12th Primetime Emmy Awards

The 12th Emmy Awards, later referred to as the 12th Primetime Emmy Awards, were held on June 20, 1960 to honor the best in television of the year. The ceremony was held at the NBC Studio, in Burbank. It was hosted by Fred Astaire. There were no awards given out in the categories of lead actor in comedy series, lead actress in a drama series or for supporting roles. All nominations are listed, with winners in bold and series' networks are in parentheses.

Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama

• The DuPont Show of the Month (CBS)
• The Moon and Sixpence (NBC)
• Playhouse 90 (CBS)
• Startime (NBC)
• The Untouchables (ABC)

Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Humor

• The Art Carney Special (NBC)
• Father Knows Best (CBS)
• The Jack Benny Program (CBS)
• Make Room for Daddy (CBS)
• The Red Skelton Show (CBS)

Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Variety

• CBS Television News (CBS)
• Chet Huntley Reporting (CBS)
• The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (NBC)
• The Fabulous Fifties (CBS)
• The Garry Moore Show (CBS)
• The Revlon Revue (CBS)
• Another Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC)

Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Children's Programming

• Captain Kangaroo (CBS)
• The Huckleberry Hound Show (Syndicated)
• Lassie (CBS)
• The Quick Draw McGraw Show (Syndicated)
• Watch Mr. Wizard (NBC)

Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Public Service

• CBS Reports (CBS)
• Meet the Press (NBC)
• The Twentieth Century (CBS)

Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of News

• The Huntley-Brinkley Report (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series

• Richard Boone for Have Gun - Will Travel
• Raymond Burr for Perry Mason
• Robert Stack for The Untouchables

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series

• Donna Reed for The Donna Reed Show
• Loretta Young for Letter to Loretta
• Jane Wyatt for Father Knows Best

Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor

• Lee J. Cobb for Playhouse 90
• Alec Guinness for The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks
• Laurence Olivier for The Moon and Sixpence

Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress

• Ingrid Bergman for Startime
• Julie Harris for The DuPont Show of the Month