Primetime Emmy Winners: Drama Series Actor

By VARIETY STAFF

Note: The names of award categories have changed dramatically through the years. Where the difference is significant, the actual title is cited in parentheses below. If the series also won another major program award -- like Outstanding New Series, back in the days when there was such a category -- it's also noted. Missing years indicate that the award categories were dropped.

1956 Robert Young, Father Knows Best

1957 Robert Young, Father Knows Best (Best Actor, Comedy or Drama Series)

1958-59 Raymond Burr, Perry Mason

1959-60 Robert Stack, The Untouchables (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series)

1960-61 Raymond Burr, Perry Mason (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series)

1961-62 E.G. Marshall, The Defenders (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series)

1962-63 E.G. Marshall, The Defenders (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series)

1963-64 Jack Klugman, The Defenders (Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role)

1965-66 Bill Cosby, I Spy

1966-67 Bill Cosby, I Spy

1967-68 Bill Cosby, I Spy

1968-69 Carl Betz, Judd for the Defense

1969-70 Robert Young, Marcus Welby, M.D.

1970-71 Hal Holbrook, The Senator, The Bold Ones

1971-72 Peter Falk, Columbo

1972-73 Richard Thomas, The Waltons

1973-74 Telly Savalas, Kojak

1974-75 Robert Blake, Baretta

1975-76 Peter Falk, Columbo

1976-77 James Garner, The Rockford Files

1977-78 Edward Asner, Lou Grant

1978-79 Ron Leibman, Kaz

1979-80 Edward Asner, Lou Grant

1980-81 Daniel J. Travanti, Hill Street Blues

1981-82 Daniel J. Travanti, Hill Street Blues

1982-83 Ed Flanders, St. Elsewhere

1983-84 Tom Selleck, Magnum, P.I.

1984-85 William Daniels, St. Elsewhere

1985-86 William Daniels, St. Elsewhere

1986-87 Bruce Willis, Moonlighting

1987-88 Richard Kiley, A Year in the Life

1988-89 Carroll O'Connor, In the Heat of the Night

1989-90 Peter Falk, Columbo

1990-91 James Earl Jones, Gabriel's Fire

1991-92 Christopher Lloyd, Avonlea

1992-93 Tom Skerritt, Picket Fences

1993-94 Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue

1994-95 Mandy Patinkin, Chicago Hope

1995-96 Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue

1996-97 Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue

1997-98 Andre Braugher, Homicide: Life on the Streets

1998-99 Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue

1999-00 ???????