Robert Young for Marcus Welby, M.D. as Dr. Marcus Welby
- 1973note : Richard Thomas for The Waltons as John "John-Boy" Walton Jr.
- David Carradine for Kung Fu as Kwai Chang Caine
- Mike Connors for Mannix as Joseph "Joe" Mannix
- William Conrad for Cannon as Detective Frank Cannon
- Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- 1974note : Telly Savalas for Kojak as Lieutenant Theodopolus "Theo" Kojak
- William Conrad for Cannon as Detective Frank Cannon
- Karl Malden for The Streets of San Francisco as Lieutenant Michael "Mike" Stone
- Richard Thomas for The Waltons as John "John-Boy" Walton Jr.
- 1975note : Robert Blake for Baretta as Detective Anthony "Tony" Baretta
- Karl Malden for The Streets of San Francisco as Lieutenant Michael "Mike" Stone
- Barry Newman for Petrocelli as Anthony "Tony" Petrocelli
- Telly Savalas for Kojak as Lieutenant Theodopolus "Theo" Kojak
- 1976: Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- James Garner for The Rockford Files as Detective Jim Rockford
- Karl Malden for The Streets of San Francisco as Lieutenant Michael "Mike" Stone
- 1977: James Garner for The Rockford Files as Detective Jim Rockford
- Robert Blake for Baretta as Detective Anthony "Tony" Baretta
- Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- Jack Klugman for Quincy, M.E. as Dr. Quincy
- Karl Malden for The Streets of San Francisco as Lieutenant Michael "Mike" Stone
- 1978: Ed Asner for Lou Grant as Lou Grant
- James Broderick for Family as Doug Lawrence
- Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- James Garner for The Rockford Files as Detective Jim Rockford
- Jack Klugman for Quincy, M.E. as Dr. Quincy
- Ralph Waite for The Waltons as John Walton Sr.
- 1979: Ron Leibman for Kaz as Martin "Kaz" Kazinski
- Ed Asner for Lou Grant as Lou Grant
- James Garner for The Rockford Files as Detective Jim Rockford
- Jack Klugman for Quincy, M.E. as Dr. Quincy
1980s
- 1980: Ed Asner for Lou Grant as Lou Grant
- James Garner for The Rockford Files as Detective Jim Rockford
- Jack Klugman for Quincy, M.E. as Dr. Quincy
- Larry Hagman for Dallas as J.R. Erwig
- 1981: Daniel J. Travanti for Hill Street Blues as Captain Frank Furillo
- Ed Asner for Lou Grant as Lou Grant
- Jim Davis for Dallas as Jock Erwig
- Larry Hagman for Dallas as J.R. Erwig
- Louis Gossett Jr. for Palmerstown, U.S.A. as Franklin Douglas Jackson
- Pernell Roberts for Trapper John, M.D. as Trapper John McIntyre
- 1982: Daniel J. Travanti for Hill Street Blues as Captain Frank Furillo
- Ed Asner for Lou Grant as Lou Grant
- Tom Selleck for Magnum, P.I. as Thomas Magnum
- James Garner for Bret Maverick as Bret Maverick
- John Forsythe for Dynasty as Blake Carrington
- 1983: Ed Flanders for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Donald Westphall
- Tom Selleck for Magnum, P.I. as Thomas Magnum
- William Daniels for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Mark Craig
- John Forsythe for Dynasty as Blake Carrington
- Daniel J. Travanti for Hill Street Blues as Captain Frank Furillo
- 1984: Tom Selleck for Magnum, P.I. as Thomas Magnum
- William Daniels for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Mark Craig
- Ed Flanders for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Donald Westphall
- Daniel J. Travanti for Hill Street Blues as Captain Frank Furillo
- John Forsythe for Dynasty as Blake Carrington
- 1985: William Daniels for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Mark Craig
- Don Johnson for Miami Vice as Detective James "Sonny" Crockett
- Ed Flanders for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Donald Westphall
- Daniel J. Travanti for Hill Street Blues as Captain Frank Furillo
- Tom Selleck for Magnum, P.I. as Thomas Magnum
- 1986: William Daniels for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Mark Craig
- Tom Selleck for Magnum, P.I. as Thomas Magnum
- Edward Woodward for The Equalizer as Robert McCall
- Bruce Willis for Moonlighting as David Addison
- Ed Flanders for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Donald Westphall
- 1987: Bruce Willis for Moonlighting as David Addison
- Corbin Bernsen for L.A. Law as Arnold "Arnie" Becker
- William Daniels for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Mark Craig
- Ed Flanders for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Donald Westphall
- Edward Woodward for The Equalizer as Robert McCall
- 1988: Richard Kiley for A Year in the Life as Joe Gardner
- Ron Perlman for Beauty and the Beast as Vincent
- Corbin Bernsen for L.A. Law as Arnold "Arnie" Becker
- Michael Tucker for L.A. Law as Stuart Markowitz
- Edward Woodward for The Equalizer as Robert McCall
- 1989: Carroll O'Connor for In the Heat of the Night as Chief William "Bill" Gillespie
- Ken Wahl for Wiseguy as Vincent "Vinnie" Terranova
- Edward Woodward for The Equalizer as Robert McCall
- Michael Tucker for L.A. Law as Stuart Markowitz
1990s
- 1990: Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- Scott Bakula for Quantum Leap as Dr. Samuel "Sam" Beckett
- Robert Loggia for Manusco, F.B.I. as Nick Manusco
- Kyle MacLachlan for Twin Peaks as Special Agent Dale Cooper
- Edward Woodward for The Equalizer as Robert McCall
- 1991: James Earl Jones for Gabriel's Fire as Gabriel Bird
- Scott Bakula for Quantum Leap as Dr. Samuel "Sam" Beckett
- Michael Moriarty for Law & Order as Benjamin "Ben" Stone
- Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- Kyle MacLachlan for Twin Peaks as Special Agent Dale Cooper
- 1992: Christopher Lloyd for Road to Avonlea as Alistair Dimple
- Kirk Douglas for Tales from the Crypt as General Kalthrob
- Rob Morrow for Northern Exposure as Dr. Joel Fleischman
- Scott Bakula for Quantum Leap as Dr. Samuel "Sam" Beckett
- Harrison Page for Quantum Leap as Reverend Walters
- Michael Moriarty for Law & Order as Benjamin "Ben" Stone
- Sam Waterston for I'll Fly Away as Forrest Bedford
- 1993: Tom Skerritt for Picket Fences as Sheriff Jimmy Brock
- Scott Bakula for Quantum Leap as Dr. Samuel "Sam" Beckett
- Michael Moriarty for Law & Order as Benjamin "Ben" Stone
- Sam Waterston for I'll Fly Away as Forrest Bedford
- Rob Morrow for Northern Exposure as Dr. Joel Fleischman
- 1994: Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- Michael Moriarty for Law & Order as Benjamin "Ben" Stone
- Tom Skerritt for Picket Fences as Sheriff Jimmy Brock
- David Caruso for NYPD Blue as Detective John Kelly
- Peter Falk for Columbo as Lieutenant Columbo
- 1995: Mandy Patinkin for Chicago Hope as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger
- Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- Jimmy Smits for NYPD Blue as Detective Robert "Bobby" Simone
- George Clooney for ER as Dr. Doug Ross
- Anthony Edwards for ER as Dr. Mark Greene
- 1996: Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- Andre Braugher for Homicide: Life on the Street as Detective Francis "Frank" Pembleton
- George Clooney for ER as Dr. Doug Ross
- Anthony Edwards for ER as Dr. Mark Greene
- Jimmy Smits for NYPD Blue as Detective Robert "Bobby" Simone
- 1997: Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- David Duchovny for The X-Files as Special Agent Fox Mulder
- Anthony Edwards for ER as Dr. Mark Greene
- Sam Waterston for Law & Order as Jack McCoy
- Jimmy Smits for NYPD Blue as Detective Robert "Bobby" Simone
- 1998: Andre Braugher for Homicide: Life on the Street as Detective Francis "Frank" Pembleton
- David Duchovny for The X-Files as Special Agent Fox Mulder
- Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- Jimmy Smits for NYPD Blue as Detective Robert "Bobby" Simone
- Anthony Edwards for ER as Dr. Mark Greene
- 1999: Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- James Gandolfini for The Sopranos as Anthony "Tony" Soprano
- Dylan McDermott for The Practice as Bobby Donnell
- Jimmy Smits for NYPD Blue as Detective Robert "Bobby" Simone
- Sam Waterston for Law & Order as Jack McCoy
2000s
- 2000: James Gandolfini for The Sopranos as Anthony "Tony" Soprano
- Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- Jerry Orbach for Law & Order as Detective Leonard "Lennie" Briscoe
- Sam Waterston for Law and Order as Jack McCoy
- Martin Sheen for The West Wing as President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet
- 2001: James Gandolfini for The Sopranos as Anthony "Tony" Soprano
- Andre Braugher for Gideon's Crossing as Dr. Ben Gideon
- Dennis Franz for NYPD Blue as Detective Andrew "Andy" Sipowicz
- Rob Lowe for The West Wing as Sam Seaborn
- Martin Sheen for The West Wing as President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet
- 2002: Michael Chiklis for The Shield as Detective Vic Mackey
- Michael C. Hall for Six Feet Under as David Fisher
- Peter Krause for Six Feet Under as Nathan "Nate" Fisher
- Martin Sheen for The West Wing as President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet
- Kiefer Sutherland for 24 as Jack Bauer
- 2003: James Gandolfini for The Sopranos as Anthony "Tony" Soprano
- Michael Chiklis for The Shield as Detective Vic Mackey
- Peter Krause for Six Feet Under as Nathan "Nate" Fisher
- Sam Waterston for I'll Fly Away as Forrest Bedford
- Martin Sheen for The West Wing as President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet
- 2004: James Spader for The Practice as Alan Shore
- James Gandolfini for The Sopranos as Anthony "Tony" Soprano
- Anthony LaPaglia for Without a Trace as Special Agent Jack Malone
- Martin Sheen for The West Wing as President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet
- Kiefer Sutherland for 24 as Jack Bauer
- 2005: James Spader for Boston Legal as Alan Shore
- Hank Azaria for Huff as Dr. Craig "Huff" Huffstodt
- Jimmy Smits for NYPD Blue as Detective Robert "Bobby" Simone
- Hugh Laurie for House as Dr. Gregory House
- Kiefer Sutherland for 24 as Jack Bauer
- 2006: Kiefer Sutherland for 24 as Jack Bauer
- Peter Krause for Six Feet Under as Nathan "Nate" Fisher
- Denis Leary for Rescue Me as Thomas "Tommy" Gavin
- Christopher Meloni for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Martin Sheen for The West Wing as President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet
- 2007: James Spader for Boston Legal as Alan Shore
- James Gandolfini for The Sopranos as Anthony "Tony" Soprano
- Hugh Laurie for House as Dr. Gregory House
- Kiefer Sutherland for 24 as Jack Bauer
- Denis Leary for Rescue Me as Thomas "Tommy" Gavin
- 2008: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad as Walter White / Heisenberg
- Gabriel Byrne for In Treatment as Dr. Paul Weston
- Michael C. Hall for Dexter as Dexter Morgan
- Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- Hugh Laurie for House as Dr. Gregory House
- James Spader for Boston Legal as Alan Shore
- 2009: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad as Walter White / Heisenberg
- Simon Baker for The Mentalist as Patrick Jane
- Gabriel Byrne for In Treatment as Dr. Paul Weston
- Michael C. Hall for Dexter as Dexter Morgan
- Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- Hugh Laurie for House as Dr. Gregory House
2010s
- 2010: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad as Walter White / Heisenberg
- Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights as Eric Taylor
- Matthew Fox for Lost as Dr. Jack Shephard
- Michael C. Hall for Dexter as Dexter Morgan
- Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- Hugh Laurie for House as Dr. Gregory House
- 2011: Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights as Eric Taylor
- Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson
- Michael C. Hall for Dexter as Dexter Morgan
- Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- Hugh Laurie for House as Dr. Gregory House
- Timothy Olyphant for Justified as Raylan Givens
- 2012: Damian Lewis for Homeland as Nicholas Brody
- Hugh Bonneville for Downton Abbey as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
- Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson
- Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad as Walter White / Heisenberg
- Michael C. Hall for Dexter as Dexter Morgan
- Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- 2013: Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom as Will McAvoy
- Hugh Bonneville for Downton Abbey as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
- Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad as Walter White / Heisenberg
- Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- Damian Lewis for Homeland as Nicholas Brody
- Kevin Spacey for House of Cards as Representative Francis "Frank" Underwood
- 2014: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad as Walter White / Heisenberg
- Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom as Will McAvoy
- Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- Woody Harrelson for True Detective as Detective Martin "Marty" Hart
- Matthew McConaughey for True Detective as Detective Rustin "Rust" Cohle
- Kevin Spacey for House of Cards as Vice President Francis "Frank" Underwood
- 2015: Jon Hamm for Mad Men as Donald "Don" Draper
- Kyle Chandler for Bloodline as John Rayburn
- Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom as Will McAvoy
- Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic
- Liev Schreiber for Ray Donovan as Raymond "Ray" Donovan
- Kevin Spacey for House of Cards as President Francis "Frank" Underwood
- 2016: Rami Malek for Mr. Robot as Elliot Alderson
- Kyle Chandler for Bloodline as John Rayburn
- Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic
- Matthew Rhys for The Americans as Philip Jennings
- Liev Schreiber for Ray Donovan as Raymond "Ray" Donovan
- Kevin Spacey for House of Cards as President Francis "Frank" Underwood
- 2017: Sterling K. Brown for This Is Us as Randall Pearson
- Anthony Hopkins for Westworld as Dr. Robert Ford
- Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic
- Matthew Rhys for The Americans as Philip Jennings
- Liev Schreiber for Ray Donovan as Raymond "Ray" Donovan
- Kevin Spacey for House of Cards as President Francis "Frank" Underwood
- Milo Ventimiglia for This Is Us as Jack Pearson
- 2018: Matthew Rhys for The Americans as Philip Jennings
- Jason Bateman for Ozark as Martin "Marty" Byrde
- Sterling K. Brown for This Is Us as Randall Pearson
- Milo Ventimiglia for This Is Us as Jack Pearson
- Ed Harris for Westworld as The Man in Black / William
- Jeffrey Wright for Westworld as Bernard Lowe
- 2019: Billy Porter for Pose as Prayerful "Pray" Tell
- Jason Bateman for Ozark as Martin "Marty" Byrde
- Sterling K. Brown for This Is Us as Randall Pearson
- Milo Ventimiglia for This Is Us as Jack Pearson
- Kit Harington for Game of Thrones as Jon Snow
- Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic
2020s
- 2020: Jeremy Strong for Succession as Kendall Roy
- Jason Bateman for Ozark as Martin "Marty" Byrde
- Sterling K. Brown for This Is Us as Randall Pearson
- Steve Carell for The Morning Show as Mitch Kessler
- Brian Cox for Succession as Logan Roy
- Billy Porter for Pose as Prayerful "Pray" Tell
- 2021: Josh O'Connor for The Crown as Charles, Prince of Wales
- Sterling K. Brown for This Is Us as Randall Pearson
- Jonathan Majors for Lovecraft Country as Atticus "Tic" Freeman
- Matthew Rhys for Perry Mason as Perry Mason
- Regé-Jean Page for Bridgerton as Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings
- Billy Porter for Pose as Prayerful "Pray" Tell
- 2022: Lee Jung-jae for Squid Game as Seong Gi-hun / 456
- Jason Bateman for Ozark as Martin "Marty" Byrde
- Brian Cox for Succession as Logan Roy
- Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic
- Adam Scott for Severance as Mark Scout
- Jeremy Strong for Succession as Kendall Roy
- 2023: Kieran Culkin for Succession as Roman Roy
- Jeff Bridges for The Old Man as Dan Chase
- Brian Cox for Succession as Logan Roy
- Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic
- Pedro Pascal for The Last of Us as Joel Miller
- Jeremy Strong for Succession as Kendall Roy