Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama Series

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 - Mission: Impossible
• 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 - Mission: Impossible
• 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 - Mission: Impossible
• Martin Landau as Rollin Hand - Mission: Impossible
• Ross Martin as Artemus Gordon - The Wild Wild West

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 - The Bold Ones: The Senator

• 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

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 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 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 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 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 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

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 Alistair Dimple - 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 - Homicide: Life on the Street
• 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 - Homicide: Life on the Street
• 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

2000

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

2001

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

2002

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

2003

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

2004

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

2005

• James Spader in Boston Legal as Alan Shore
• Hank Azaria in Huff as Dr. Craig "Huff" Huffstodt
• Hugh Laurie in House as Dr. Gregory House
• Ian McShane in Deadwood as Al Swearengen
• Kiefer Sutherland in 24 as Jack Bauer

2006

• Kiefer Sutherland in 24 as Jack Bauer
• Peter Krause in Six Feet Under as Nate Fisher
• Denis Leary in Rescue Me as Tommy Gavin
• Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Elliot Stabler
• Martin Sheen in The West Wing as Josiah Bartlet

2007

• James Spader in Boston Legal as Alan Shore
• James Gandolfini in The Sopranos as Tony Soprano
• Hugh Laurie in House as Dr. Gregory House
• Denis Leary in Rescue Me as Tommy Gavin
• Kiefer Sutherland in 24 as Jack Bauer

2008

• Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad as Walter White
• Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment as Dr. Paul Weston
• Michael C. Hall in Dexter as Dexter Morgan
• Jon Hamm in Mad Men as Don Draper
• Hugh Laurie in House as Dr. Gregory House
• James Spader in Boston Legal as Alan Shore

2009

• Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad as Walter White
• Simon Baker in The Mentalist as Patrick Jane
• Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment as Dr. Paul Weston
• Michael C. Hall in Dexter as Dexter Morgan
• Jon Hamm in Mad Men as Don Draper
• Hugh Laurie in House as Dr. Gregory House