Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama TV Series

The Prime Time Emmy Award in the category "Best Actor in a Drama Television Series" is awarded annually by the American Television Academy to one of the nominated actors for her outstanding performance of a leading role in a drama television series broadcast in prime time .

For the first time, an award in this category was awarded on February 11, 1954, at the 6th Emmy Award Ceremony, to actor Donald O'Connor for his work on the comedy Colgate Hour. At the first award ceremonies, the Best Actor Award was presented to both television and radio figures. In addition, until 1954, its presentation was determined only by the fact of the outstanding works of the nominated actors on television and was not associated with the specific roles of the nominees. In the period from 1954 to 1965, the prize in this category was not always divided according to genre, and actors from both dramatic and comedy television series were often nominated for it. Since 1966, only dramatic television series actors began to be nominated for the prize. However, in 1972, the leading actor in a mini-series or film claimed to be her, and in 1981 and 1992 - guest performers in a drama television series (in the tables below, such nominees are marked with special icons). Over its history, the award in this category changed several names, until in 1975 at the 27th award ceremony it received its modern name.

For the entire existence of the award, 43 actors received it. Actor Matthew Reese is the last winner of the award at the moment, he received it for his role as Philip Jennings in the TV series " Americans ". Actors Dennis Franz and Brian Cranston have won most of the awards in the category "Best Actor in a Drama TV Series"; they are four-time winners of the award. Actors Raymond Burr , Peter Falk , Dennis Franz and John Hamm have been nominated for the award eight times as best actors in a drama television series; This is a record number of nominations in this category.