Emmy Award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Year | Actor | Character/Show | Show |
| 1998 | ANDRE BRAUGHER | Frank Pembleton | Homicide: Life On The Street |
| 1997 | DENNIS FRANZ | Detective Andy Sipowicz | NYPD BLUE |
| 1996 | DENNIS FRANZ | Detective Andy Sipowicz | NYPD BLUE |
| 1995 | MANDY PATINKIN | Dr. Jeffrey Geiger | CHICAGO HOPE |
| 1994 | DENNIS FRANZ | Detective Andy Sipowicz | NYPD BLUE |
| 1993 | TOM SKERRITT | Jimmy Brock | PICKET FENCES |
| 1992 | CHRISTOPHER LLOYD | Alistair Dimple | AVONLEA |
| 1991 | JAMES EARL JONES | Gabriel Bird | GABRIEL'S FIRE |
| 1990 | PETER FALK | Lieutenant Columbo | COLUMBO |
| 1989 | CARROLL O'CONNOR | Chief Bill Gillespie | IN THE HEAT OFTHE NIGHT |
| 1988 | RICHARD KILEY | Joe Gardner | A YEAR IN THE LIFE |
| 1987 | BRUCE WILLIS | David Addison | MOONLIGHTING |
| 1986 | WILLIAM DANIELS | Dr. Mark Craig | ST. ELSEWHERE |
| 1985 | WILLIAM DANIELS | St. Elsewhere | |
| 1984 | TOM SELLECK | Magnum P.I. | |
| 1983 | ED FLANDERS | St. Elsewhere | |
| 1982 | DANIEL J. TRAVANTI | Hill Street Blues | |
| 1981 | DANIEL J. TRAVANTI | Hill Street Blues | |
| 1980 | ED ASNER | Lou Grant | |
| 1979 | RON LEIBMAN | Kaz | |
| 1978 | ED ASNER | Lou Grant | |
| 1977 | JAMES GARNER | The Rockford Files | |
| 1976 | PETER FALK | Columbo | |
| 1975 | ROBERT BLAKE | Baretta | |
| 1974 | TELLY SAVALAS | Kojak | |
| 1973 | RICHARD THOMAS | The Waltons | |
| 1972 | PETER FALK | Columbo | |
| 1971 | HAL HOLBROOK | The Senator: The Bold Ones | |
| 1970 | ROBERT YOUNG | Marcus WelbyM.D. |