| 2024-25 |
Noah Wyle, The Pitt (HBO) |
Britt Lower, Severance (Apple TV+) |
| 2023-24 |
Hiroyuki Sanada, Shogun (FX) |
Anna Sawai, Shogun (FX) |
| 2022-23 |
Kieran Culkin, Succession (HBO) |
Sarah Snook, Succession (HBO) |
| 2021-22 |
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game (Netflix) |
Zendaya, Euphoria (HBO) |
| 2020-21 |
Josh O'Connor, The Crown (Netflix) |
Olivia Colman, The Crown (Netflix) |
| 2019-20 |
Jeremy Strong, Succession (HBO) |
Zendaya, Euphoria (HBO) |
| 2018-19 |
Bill Porter, Pose (FX) |
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve (BBC America) |
| 2017-18 |
Matthew Rhys, The Americans (FX) |
Claire Foy, The Crown (Netflix) |
| 2016-17 |
Sterling K. Brown, This is Us (NBC) |
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) |
| 2015-16 |
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot (USA) |
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America) |
| 2014-15 |
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC) |
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) |
| 2013-14 |
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC) |
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS) |
| 2012-13 |
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (HBO) |
Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime) |
| 2011-12 |
Damian Lewis, Homeland (Showtime) |
Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime) |
| 2010-11 |
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights (NBC) |
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS) |
| 2009-10 |
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC) |
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer (TNT) |
| 2008-09 |
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC) |
Glenn Close, Damages (FX) |
| 2007-08 |
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC) |
Glenn Close, Damages (FX) |
| 2006-07 |
James Spader, Boston Legal (ABC) |
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters (ABC) |
| 2005-06 |
Kiefer Sutherland, 24 (FOX) |
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU (NBC) |
| 2004-05 |
James Spader, Boston Legal (ABC) |
Patricia Arquette, Medium (NBC) |
| 2003-04 |
James Spader, The Practice (ABC) |
Allison Janney, The West Wing (NBC) |
| 2002-03 |
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| 2001-02 |
Michael Chiklis, The Shield (FX) |
Allison Janney, The West Wing (NBC) |
| 2000-01 |
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| 1999-2000 |
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
Sela Ward, Once and Again (ABC) |
| 1998-99 |
Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| 1997-98 |
Andre Braugher, Homicide (NBC) |
Christine Lahti, Chicago Hope (CBS) |
| 1996-97 |
Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
Gillian Anderson, The X-Files (FOX) |
| 1995-96 |
Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| 1994-95 |
Mandy Patinkin, Chicago Hope (CBS) |
Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| 1993-94 |
Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
Sela Ward, Sisters (NBC) |
| 1992-93 |
Tom Skerritt, Picket Fences (CBS) |
Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| 1991-92 |
Christopher Lloyd, Avonlea (Disney) |
Dana Delany, China Beach (ABC) |
| 1990-91 |
James Earl Jones, Gabriel's Fire (ABC) |
Patricia Wettig, thirtysomething (ABC) |
| 1989-90 |
Peter Falk, Columbo (NBC) |
Patricia Wettig, thirtysomething (ABC) |
| 1988-89 |
Carroll O'Connor, In the Heat of the Night (NBC) |
Dana Delany, China Beach (ABC) |
| 1987-88 |
Richard Kiley, A Year in the Life (NBC) |
Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1986-87 |
Bruce Willis, Moonlighting (ABC) |
Sharon Gless Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1985-86 |
William Daniels, St. Elsewhere(NBC) |
Sharon Gless Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1984-85 |
William Daniels, St. Elsewhere(NBC) |
Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1983-84 |
Tom Selleck, Magnum P.I. (CBS) |
Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1982-83 |
Ed Flanders, St. Elsewhere (NBC) |
Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1981-82 |
Daniel Travanti, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
Michael Learned, Nurse (CBS) |
| 1980-81 |
Daniel Travanti, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
Barbara Babcock, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
| 1979-80 |
Ed Asner, Lou Grant (CBS) |
Barbara Bel Geddes, Dallas (CBS) |
| 1978-79 |
Ron Leibman, Kaz (CBS) |
Mariette Hartley, The Incredible Hulk (CBS) |
| 1977-78 |
Ed Asner, Lou Grant (CBS) |
Sada Thompson, Family (ABC) |
| 1976-77 |
James Garner, The Rockford Files (NBC) |
Lindsay Wagner, The Bionic Woman |
| 1975-76 |
Peter Falk, Columbo (NBC) |
Michael Learned, The Waltons (CBS) |
| 1974-75 |
Robert Blake, Baretta (ABC) |
Jean Marsh, "Upstairs Downstairs," Masterpiece Theatre Series (PBS) |
| 1973-74 |
Telly Savalas, Kojak (CBS) |
Michael Learned, The Waltons (CBS) |
| 1972-73 |
Richard Thomas, The Waltons (CBS) |
Michael Learned, The Waltons (CBS) |
| 1971-72 |
Peter Falk, Columbo (NBC) |
Glenda Jackson, "Elizabeth R" Masterpiece Theatre Series (PBS) |
| 1970-71 |
Hal Holbrook, The Bold Ones: The Senator (NBC) |
Susan Hampshire, The First Churchills (PBS) |
| 1969-70 |
Robert Young, Marcus Welby, M.D. (NBC) |
Susan Hampshire, The Forsyte Saga (NET) |
| 1968-69 |
Carl Betz, Judd for the Defense (ABC) |
Barbara Bain, Mission: Impossible (CBS) |
| 1967-68 |
Bill Cosby, I Spy (NBC) |
Barbara Bain, Mission: Impossible (CBS) |
| 1966-67 |
Bill Cosby, I Spy (NBC) |
Barbara Bain, Mission: Impossible (CBS) |
| 1965-66 |
Bill Cosby, I Spy (NBC) |
Barbara Stanwyck, The Big Valley (ABC) |
| 1964-65 |
|
|
| 1963-64 |
|
|
| 1962-63 |
E.G. Marshall, The Defenders (CBS) |
|
| 1961-62 |
E.G. Marshall, The Defenders (CBS) |
|
| 1960-61 |
Raymond Burr, Perry Mason (CBS) |
Barbara Stanwyck, The Barbara Stanwyck Show (NBC) |
| 1959-60 |
Robert Stack, The Untouchables (ABC) |
|
| 1958-59 |
Raymond Burr, Perry Mason (CBS) |
Loretta Young, The Loretta Young Show (NBC) |
| 1958 |
|
|
| 1957 |
Robert Young, Father Knows Best (NBC) |
Nanette Fabray, Caesar's Hour (NBC) |
| 1956 |
Robert Young, Father Knows Best (NBC) |
|
| 1955 |
|
Loretta Young, The Loretta Young Show (NBC) |
| 1954 |
|
Eve Arden, Our Miss Brooks (CBS) |
| 1953 |
Thomas Mitchell |
Helen Hayes |
| 1952 |
|
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