Every Emmys Lead Actor in a Drama Series winner

26 ceremonies, 2000–2025. 19 different winners. The longest run was Bryan Cranston, 3 years straight (2008–2010).

Bryan Cranston ×4James Gandolfini ×3James Spader ×3

Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network; hover for details.

James Gandolfini'00–'01×2

Michael Chiklis'02

James Gandolfini'03

James Spader'04–'05×2

Kiefer Sutherland'06

James Spader'07

Bryan Cranston'08–'10×3

Kyle Chandler'11

Damian Lewis'12

Jeff Daniels'13

Bryan Cranston'14

Jon Hamm'15

Rami Malek'16

Sterling K. Brown'17

Matthew Rhys'18

Billy Porter'19

Jeremy Strong'20

Josh O'Connor'21

Lee Jung-jae'22

Kieran Culkin'23

Hiroyuki Sanada'24

Noah Wyle'25

Wins by network

HBO7AMC5FX4ABC3Netflix220th Century1Other4

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won

Bob Odenkirk6 noms
Hugh Laurie6 noms
Martin Sheen6 noms
Michael C. Hall6 noms
Kevin Spacey5 noms
Jason Bateman4 noms

Most losses

Jon Hamm7L · 1W
Bob Odenkirk6L · 0W
Hugh Laurie6L · 0W
Martin Sheen6L · 0W
Michael C. Hall6L · 0W
Kevin Spacey5L · 0W

The full list

Year	Winner	Network
2025	Noah Wyle (The Pitt) beat 4 others Sterling K. Brown (Paradise) Gary Oldman (Slow Horses) Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) Adam Scott (Severance)	HBO Max
2024	Hiroyuki Sanada (Shōgun) beat 5 others Idris Elba (Hijack) Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) Walton Goggins (Fallout) Gary Oldman (Slow Horses) Dominic West (The Crown)	FX
2023	Kieran Culkin (Succession) beat 5 others Jeff Bridges (The Old Man) Brian Cox (Succession) Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) Jeremy Strong (Succession)	HBO
2022	Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game) beat 5 others Jason Bateman (Ozark) Brian Cox (Succession) Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) Adam Scott (Severance) Jeremy Strong (Succession)	Netflix
2021	Josh O'Connor (The Crown) beat 5 others Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country) Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton) Billy Porter (Pose) Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason)	Netflix
2020	Jeremy Strong (Succession) beat 5 others Jason Bateman (Ozark) Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) Steve Carell (The Morning Show) Brian Cox (Succession) Billy Porter (Pose)	HBO
2019	Billy Porter (Pose) beat 5 others Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) Jason Bateman (Ozark) Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us) Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)	FX
2018	Matthew Rhys (The Americans) beat 5 others Ed Harris (Westworld) Jason Bateman (Ozark) Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us) Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)	FX
2017	Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) beat 6 others Anthony Hopkins (Westworld) Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) Matthew Rhys (The Americans) Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us)	NBC
2016	Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) beat 5 others Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) Kyle Chandler (Bloodline) Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) Matthew Rhys (The Americans)	USA Network
2015	Jon Hamm (Mad Men) beat 5 others Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) Kyle Chandler (Bloodline) Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)	AMC
2014	Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) beat 5 others Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) Jon Hamm (Mad Men) Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) Matthew McConaughey (True Detective) Woody Harrelson (True Detective)	AMC
2013	Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) beat 5 others Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) Damian Lewis (Homeland) Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) Jon Hamm (Mad Men) Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)	HBO
2012	Damian Lewis (Homeland) beat 5 others Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) Jon Hamm (Mad Men) Michael C. Hall (Dexter) Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)	Showtime
2011	Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) beat 5 others Hugh Laurie (House) Jon Hamm (Mad Men) Michael C. Hall (Dexter) Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) Timothy Olyphant (Justified)	DirecTV
2010	Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)repeat beat 5 others Hugh Laurie (House) Jon Hamm (Mad Men) Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) Matthew Fox (Lost) Michael C. Hall (Dexter)	AMC
2009	Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)repeat beat 5 others Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment) Hugh Laurie (House) Jon Hamm (Mad Men) Michael C. Hall (Dexter) Simon Baker (The Mentalist)	AMC
2008	Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) beat 5 others Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment) Hugh Laurie (House) James Spader (Boston Legal) Jon Hamm (Mad Men) Michael C. Hall (Dexter)	AMC
2007	James Spader (Boston Legal) beat 4 others Denis Leary (Rescue Me) Hugh Laurie (House) James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) Kiefer Sutherland (24)	ABC
2006	Kiefer Sutherland (24) beat 4 others Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Denis Leary (Rescue Me) Martin Sheen (The West Wing) Peter Krause (Six Feet Under)	Fox
2005	James Spader (Boston Legal)repeat beat 4 others Hank Azaria (Huff) Hugh Laurie (House) Ian McShane (Deadwood) Kiefer Sutherland (24)	ABC
2004	James Spader (The Practice) beat 4 others Anthony LaPaglia (Without a Trace) James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) Kiefer Sutherland (24) Martin Sheen (The West Wing)	ABC
2003	James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) beat 4 others Kiefer Sutherland (24) Martin Sheen (The West Wing) Michael Chiklis (The Shield) Peter Krause (Six Feet Under)	HBO
2002	Michael Chiklis (The Shield) beat 4 others Kiefer Sutherland (24) Martin Sheen (The West Wing) Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under) Peter Krause (Six Feet Under)	FX
2001	James Gandolfini (The Sopranos)repeat beat 4 others Andre Braugher (Gideon's Crossing) Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue) Martin Sheen (The West Wing) Rob Lowe (The West Wing)	HBO
2000	James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) beat 4 others Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue) Jerry Orbach (Law & Order) Martin Sheen (The West Wing) Sam Waterston (Law & Order)	HBO

More Emmys categories

Drama Series Comedy Series Limited Series Lead Actress (Drama)Lead Actor (Comedy)Lead Actress (Comedy)Supp. Actor (Drama)Supp. Actress (Drama)Supp. Actor (Comedy)Supp. Actress (Comedy)Directing (Drama)Writing (Drama)Writing (Comedy)Browse the full show

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