The Entire History of Diversity at the Emmy Awards (2024)

Janel Helmers

The Entire History of Diversity at the Emmy Awards (1) Uzo Aduba accepts her award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Orange Is the New Black during the 2015 Emmy Awards.

The 2016 Emmy race has begun, and Vulture will take a close look at the contenders until voting closes, on June 27.

Uzo Aduba, Viola Davis, and Regina King made headlines when they took home acting awards in their respective drama categories at the 2015 Emmy Awards. The wins by three black women in one night stirred excitement — wasa sea change underway, some wondered? — quickly followed by an inevitable question:Is this a fluke?

Ahead of this year’s Emmys, Vulture decided to investigate. We took a look back at the awards’ track record when it comes to diversity, focusing on representation among actors. In the graphics at the bottom of this post, we’ve documented every nominee and winner for each of the major show and acting categories for drama, comedy, and miniseries since the Emmys began, more than 60 years ago.Given the ensemble casts for many of these shows, we’ve highlighted certain shows based on how much representation there is for actors of color within their casts.

A caveat: The numbers here don’t tell the whole story. They can’t account for how fleshed out the characters are on each of these shows or how many lines of dialogue each actor of color is given. Two supporting actors of color on a show like ER, with a huge ensemble cast, don’t necessarily account for as much representation as two supporting actors of color on a show like Lost, where a significant amount of time is spent developing each character. But for the purposes of this graphic, we created designations (explained in our key below) to give a general sense of how much meaningful diversity there has been among Emmy winners over the years.

And that said, the data does reveal some interesting takeaways.Here’s an overall look:

Outstanding Acting

Winners who are people of color (in all acting categories)

5.61% or 39 out of 695 total winners

Nominees who are people of color (in all acting categories)

8.69% or 281 out of 3,235 total nominees

Outstanding Actress for Comedy is, in recent history, the least diverse category — no women of color have been nominated since Phylicia Rashad in 1986, except America Ferrera in 2007 and 2008.

The 281 acting nominees who are people of color:

Race% of total noms, including white Black6.28% – 203 noms Latino/Latina1.57% – 51 noms East Asian0.37% – 12 noms Middle Eastern0.3% – 10 noms South Asian0.12% – 4 noms Native American0.03% – 1 nom
  • Of the 12 nominations for actors of Asian descent, five went to Sandra Oh for Grey’s Anatomy. Of the ten nominations for actors of Middle Eastern descent, eight of them were for Tony Shalhoub’s role on Monk.
  • Two categories have seen peaks in recent years: In the past decade, the number of women of color nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy is the highest it’s been since a peak in the mid-’80s, while for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama, the number of nominees is the highest it’s ever been.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy

  • 2005Doris Roberts
  • 2005Conchata Ferrell
  • 2005Megan Mullally
  • 2005Holland Taylor
  • 2005Jessica Walter
  • 2006Megan Mullally
  • 2006Cheryl Hines
  • 2006Elizabeth Perkins
  • 2006Jaime Pressly
  • 2006Alfre Woodard
  • 2007Jaime Pressly
  • 2007Conchata Ferrell
  • 2007Jenna Fischer
  • 2007Elizabeth Perkins
  • 2007Holland Taylor
  • 2007Vanessa Williams
  • 2008Jean Smart
  • 2008Kristin Chenoweth
  • 2008Amy Poehler
  • 2008Holland Taylor
  • 2008Vanessa Williams
  • 2009Kristin Chenoweth
  • 2009Jane Krakowski
  • 2009Elizabeth Perkins
  • 2009Amy Poehler
  • 2009Kristen Wiig
  • 2009Vanessa Williams
  • 2010Jane Lynch
  • 2010Julie Bowen
  • 2010Jane Krakowski
  • 2010Holland Taylor
  • 2010Sofía Vergara
  • 2010Kristen Wiig
  • 2011Julie Bowen
  • 2011Jane Krakowski
  • 2011Jane Lynch
  • 2011Sofía Vergara
  • 2011Betty White
  • 2011Kristen Wiig
  • 2012Julie Bowen
  • 2012Mayim Bialik
  • 2012Kathryn Joosten
  • 2012Sofía Vergara
  • 2012Merritt Wever
  • 2012Kristen Wiig
  • 2013Merritt Wever
  • 2013Mayim Bialik
  • 2013Julie Bowen
  • 2013Anna Chlumsky
  • 2013Jane Krakowski
  • 2013Jane Lynch
  • 2013Sofía Vergara
  • 2014Allison Janney
  • 2014Mayim Bialik
  • 2014Julie Bowen
  • 2014Anna Chlumsky
  • 2014Kate McKinnon
  • 2014Kate Mulgrew
  • 2015Allison Janney
  • 2015Mayim Bialik
  • 2015Julie Bowen
  • 2015Anna Chlumsky
  • 2015Gaby Hoffmann
  • 2015Jane Krakowski
  • 2015Kate McKinnon
  • 2015Niecy Nash

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

  • 2005Blythe Danner
  • 2005Stockard Channing
  • 2005Tyne Daly
  • 2005Sandra Oh
  • 2005C.C.H. Pounder
  • 2006Blythe Danner
  • 2006Candice Bergen
  • 2006Sandra Oh
  • 2006Jean Smart
  • 2006Chandra Wilson
  • 2007Katherine Heigl
  • 2007Lorraine Bracco
  • 2007Rachel Griffiths
  • 2007Sandra Oh
  • 2007Aida Turturro
  • 2007Chandra Wilson
  • 2008Dianne Wiest
  • 2008Candice Bergen
  • 2008Rachel Griffiths
  • 2008Sandra Oh
  • 2008Chandra Wilson
  • 2009Cherry Jones
  • 2009Rose Byrne
  • 2009Hope Davis
  • 2009Sandra Oh
  • 2009Dianne Wiest
  • 2009Chandra Wilson
  • 2010Archie Panjabi
  • 2010Christine Baranski
  • 2010Rose Byrne
  • 2010Sharon Gless
  • 2010Christina Hendricks
  • 2010Elisabeth Moss
  • 2011Margo Martindale
  • 2011Christine Baranski
  • 2011Michelle Forbes
  • 2011Christina Hendricks
  • 2011Kelly Macdonald
  • 2011Archie Panjabi
  • 2012Maggie Smith
  • 2012Christine Baranski
  • 2012Joanne Froggatt
  • 2012Anna Gunn
  • 2012Christina Hendricks
  • 2012Archie Panjabi
  • 2013Anna Gunn
  • 2013Morena Baccarin
  • 2013Christine Baranski
  • 2013Emilia Clarke
  • 2013Christina Hendricks
  • 2013Maggie Smith
  • 2014Anna Gunn
  • 2014Christine Baranski
  • 2014Joanne Froggatt
  • 2014Lena Headey
  • 2014Christina Hendricks
  • 2014Maggie Smith
  • 2015Uzo Aduba
  • 2015Christine Baranski
  • 2015Emilia Clarke
  • 2015Joanne Froggatt
  • 2015Lena Headey
  • 2015Christina Hendricks

Not surprisingly,there are far more people of color in supporting roles than leading ones on shows nominated for Emmys(making Davis’s win for Outstanding Actress in a Drama last year, quite literally, unique — she is the only actress of color to ever have won in that category). Among the nominee categories, Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress, for both Drama and Miniseries, have been the most diverse.

Outstanding Drama, Comedy, and Miniseries

Shows with predominantly nonwhite casts or a person of color in a leading role that have won

4.71% or 8 out of 170 total winners

Shows with predominantly nonwhite casts or a person of color in a leading role that have been nominated

7.04% or 60 out of 852 total nominees

Of shows with predominantly nonwhite casts or a person of color in a leading role, 25 miniseries have been nominated compared to 38 dramas and comedies combined, even though there have been 457 fewer miniseries nominations in total.

Outstanding Miniseries nominations with casts or leads of color, out of 197 total nominations. = Winners Outstanding Comedy + Drama nominations with casts or leads of color, out of 654 total nominations.
  • Miniseries in general have been kinder to actors of color:Among the winners, the Outstanding Miniseries and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries categories are the most diverse categories. (This is due in part to the subject matter of many of the nominated miniseries, which often tell historical or biographical stories that focus on minorities.)

Acting Winners (Lead and Supporting)

Comedy

3.3% people of color or 8 out of 242 total winners

Drama

6.6% people of color or 16 out of 242 total winners

Miniseries

7.1% people of color or 15 out of 211 total winners
  • Comedies account for some of the least diversity among acting winners — as the graph above shows, eight actors of color have won across the four acting categories, compared to drama’s 16 and miniseries’ 15. The comedy categories also have a slightly weaker track record when it comes to nominating actors of color and shows featuring people of color (in part due to the large ensemble casts on dramas). The Cosby Show, which was nominated four times, is an exception, making up almost half of the predominantly nonwhite comedies ever to be nominated for Outstanding Comedy. When it won in 1985, it became the first — and to this day, only — comedy or drama featuring a nonwhite cast to win an Emmy. Even the so-called golden age for black-led sitcoms in the early ’90s yielded no nominations for shows with predominantly non-white casts or a non-white lead, includingThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. (Home Improvement, meanwhile, received three nominations in that same era.)

The nominations for this year’s Emmys will be announced in July, and some of the best series of the past year have featured actors of colors in prominent roles. Will new shows like Master of None, Mr. Robot, and The People v. O.J. Simpson break through? Will returning shows, from Jane the Virgin to Fresh Off the Boat, Black-ishto Being Mary Jane, be recognized? Until then, check out our more detailed, category-by-category breakdown on Emmy contenders through 2015, below.

But first! Here are some notes to guide you through:

  • As the key below indicates, the top row of each graphic indicates the winners for that category. For the acting categories, an orange bubble stands for whether the nominee/winner was a person of color (we’ve included all biracial actors of color under this designation).
  • The same orange bubble that denotes an actor of color also designates a show that features a predominantly nonwhite cast (i.e.,The Cosby Show).
  • Lead roles go to people of color far less often than supporting ones. With this in mind, we’ve marked shows that include at least one person of color in a leading role, with a dark blue bubble. This means said actor would be eligible for Outstanding Lead Actor at the Emmys versus Outstanding Supporting Actor. (Tracy Morgan in 30 Rock, who was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor, for example, would not qualify in the leading-role category; Debbie Allen, for her role in Fame, would.)
  • The light blue bubble denotes shows that include at least two actors of color in a recurring supporting role (i.e., a show like Lost), following the logic Master of None’s fictional network executiveJerry Danvers explains to Aziz Ansari’s character: On TV, there can be one person of color, but there can’t be two. These are roles where the actor is not a background player, and could feasibly be nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor. (An exception was made here for Orange Is the New Black — given how intimately it focuses on each supporting actor, we’ve categorized it as “cast is predominantly nonwhite.”)
  • For certain shows, you may notice their classification changes from season to season — that’s because recurring cast members often change, especially on shows with rotating ensembles.

*Note: Up until 1964, there were no genre-specific categories for comedy and drama acting awards. On the graphics below, you’ll notice the pre-1964 acting contenders repeat in both categories. For the purposes of our calculations, we looked at each nominee during those years and sorted him or her by genre. For example, Carl Lee appears twice in Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy, and Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama, but he is only counted once in our tally.

  • Person of color / Cast is predominantly nonwhite
  • More than one person of color in a supporting role
  • One or more person of color in a leading role
  • Winner
  • 1952The Red Skelton Show
  • 1952The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
  • 1952The Herb Shriner Show
  • 1952I Love Lucy
  • 1952You Bet Your Life
  • 1953I Love Lucy
  • 1953The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet
  • 1953The Amos ‘N Andy Show
  • 1953The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
  • 1953Mister Peepers
  • 1953Our Miss Brooks
  • 1954I Love Lucy
  • 1954The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
  • 1954Mister Peepers
  • 1954Our Miss Brooks
  • 1954Topper
  • 1955Make Room for Daddy
  • 1955I Love Lucy
  • 1955The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
  • 1955Mister Peepers
  • 1955Our Miss Brooks
  • 1955Private Secretary
  • 1956The Phil Silvers Show
  • 1956The Bob Cummings Show
  • 1956Caesar’s Hour
  • 1956The George Gobel Show
  • 1956The Jack Benny Program
  • 1956Make Room for Daddy
  • 1957The Phil Silvers Show
  • 1957Alfred Hitchcock Presents
  • 1957Father Knows Best
  • 1957The Jack Benny Program
  • 1957Person to Person
  • 1958The Phil Silvers Show
  • 1958The Bob Cummings Show
  • 1958Caesar’s Hour
  • 1958Father Knows Best
  • 1958The Jack Benny Program
  • 1959The Jack Benny Program
  • 1959The Bob Cummings Show
  • 1959The Danny Thomas Show
  • 1959Father Knows Best
  • 1959The Phil Silvers Show
  • 1959The Red Skelton Show
  • 1960Art Carney Special
  • 1960The Danny Thomas Show
  • 1960Father Knows Best
  • 1960The Jack Benny Program
  • 1960The Red Skelton Show
  • 1961The Jack Benny Program
  • 1961The Andy Griffith Show
  • 1961Bob Hope Buick Sports Awards Show
  • 1961Candid Camera
  • 1961The Flintstones
  • 1962The Bob Newhart Show
  • 1962The Andy Griffith Show
  • 1962Car 54, Where Are You?
  • 1962Hazel
  • 1962The Red Skelton Show
  • 1963The Dick Van Dyke Show
  • 1963The Beverly Hillbillies
  • 1963The Danny Kaye Show With Lucille Ball
  • 1963McHale's Navy
  • 1964The Dick Van Dyke Show
  • 1964The Bill Dana Show
  • 1964The Farmer's Daughter
  • 1964McHale's Navy
  • 1964That Was The Week That Was
  • 1966The Dick Van Dyke Show
  • 1966Batman
  • 1966Bewitched
  • 1966Get Smart
  • 1966Hogan's Heroes
  • 1967The Monkees
  • 1967The Andy Griffith Show
  • 1967Bewitched
  • 1967Get Smart
  • 1967Hogan's Heroes
  • 1968Get Smart
  • 1968Bewitched
  • 1968Family Affair
  • 1968Hogan's Heroes
  • 1968The Lucy Show
  • 1969Get Smart
  • 1969Bewitched
  • 1969Family Affair
  • 1969Julia
  • 1969The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
  • 1970My World and Welcome to It
  • 1970The Bill Cosby Show
  • 1970The Courtship of Eddie's Father
  • 1970Love, American Style
  • 1970Room 222
  • 1971All in the Family
  • 1971Arnie
  • 1971Love, American Style
  • 1971The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • 1971The Odd Couple
  • 1972All in the Family
  • 1972The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • 1972The Odd Couple
  • 1972Sanford and Son
  • 1973All in the Family
  • 1973M*A*S*H
  • 1973The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • 1973Maude
  • 1973Sanford and Son
  • 1974M*A*S*H
  • 1974All in the Family
  • 1974The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • 1974The Odd Couple
  • 1975The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • 1975All in the Family
  • 1975M*A*S*H
  • 1975Rhoda
  • 1976The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • 1976All in the Family
  • 1976Barney Miller
  • 1976M*A*S*H
  • 1976Welcome Back, Kotter
  • 1977The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  • 1977All in the Family
  • 1977Barney Miller
  • 1977The Bob Newhart Show
  • 1977M*A*S*H
  • 1978All in the Family
  • 1978Barney Miller
  • 1978M*A*S*H
  • 1978Soap
  • 1978Three's Company
  • 1979Taxi
  • 1979All in the Family
  • 1979Barney Miller
  • 1979M*A*S*H
  • 1979Mork & Mindy
  • 1980Taxi
  • 1980Barney Miller
  • 1980M*A*S*H
  • 1980Soap
  • 1980WKRP in Cincinnati
  • 1981Taxi
  • 1981Barney Miller
  • 1981M*A*S*H
  • 1981Soap
  • 1981WKRP in Cincinnati
  • 1982Barney Miller
  • 1982Love, Sidney
  • 1982M*A*S*H
  • 1982Taxi
  • 1982WKRP in Cincinnati
  • 1983Cheers
  • 1983Buffalo Bill
  • 1983M*A*S*H
  • 1983Newhart
  • 1983Taxi
  • 1984Cheers
  • 1984Buffalo Bill
  • 1984Family Ties
  • 1984Kate & Allie
  • 1984Newhart
  • 1985The Cosby Show
  • 1985Cheers
  • 1985Family Ties
  • 1985Kate & Allie
  • 1985Night Court
  • 1986The Golden Girls
  • 1986Cheers
  • 1986The Cosby Show
  • 1986Family Ties
  • 1986Kate & Allie
  • 1987The Golden Girls
  • 1987Cheers
  • 1987The Cosby Show
  • 1987Family Ties
  • 1987Night Court
  • 1988The Wonder Years
  • 1988Cheers
  • 1988Frank's Place
  • 1988The Golden Girls
  • 1988Night Court
  • 1989Cheers
  • 1989Designing Women
  • 1989The Golden Girls
  • 1989Murphy Brown
  • 1989The Wonder Years
  • 1990Murphy Brown
  • 1990Cheers
  • 1990Designing Women
  • 1990The Golden Girls
  • 1990The Wonder Years
  • 1991Cheers
  • 1991Designing Women
  • 1991The Golden Girls
  • 1991Murphy Brown
  • 1991The Wonder Years
  • 1992Murphy Brown
  • 1992Brooklyn Bridge
  • 1992Cheers
  • 1992Home Improvement
  • 1992Seinfeld
  • 1993Seinfeld
  • 1993Cheers
  • 1993Home Improvement
  • 1993The Larry Sanders Show
  • 1993Murphy Brown
  • 1994Frasier
  • 1994Home Improvement
  • 1994The Larry Sanders Show
  • 1994Mad About You
  • 1994Seinfeld
  • 1995Frasier
  • 1995Friends
  • 1995The Larry Sanders Show
  • 1995Mad About You
  • 1995Seinfeld
  • 1996Frasier
  • 1996Friends
  • 1996The Larry Sanders Show
  • 1996Mad About You
  • 1996Seinfeld
  • 1997Frasier
  • 19973rd Rock From the Sun
  • 1997The Larry Sanders Show
  • 1997Mad About You
  • 1997Seinfeld
  • 1998Frasier
  • 19983rd Rock From the Sun
  • 1998Ally McBeal
  • 1998The Larry Sanders Show
  • 1998Seinfeld
  • 1999Ally McBeal
  • 1999Everybody Loves Raymond
  • 1999Frasier
  • 1999Friends
  • 1999Sex and the City
  • 2000Will & Grace
  • 2000Everybody Loves Raymond
  • 2000Frasier
  • 2000Friends
  • 2000Sex and the City
  • 2001Sex and the City
  • 2001Everybody Loves Raymond
  • 2001Frasier
  • 2001Malcolm in the Middle
  • 2001Will & Grace
  • 2002Friends
  • 2002Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 2002Everybody Loves Raymond
  • 2002Sex and the City
  • 2002Will & Grace
  • 2003Everybody Loves Raymond
  • 2003Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 2003Friends
  • 2003Sex and the City
  • 2003Will & Grace
  • 2004Arrested Development
  • 2004Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 2004Everybody Loves Raymond
  • 2004Sex and the City
  • 2004Will & Grace
  • 2005Everybody Loves Raymond
  • 2005Arrested Development
  • 2005Desperate Housewives
  • 2005Scrubs
  • 2005Will & Grace
  • 2006The Office
  • 2006Arrested Development
  • 2006Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 2006Scrubs
  • 2006Two and a Half Men
  • 200730 Rock
  • 2007Entourage
  • 2007The Office
  • 2007Two and a Half Men
  • 2007Ugly Betty
  • 200830 Rock
  • 2008Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 2008Entourage
  • 2008The Office
  • 2008Two and a Half Men
  • 200930 Rock
  • 2009Entourage
  • 2009Family Guy
  • 2009Flight of the Conchords
  • 2009How I Met Your Mother
  • 2009The Office
  • 2009Weeds
  • 2010Modern Family
  • 201030 Rock
  • 2010Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 2010Glee
  • 2010Nurse Jackie
  • 2010The Office
  • 2011Modern Family
  • 201130 Rock
  • 2011The Big Bang Theory
  • 2011Glee
  • 2011The Office
  • 2011Parks and Recreation
  • 2012Modern Family
  • 201230 Rock
  • 2012The Big Bang Theory
  • 2012Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • 2012Girls
  • 2012Veep
  • 2013Modern Family
  • 201330 Rock
  • 2013The Big Bang Theory
  • 2013Girls
  • 2013Louie
  • 2013Veep
  • 2014Modern Family
  • 2014The Big Bang Theory
  • 2014Louie
  • 2014Orange Is the New Black
  • 2014Silicon Valley
  • 2014Veep
  • 2015Veep
  • 2015Louie
  • 2015Modern Family
  • 2015Parks and Recreation
  • 2015Silicon Valley
  • 2015Transparent
  • 2015Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Since 1989, there have been two nominations for shows with predominantly nonwhite casts or a nonwhite lead: Ugly Betty in 2007 and Orange Is the New Black in 2014 (which moved to the Drama category the next year). Between 1992–2004, there were no shows with predominantly nonwhite casts or a nonwhite lead nominated for Outstanding Comedy. Notably, there were seven between 1985–1991 (The Cosby Show, Frank’s Place, Designing Women), and five between 1969–1973 (Julie, The Bill Cosby Show, Sanford and Son, Room 222). Modern Family, which features more than one actor of color in a supporting role, has won for Outstanding Comedy five times, while The Cosby Show is the only show with a predominantly nonwhite cast or a nonwhite lead to ever win in the category.

Thirty-eight out of the 324 comedy nominees have featured either a predominantly nonwhite cast (10), at least one nonwhite lead (6), or more than one nonwhite supporting actor (22).

  • 1951Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
  • 1951Fireside Theatre
  • 1951The Philco Television Playhouse
  • 1951Studio One
  • 1952Studio One
  • 1952The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
  • 1952Celanese Theatre
  • 1952Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
  • 1952Robert Montgomery Presents
  • 1953Robert Montgomery Presents
  • 1953Celanese Theatre
  • 1953Kraft Television Theatre
  • 1953The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
  • 1953Studio One
  • 1954U.S. Steel Hour
  • 1954Kraft Television Theatre
  • 1954The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
  • 1954Robert Montgomery Presents
  • 1954Studio One
  • 1955The United States Steel Hour
  • 1955Four Star Playhouse
  • 1955Medic
  • 1955The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
  • 1955Studio One
  • 1956Producers' Showcase
  • 1956Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre
  • 1956Climax!
  • 1956Studio One
  • 1956The United States Steel Hour
  • 1958Gunsmoke
  • 1958Lassie
  • 1958Maverick
  • 1958Perry Mason
  • 1958Wagon Train
  • 1958Playhouse 90
  • 1958Alfred Hitchcock Presents
  • 1958Climax!
  • 1958Hallmark Hall of Fame
  • 1958Studio One
  • 1959Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre
  • 1959Alfred Hitchcock Presents
  • 1959General Electric Theater
  • 1959Peter Gunn
  • 1959The Loretta Young Show
  • 1959Naked City
  • 1959Playhouse 90
  • 1959The United States Steel Hour
  • 1960Playhouse 90
  • 1960Ford Startime
  • 1960The Untouchables
  • 1961Hallmark Hall of Fame: Macbeth
  • 1961Naked City
  • 1961The Twilight Zone
  • 1961The Untouchables
  • 1962The Defenders
  • 1962Alcoa Premiere
  • 1962Ben Casey
  • 1962The Dick Powell Show
  • 1962Hallmark Hall of Fame
  • 1962Naked City
  • 1963The Defenders
  • 1963Alcoa Premiere
  • 1963Ben Casey
  • 1963The Dick Powell Show
  • 1963The Eleventh Hour
  • 1963Naked City
  • 1964The Defenders
  • 1964Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
  • 1964East Side/West Side
  • 1964Mr. Novak
  • 1964The Richard Boone Show
  • 1966The Fugitive
  • 1966Bonanza
  • 1966I Spy
  • 1966The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
  • 1966Slattery's People
  • 1967Mission: Impossible
  • 1967The Avengers
  • 1967I Spy
  • 1967Run for Your Life
  • 1967Star Trek: The Original Series
  • 1968Mission: Impossible
  • 1968The Avengers
  • 1968I Spy
  • 1968NET Playhouse
  • 1968Run for Your Life
  • 1968Star Trek: The Original Series
  • 1969NET Playhouse
  • 1969The F.B.I.
  • 1969Ironside
  • 1969Judd, for the Defense
  • 1969Mission: Impossible
  • 1969The Name of the Game
  • 1970Marcus Welby, M.D.
  • 1970The Forsyte Saga
  • 1970Ironside
  • 1970The Mod Squad
  • 1970The Name of the Game
  • 1970NET Playhouse
  • 1971The Bold Ones: The Senator
  • 1971The First Churchills
  • 1971Ironside
  • 1971Marcus Welby, M.D.
  • 1971NET Playhouse
  • 1972Elizabeth R
  • 1972Columbo
  • 1972Mannix
  • 1972Marcus Welby, M.D.
  • 1972The Six Wives of Henry VIII
  • 1973The Waltons
  • 1973Cannon
  • 1973Columbo
  • 1973Hawaii Five-O
  • 1973Kung Fu
  • 1973Mannix
  • 1974Upstairs, Downstairs
  • 1974Kojak
  • 1974Police Story
  • 1974The Streets of San Francisco
  • 1974The Waltons
  • 1975Upstairs, Downstairs
  • 1975Kojak
  • 1975Police Story
  • 1975The Streets of San Francisco
  • 1975The Waltons
  • 1976Police Story
  • 1976Baretta
  • 1976Columbo
  • 1976The Streets of San Francisco
  • 1977Upstairs, Downstairs
  • 1977Baretta
  • 1977Columbo
  • 1977Family
  • 1977Police Story
  • 1978The Rockford Files
  • 1978Columbo
  • 1978Family
  • 1978Lou Grant
  • 1978Quincy M.E.
  • 1979Lou Grant
  • 1979The Paper Chase
  • 1979The Rockford Files
  • 1980Lou Grant
  • 1980Dallas
  • 1980Family
  • 1980The Rockford Files
  • 1980The White Shadow
  • 1981Hill Street Blues
  • 1981Dallas
  • 1981Lou Grant
  • 1981Quincy M.E.
  • 1981The White Shadow
  • 1982Hill Street Blues
  • 1982Dynasty
  • 1982Fame
  • 1982Lou Grant
  • 1982Magnum, P.I.
  • 1983Hill Street Blues
  • 1983Cagney & Lacey
  • 1983Fame
  • 1983Magnum, P.I.
  • 1983St. Elsewhere
  • 1984Hill Street Blues
  • 1984Cagney & Lacey
  • 1984Fame
  • 1984Magnum, P.I.
  • 1984St. Elsewhere
  • 1985Cagney & Lacey
  • 1985Hill Street Blues
  • 1985Miami Vice
  • 1985Murder, She Wrote
  • 1985St. Elsewhere
  • 1986Cagney & Lacey
  • 1986Hill Street Blues
  • 1986Moonlighting
  • 1986Murder, She Wrote
  • 1986St. Elsewhere
  • 1987L.A. Law
  • 1987Cagney & Lacey
  • 1987Moonlighting
  • 1987Murder, She Wrote
  • 1987St. Elsewhere
  • 1988Thirtysomething
  • 1988Beauty and the Beast
  • 1988L.A. Law
  • 1988Rumpole of the Bailey
  • 1988St. Elsewhere
  • 1989L.A. Law
  • 1989Beauty and the Beast
  • 1989China Beach
  • 1989Thirtysomething
  • 1989Wiseguy
  • 1990L.A. Law
  • 1990China Beach
  • 1990Quantum Leap
  • 1990Thirtysomething
  • 1990Twin Peaks
  • 1991L.A. Law
  • 1991China Beach
  • 1991Northern Exposure
  • 1991Quantum Leap
  • 1991Thirtysomething
  • 1992Northern Exposure
  • 1992I'll Fly Away
  • 1992L.A. Law
  • 1992Law & Order
  • 1992Quantum Leap
  • 1993Picket Fences
  • 1993Homefront
  • 1993I'll Fly Away
  • 1993Law & Order
  • 1993Northern Exposure
  • 1994Picket Fences
  • 1994Law & Order
  • 1994Northern Exposure
  • 1994NYPD Blue
  • 1994Star Trek: The Next Generation
  • 1995NYPD Blue
  • 1995Chicago Hope
  • 1995ER
  • 1995Law & Order
  • 1995The X-Files
  • 1996ER
  • 1996Chicago Hope
  • 1996Law & Order
  • 1996NYPD Blue
  • 1996The X-Files
  • 1997Law & Order
  • 1997Chicago Hope
  • 1997ER
  • 1997NYPD Blue
  • 1997The X-Files
  • 1998The Practice
  • 1998ER
  • 1998Law & Order
  • 1998NYPD Blue
  • 1998The X-Files
  • 1999The Practice
  • 1999ER
  • 1999Law & Order
  • 1999NYPD Blue
  • 1999The Sopranos
  • 2000The West Wing
  • 2000ER
  • 2000Law & Order
  • 2000The Practice
  • 2000The Sopranos
  • 2001The West Wing
  • 2001ER
  • 2001Law & Order
  • 2001The Practice
  • 2001The Sopranos
  • 2002The West Wing
  • 200224
  • 2002CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
  • 2002Law & Order
  • 2002Six Feet Under
  • 2003The West Wing
  • 200324
  • 2003CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
  • 2003Six Feet Under
  • 2003The Sopranos
  • 2004The Sopranos
  • 200424
  • 2004CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
  • 2004Joan of Arcadia
  • 2004The West Wing
  • 2005Lost
  • 200524
  • 2005Deadwood
  • 2005Six Feet Under
  • 2005The West Wing
  • 200624
  • 2006Grey’s Anatomy
  • 2006House
  • 2006The Sopranos
  • 2006The West Wing
  • 2007The Sopranos
  • 2007Boston Legal
  • 2007Grey’s Anatomy
  • 2007Heroes
  • 2007House
  • 2008Mad Men
  • 2008Boston Legal
  • 2008Damages
  • 2008Dexter
  • 2008House
  • 2008Lost
  • 2009Mad Men
  • 2009Big Love
  • 2009Breaking Bad
  • 2009Damages
  • 2009Dexter
  • 2009House
  • 2009Lost
  • 2010Mad Men
  • 2010Breaking Bad
  • 2010Dexter
  • 2010The Good Wife
  • 2010Lost
  • 2010True Blood
  • 2011Mad Men
  • 2011Boardwalk Empire
  • 2011Dexter
  • 2011Friday Night Lights
  • 2011Game of Thrones
  • 2011The Good Wife
  • 2012Homeland
  • 2012Boardwalk Empire
  • 2012Breaking Bad
  • 2012Downton Abbey
  • 2012Game of Thrones
  • 2012Mad Men
  • 2013Breaking Bad
  • 2013Downton Abbey
  • 2013Game of Thrones
  • 2013House of Cards
  • 2013Mad Men
  • 2013Homeland
  • 2014Breaking Bad
  • 2014Downton Abbey
  • 2014Game of Thrones
  • 2014House of Cards
  • 2014Mad Men
  • 2014True Detective
  • 2015Game of Thrones
  • 2015Better Call Saul
  • 2015Downton Abbey
  • 2015Homeland
  • 2015Mad Men
  • 2015Orange Is the New Black

In Emmy history, there have been three predominantly nonwhite shows nominated for Outstanding Drama:The White Shadow, I’ll Fly Away, andOrange Is the New Black.NYPD Blueis the only show featuring at least one nonwhite lead to have won for Outstanding Drama, and since 2000, the only show with a predominantly nonwhite cast or nonwhite lead to have been nominated isOITNB.Notably, from 1992–1999, there were eight nominations for shows with a predominantly nonwhite cast, or at least one person of color in a leading role (five of them went toNYPD Blue),and from 1980–1985, there were six (half of them went toFame).

Sixty-four out of the 330 drama nominees have featured either a predominantly nonwhite cast (3), at least one nonwhite lead (16), or more than one nonwhite supporting actor (45).

  • 1973Tom Brown's Schooldays
  • 1973The Last of the Mohicans
  • 1973The Life of Leonardo da Vinci
  • 1974Columbo: Double Exposure
  • 1974The Blue Knight
  • 1974McCloud
  • 1975Benjamin Franklin
  • 1975Columbo
  • 1975McCloud
  • 1976Upstairs, Downstairs
  • 1976The Adams Chronicles
  • 1976Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill
  • 1976The Law
  • 1976Rich Man, Poor Man
  • 1977Roots
  • 1977The Adams Chronicles
  • 1977Captains and the Kings
  • 1977Madame Bovary
  • 1977The Moneychangers
  • 1978Holocaust
  • 1978Anna Karenina
  • 1978I, Claudius
  • 1978King
  • 1978Washington: Behind Closed Doors
  • 1979Roots: The Next Generations
  • 1979Backstairs at the White House
  • 1979Blind Ambition
  • 1980Edward & Mrs. Simpson
  • 1980Disraeli
  • 1980The Duchess of Duke Street
  • 1980The Scarlett O'Hara War
  • 1981Shogun
  • 1981East of Eden
  • 1981Masada
  • 1981Rumpole of the Bailey
  • 1981Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
  • 1982Marco Polo
  • 1982Brideshead Revisited
  • 1982Flickers
  • 1982Oppenheimer
  • 1982A Town Like Alice
  • 1983Nicholas Nickleby
  • 1983Smiley's People
  • 1983The Thorn Birds
  • 1983To Serve Them All My Days
  • 1983The Winds of War
  • 1984Concealed Enemies
  • 1984Chiefs
  • 1984George Washington
  • 1984Nancy Astor
  • 1984Reilly: Ace of Spies
  • 1985The Jewel in the Crown
  • 1985Ellis Island
  • 1985Robert Kennedy and His Times
  • 1985Space
  • 1985A Woman of Substance
  • 1986Peter the Great
  • 1986Dress Gray
  • 1986The Long Hot Summer
  • 1986Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy
  • 1986On Wings of Eagles
  • 1987A Year in the Life
  • 1987Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna
  • 1987Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder
  • 1987Out on a Limb
  • 1987The Two Mrs. Grenvilles
  • 1988The Murder of Mary Phagan
  • 1988Baby M
  • 1988Billionaire Boys Club
  • 1988The Bourne Identity
  • 1988Gore Vidal's Lincoln
  • 1989War and Remembrance
  • 1989I Know My First Name Is Steven
  • 1989Lonesome Dove
  • 1989A Perfect Spy
  • 1989The Women of Brewster Place
  • 1990Drug Wars: The Camarena Story
  • 1990Blind Faith
  • 1990Family of Spies
  • 1990The Kennedys of Massachusetts
  • 1990Small Sacrifices
  • 1991Separate But Equal
  • 1991Decoration Day
  • 1991The Josephine Baker Story
  • 1991Paris Trout
  • 1991Sarah, Plain and Tall
  • 1992A Woman Named Jackie
  • 1992Switched at Birth
  • 1992The Burden of Proof
  • 1992Cruel Doubt
  • 1992Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel
  • 1992In a Child's Name
  • 1993Prime Suspect 2
  • 1993Alex Haley's Queen
  • 1993Family Pictures
  • 1993The Jacksons: An American Dream
  • 1993Sinatra
  • 1994Prime Suspect 3
  • 1994Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
  • 1994The Stand
  • 1994Tales of the City
  • 1994World War II: When Lions Roared
  • 1995Joseph
  • 1995Buffalo Girls
  • 1995Children of the Dust
  • 1995Martin Chuzzlewit
  • 1995A Woman of Independent Means
  • 1996Gulliver's Travels
  • 1996Andersonville
  • 1996Hiroshima
  • 1996Moses
  • 1996Pride and Prejudice
  • 1997Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgement
  • 1997In Cold Blood
  • 1997The Last Don
  • 1997The Odyssey
  • 1997The Shining
  • 1998From the Earth to the Moon
  • 1998George Wallace
  • 1998Merlin
  • 1998Moby Dick
  • 1998More Tales of the City
  • 1999Hornblower: The Even Chance
  • 1999Great Expectations
  • 1999Joan of Arc
  • 1999The '60s
  • 1999The Temptations
  • 2000The Corner
  • 2000Arabian Nights
  • 2000The Beach Boys: An American Family
  • 2000Jesus
  • 2000P. T. Barnum
  • 2001Anne Frank: The Whole Story
  • 2001Further Tales of the City
  • 2001Hornblower
  • 2001Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
  • 2001Nuremberg
  • 2002Band of Brothers
  • 2002Dinotopia
  • 2002The Mists of Avalon
  • 2002Shackleton
  • 2003Taken
  • 2003HItler: The Rise of Evil
  • 2003Napoléon
  • 2004Angels in America
  • 2004American Family
  • 2004Hornblower
  • 2004Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness
  • 2004Traffic
  • 2005The Lost Prince
  • 2005The 4400
  • 2005Elvis
  • 2005Empire Falls
  • 2006Elizabeth I
  • 2006Bleak House
  • 2006Into the West
  • 2006Sleeper Cell
  • 2007Broken Trail
  • 2007Prime Suspect: The Final Act
  • 2007The Starter Wife
  • 2008John Adams
  • 2008The Andromeda Strain
  • 2008Cranford
  • 2008Tin Man
  • 2009Little Dorrit
  • 2009Generation Kill
  • 2010The Pacific
  • 2010Return to Cranford
  • 2011Downton Abbey
  • 2011Cinema Verite
  • 2011The Kennedys
  • 2011Mildred Pierce
  • 2011The Pillars of the Earth
  • 2011Too Big to Fail
  • 2012Game Change
  • 2012American Horror Story
  • 2012Hatfields & McCoys
  • 2012Hemingway & Gellhorn
  • 2012Luther
  • 2012Sherlock
  • 2013Behind the Candelabra
  • 2013American Horror Story: Asylum
  • 2013The Bible
  • 2013Phil Spector
  • 2013Political Animals
  • 2013Top of the Lake
  • 2014Fargo
  • 2014American Horror Story: Coven
  • 2014Bonnie & Clyde
  • 2014Luther
  • 2014Treme
  • 2014The White Queen
  • 2015Olive Kitteridge
  • 2015American Crime
  • 2015American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • 2015The Honorable Woman
  • 2015Wolf Hall

This is by far the show category with the most diversity. Over the years, 15 shows with predominantly nonwhite casts have been nominated for Outstanding Miniseries, and a third of them have won. Peaks include 1989–2000, when 12 miniseries with predominantly nonwhite casts or a person of color in a leading role were either nominated or won. Just in the last four years, four shows with people of color at the center have been nominated (Luther, Treme, The Bible), though one hasn’t won since 2000’s The Corner.

Thirty-five out of 197 miniseries nominees have featured either a predominantly nonwhite cast (15), at least one nonwhite lead (10), or more than one nonwhite supporting actor (10).

*Note: The Outstanding Miniseries category wasn’t created until 1973. Before then, there was a category designated as “Outstanding Single Performance,” which meant a performance that only occurred for one season or even less. This eventually became the categories of Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Miniseries, which is why, as you’ll see below, those two categories begin in 1955, almost 20 years before Outstanding Miniseries would.

  • 1954Donald O'Connor
  • 1954Sid Caesar
  • 1954Wally Cox
  • 1954Jackie Gleason
  • 1954Jack Webb
  • 1955Danny Thomas
  • 1955Richard Boone
  • 1955Robert Cummings
  • 1955Jackie Gleason
  • 1955Jack Webb
  • 1956Phil Silvers
  • 1956Robert Cummings
  • 1956Jackie Gleason
  • 1956Danny Thomas
  • 1956Robert Young
  • 1957Sid Caesar
  • 1957Jack Benny
  • 1957Robert Cummings
  • 1957Ernie Kovacs
  • 1957Phil Silvers
  • 1958Robert Young
  • 1958James Arness
  • 1958Robert Cummings
  • 1958Phil Silvers
  • 1958Danny Thomas
  • 1959Jack Benny
  • 1959Walter Brennan
  • 1959Robert Cummings
  • 1959Phil Silvers
  • 1959Danny Thomas
  • 1959Robert Young
  • 1960Robert Stack
  • 1960Raymond Burr
  • 1960Richard Boone
  • 1961Raymond Burr
  • 1961Jackie Cooper
  • 1961Robert Stack
  • 1962E.G. Marshall
  • 1962Paul Burke
  • 1962Jackie Cooper
  • 1962Vincent Edwards
  • 1962George Maharis
  • 1963E.G. Marshall
  • 1963Ernest Borgnine
  • 1963Paul Burke
  • 1963Vic Morrow
  • 1963Dick Van Dyke
  • 1964Dick Van Dyke
  • 1964Richard Boone
  • 1964Dean Jagger
  • 1964David Janssen
  • 1964George C. Scott
  • 1966Dick Van Dyke
  • 1966Don Adams
  • 1966Bob Crane
  • 1967Don Adams
  • 1967Bob Crane
  • 1967Brian Keith
  • 1967Larry Storch
  • 1968Don Adams
  • 1968Richard Benjamin
  • 1968Sebastian Cabot
  • 1968Brian Keith
  • 1968Dick York
  • 1969Don Adams
  • 1969Brian Keith
  • 1969Edward Mulhare
  • 1969Lloyd Nolan
  • 1970William Windom
  • 1970Bill Cosby
  • 1970Lloyd Haynes
  • 1971Jack Klugman
  • 1971Ted Bessell
  • 1971Bill Bixby
  • 1971Carroll O'Connor
  • 1971Tony Randall
  • 1972Carroll O'Connor
  • 1972Redd Foxx
  • 1972Jack Klugman
  • 1972Tony Randall
  • 1973Jack Klugman
  • 1973Alan Alda
  • 1973Redd Foxx
  • 1973Carroll O'Connor
  • 1973Tony Randall
  • 1974Alan Alda
  • 1974Redd Foxx
  • 1974Jack Klugman
  • 1974Carroll O'Connor
  • 1974Tony Randall
  • 1975Tony Randall
  • 1975Jack Albertson
  • 1975Alan Alda
  • 1975Jack Klugman
  • 1975Carroll O'Connor
  • 1976Jack Albertson
  • 1976Alan Alda
  • 1976Hal Linden
  • 1976Henry Winkler
  • 1977Carroll O'Connor
  • 1977Jack Albertson
  • 1977Alan Alda
  • 1977Hal Linden
  • 1977Henry Winkler
  • 1978Carroll O'Connor
  • 1978Alan Alda
  • 1978Hal Linden
  • 1978John Ritter
  • 1978Henry Winkler
  • 1979Carroll O'Connor
  • 1979Alan Alda
  • 1979Judd Hirsch
  • 1979Hal Linden
  • 1979Robin Williams
  • 1980Richard Mulligan
  • 1980Alan Alda
  • 1980Robert Guillaume
  • 1980Judd Hirsch
  • 1980Hal Linden
  • 1981Judd Hirsch
  • 1981Alan Alda
  • 1981Hal Linden
  • 1981Richard Mulligan
  • 1981John Ritter
  • 1982Alan Alda
  • 1982Robert Guillaume
  • 1982Judd Hirsch
  • 1982Hal Linden
  • 1982Leslie Nielsen
  • 1983Judd Hirsch
  • 1983Alan Alda
  • 1983Dabney Coleman
  • 1983Ted Danson
  • 1983Robert Guillaume
  • 1984John Ritter
  • 1984Dabney Coleman
  • 1984Ted Danson
  • 1984Robert Guillaume
  • 1984Sherman Hemsley
  • 1985Robert Guillaume
  • 1985Harry Anderson
  • 1985Ted Danson
  • 1985Bob Newhart
  • 1985Jack Warden
  • 1986Michael J. Fox
  • 1986Harry Anderson
  • 1986Ted Danson
  • 1986Bob Newhart
  • 1986Jack Warden
  • 1987Michael J. Fox
  • 1987Harry Anderson
  • 1987Ted Danson
  • 1987Bob Newhart
  • 1987Bronson Pinchot
  • 1988Michael J. Fox
  • 1988Dabney Coleman
  • 1988Ted Danson
  • 1988Tim Reid
  • 1988John Ritter
  • 1989Richard Mulligan
  • 1989Ted Danson
  • 1989Michael J. Fox
  • 1989John Goodman
  • 1989Fred Savage
  • 1990Ted Danson
  • 1990John Goodman
  • 1990Richard Mulligan
  • 1990Craig T. Nelson
  • 1990Fred Savage
  • 1991Burt Reynolds
  • 1991Ted Danson
  • 1991John Goodman
  • 1991Richard Mulligan
  • 1991Craig T. Nelson
  • 1992Craig T. Nelson
  • 1992Ted Danson
  • 1992John Goodman
  • 1992Kelsey Grammer
  • 1992Burt Reynolds
  • 1992Jerry Seinfeld
  • 1993Ted Danson
  • 1993Tim Allen
  • 1993John Goodman
  • 1993Jerry Seinfeld
  • 1993Garry Shandling
  • 1994Kelsey Grammer
  • 1994John Goodman
  • 1994John Larroquette
  • 1994Paul Reiser
  • 1994Jerry Seinfeld
  • 1995Kelsey Grammer
  • 1995John Goodman
  • 1995Paul Reiser
  • 1995Jerry Seinfeld
  • 1995Garry Shandling
  • 1996John Lithgow
  • 1996Kelsey Grammer
  • 1996Paul Reiser
  • 1996Jerry Seinfeld
  • 1996Garry Shandling
  • 1997John Lithgow
  • 1997Michael J. Fox
  • 1997Kelsey Grammer
  • 1997Paul Reiser
  • 1997Garry Shandling
  • 1998Kelsey Grammer
  • 1998Michael J. Fox
  • 1998John Lithgow
  • 1998Paul Reiser
  • 1998Garry Shandling
  • 1999John Lithgow
  • 1999Michael J. Fox
  • 1999Kelsey Grammer
  • 1999Paul Reiser
  • 1999Ray Romano
  • 2000Michael J. Fox
  • 2000Kelsey Grammer
  • 2000John Lithgow
  • 2000Eric McCormack
  • 2000Ray Romano
  • 2001Eric McCormack
  • 2001Kelsey Grammer
  • 2001John Lithgow
  • 2001Frankie Muniz
  • 2001Ray Romano
  • 2002Ray Romano
  • 2002Kelsey Grammer
  • 2002Matt LeBlanc
  • 2002Bernie Mac
  • 2002Matthew Perry
  • 2003Tony Shalhoub
  • 2003Larry David
  • 2003Matt LeBlanc
  • 2003Bernie Mac
  • 2003Eric McCormack
  • 2003Ray Romano
  • 2004Kelsey Grammer
  • 2004Larry David
  • 2004Matt LeBlanc
  • 2004John Ritter
  • 2004Tony Shalhoub
  • 2005Tony Shalhoub
  • 2005Jason Bateman
  • 2005Zach Braff
  • 2005Eric McCormack
  • 2005Ray Romano
  • 2006Tony Shalhoub
  • 2006Steve Carell
  • 2006Larry David
  • 2006Kevin James
  • 2006Charlie Sheen
  • 2007Ricky Gervais
  • 2007Alec Baldwin
  • 2007Steve Carell
  • 2007Tony Shalhoub
  • 2007Charlie Sheen
  • 2008Alec Baldwin
  • 2008Steve Carell
  • 2008Lee Pace
  • 2008Tony Shalhoub
  • 2008Charlie Sheen
  • 2009Alec Baldwin
  • 2009Steve Carell
  • 2009Jemaine Clement
  • 2009Jim Parsons
  • 2009Tony Shalhoub
  • 2009Charlie Sheen
  • 2010Jim Parsons
  • 2010Alec Baldwin
  • 2010Steve Carell
  • 2010Larry David
  • 2010Matthew Morrison
  • 2010Tony Shalhoub
  • 2011Jim Parsons
  • 2011Alec Baldwin
  • 2011Steve Carell
  • 2011Louis C.K.
  • 2011Johnny Galecki
  • 2011Matt LeBlanc
  • 2012Jon Cryer
  • 2012Alec Baldwin
  • 2012Louis C.K.
  • 2012Don Cheadle
  • 2012Larry David
  • 2012Jim Parsons
  • 2013Jim Parsons
  • 2013Alec Baldwin
  • 2013Jason Bateman
  • 2013Louis C.K.
  • 2013Don Cheadle
  • 2013Matt LeBlanc
  • 2014Jim Parsons
  • 2014Louis C.K.
  • 2014Don Cheadle
  • 2014Ricky Gervais
  • 2014Matt LeBlanc
  • 2014William H. Macy
  • 2015Jeffrey Tambor
  • 2015Anthony Anderson
  • 2015Louis C.K.
  • 2015Don Cheadle
  • 2015Will Forte
  • 2015Matt LeBlanc
  • 2015William H. Macy

Only two nonwhite actors have ever won for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy in Emmy history — Robert Guillaume in 1985, for Benson, and Tony Shalhoub, who won three times for Monk. (Fun fact: Guillaume is also the only actor of color to ever win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, for his role in Soap.) Twenty-eight of the 283 nominees in this category, or 9.9 percent, have been men of color. Shalhoub (who was nominated eight times for Monk), Guillaume (nominated five times for Benson), and Don Cheadle (nominated four times for House of Lies) together make up 61 percent of those nominations. No actors of color were nominated between 1989–2000.

  • 1954Eve Arden
  • 1954Lucille Ball
  • 1954Imogene Coca
  • 1954Dinah Shore
  • 1954Loretta Young
  • 1955Loretta Young
  • 1955Gracie Allen
  • 1955Eve Arden
  • 1955Jean Hagen
  • 1955Ann Sothern
  • 1956Lucille Ball
  • 1956Gracie Allen
  • 1956Eve Arden
  • 1956Jean Hagen
  • 1956Ann Sothern
  • 1957Nanette Febray
  • 1957Edie Adams
  • 1957Gracie Allen
  • 1957Lucille Ball
  • 1957Ann Sothern
  • 1958Jane Wyatt
  • 1958Eve Arden
  • 1958Spring Byington
  • 1958Jan Clayton
  • 1958Ida Lupino
  • 1959Jane Wyatt
  • 1959Gracie Allen
  • 1959Spring Byington
  • 1959Ida Lupino
  • 1959Donna Reid
  • 1959Ann Sothern
  • 1960Jane Wyatt
  • 1960Donna Reid
  • 1960Loretta Young
  • 1961Barbara Stanwyck
  • 1961Donna Reid
  • 1961Loretta Young
  • 1962Shirley Booth
  • 1962Gertrude Berg
  • 1962Donna Reid
  • 1962Mary Stuart
  • 1962Cara Williams
  • 1963Shirley Booth
  • 1963Lucille Ball
  • 1963Shirl Conway
  • 1963Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1963Irene Ryan
  • 1964Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1964Shirley Booth
  • 1964Patty Duke
  • 1964Irene Ryan
  • 1964Inger Stevens
  • 1966Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1966Lucille Ball
  • 1966Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1967Lucille Ball
  • 1967Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1967Agnes Moorehead
  • 1967Marlo Thomas
  • 1968Lucille Ball
  • 1968Barbara Feldon
  • 1968Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1968Paula Prentiss
  • 1968Marlo Thomas
  • 1969Hope Lange
  • 1969Diahann Carroll
  • 1969Barbara Feldon
  • 1969Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1970Hope Lange
  • 1970Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1970Marlo Thomas
  • 1971Jean Stapleton
  • 1971Marlo Thomas
  • 1971Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1972Jean Stapleton
  • 1972Sandy Duncan
  • 1972Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1973Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1973Jean Stapleton
  • 1973Bea Arthur
  • 1974Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1974Bea Arthur
  • 1974Jean Stapleton
  • 1975Valerie Harper
  • 1975Jean Stapleton
  • 1975Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1976Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1976Lee Grant
  • 1976Bea Arthur
  • 1976Cloris Leachman
  • 1976Valerie Harper
  • 1977Bea Arthur
  • 1977Jean Stapleton
  • 1977Valerie Harper
  • 1977Suzanne Pleshette
  • 1977Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1978Jean Stapleton
  • 1978Bea Arthur
  • 1978Valerie Harper
  • 1978Cathryn Damon
  • 1978Katherine Helmond
  • 1978Suzanne Pleshette
  • 1979Ruth Gordon
  • 1979Linda Lavin
  • 1979Jean Stapleton
  • 1979Katherine Helmond
  • 1979Isabel Sanford
  • 1980Cathryn Damon
  • 1980Katherine Helmond
  • 1980Polly Holliday
  • 1980Sheree North
  • 1980Isabel Sanford
  • 1981Isabel Sanford
  • 1981Eileen Brennan
  • 1981Cathryn Damon
  • 1981Katherine Helmond
  • 1981Lynn Redgrave
  • 1982Carol Kane
  • 1982Nell Carter
  • 1982Bonnie Franklin
  • 1982Swoosie Kurtz
  • 1982Charlotte Rae
  • 1982Isabel Sanford
  • 1983Shelley Long
  • 1983Nell Carter
  • 1983Mariette Hartley
  • 1983Swoosie Kurtz
  • 1983Rita Moreno
  • 1983Isabel Sanford
  • 1984Jane Curtin
  • 1984Joanna Cassidy
  • 1984Shelley Long
  • 1984Susan Saint James
  • 1984Isabel Sanford
  • 1985Jane Curtin
  • 1985Phylicia Rashad
  • 1985Shelley Long
  • 1985Susan Saint James
  • 1985Isabel Sanford
  • 1986Betty White
  • 1986Bea Arthur
  • 1986Shelley Long
  • 1986Rue McClanahan
  • 1986Phylicia Rashad
  • 1987Rue McClanahan
  • 1987Bea Arthur
  • 1987Blair Brown
  • 1987Jane Curtin
  • 1987Betty White
  • 1988Bea Arthur
  • 1988Kirstie Alley
  • 1988Blair Brown
  • 1988Rue McClanahan
  • 1988Betty White
  • 1989Candice Bergen
  • 1989Bea Arthur
  • 1989Blair Brown
  • 1989Rue McClanahan
  • 1989Betty White
  • 1990Candice Bergen
  • 1990Kirstie Alley
  • 1990Blair Brown
  • 1990Delta Burke
  • 1990Betty White
  • 1991Kirstie Alley
  • 1991Candice Bergen
  • 1991Blair Brown
  • 1991Delta Burke
  • 1991Betty White
  • 1992Candice Bergen
  • 1992Kirstie Alley
  • 1992Roseanne Barr
  • 1992Tyne Daly
  • 1992Marion Ross
  • 1992Betty White
  • 1993Roseanne Barr
  • 1993Kirstie Alley
  • 1993Candice Bergen
  • 1993Helen Hunt
  • 1993Marion Ross
  • 1994Candice Bergen
  • 1994Roseanne Barr
  • 1994Helen Hunt
  • 1994Annie Potts
  • 1994Patricia Richardson
  • 1995Candice Bergen
  • 1995Roseanne Barr
  • 1995Ellen DeGeneres
  • 1995Helen Hunt
  • 1995Cybill Shepherd
  • 1996Helen Hunt
  • 1996Ellen DeGeneres
  • 1996Fran Drescher
  • 1996Patricia Richardson
  • 1996Cybill Shepherd
  • 1997Helen Hunt
  • 1997Ellen DeGeneres
  • 1997Fran Drescher
  • 1997Patricia Richardson
  • 1997Cybill Shepherd
  • 1998Helen Hunt
  • 1998Kirstie Alley
  • 1998Ellen DeGeneres
  • 1998Jenna Elfman
  • 1998Calista Flockhart
  • 1998Patricia Richardson
  • 1999Helen Hunt
  • 1999Jenna Elfman
  • 1999Calista Flockhart
  • 1999Patricia Heaton
  • 1999Sarah Jessica Parker
  • 2000Patricia Heaton
  • 2000Jenna Elfman
  • 2000Jane Kaczmarek
  • 2000Debra Messing
  • 2000Sarah Jessica Parker
  • 2001Patricia Heaton
  • 2001Calista Flockhart
  • 2001Jane Kaczmarek
  • 2001Debra Messing
  • 2001Sarah Jessica Parker
  • 2002Jennifer Aniston
  • 2002Patricia Heaton
  • 2002Jane Kaczmarek
  • 2002Debra Messing
  • 2002Sarah Jessica Parker
  • 2003Debra Messing
  • 2003Jennifer Aniston
  • 2003Patricia Heaton
  • 2003Jane Kaczmarek
  • 2003Sarah Jessica Parker
  • 2004Sarah Jessica Parker
  • 2004Jennifer Aniston
  • 2004Patricia Heaton
  • 2004Bonnie Hunt
  • 2004Jane Kaczmarek
  • 2005Felicity Huffman
  • 2005Marcia Cross
  • 2005Teri Hatcher
  • 2005Patricia Heaton
  • 2005Jane Kaczmarek
  • 2006Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2006Stockard Channing
  • 2006Jane Kaczmarek
  • 2006Lisa Kudrow
  • 2006Debra Messing
  • 2007America Ferrera
  • 2007Tina Fey
  • 2007Felicity Huffman
  • 2007Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2007Mary-Louise Parker
  • 2008Tina Fey
  • 2008Christina Applegate
  • 2008America Ferrera
  • 2008Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2008Mary-Louise Parker
  • 2009Toni Collette
  • 2009Christina Applegate
  • 2009Tina Fey
  • 2009Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2009Mary-Louise Parker
  • 2009Sarah Silverman
  • 2010Edie Falco
  • 2010Toni Collette
  • 2010Tina Fey
  • 2010Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2010Lea Michele
  • 2010Amy Poehler
  • 2011Melissa McCarthy
  • 2011Edie Falco
  • 2011Tina Fey
  • 2011Laura Linney
  • 2011Martha Plimpton
  • 2011Amy Poehler
  • 2012Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2012Zooey Deschanel
  • 2012Lena Dunham
  • 2012Edie Falco
  • 2012Tina Fey
  • 2012Melissa McCarthy
  • 2012Amy Poehler
  • 2013Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2013Laura Dern
  • 2013Lena Dunham
  • 2013Edie Falco
  • 2013Tina Fey
  • 2013Amy Poehler
  • 2014Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2014Lena Dunham
  • 2014Edie Falco
  • 2014Melissa McCarthy
  • 2014Amy Poehler
  • 2014Taylor Schilling
  • 2015Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 2015Edie Falco
  • 2015Lisa Kudrow
  • 2015Amy Poehler
  • 2015Amy Schumer
  • 2015Lily Tomlin

Two actresses of color have won in this category — Isabel Sanford in 1981 for The Jeffersons and America Ferrera in 2007 for Ugly Betty. Fifteen of the 292 nominees in this category, or 5.1 percent, have been women of color. Isabel Sanford accounts for seven of those nominations, for her role in The Jeffersons. Since Phylicia Rashad’s last nomination, in 1986 for The Cosby Show, no actress of color has been nominated aside from America Ferrera in 2007 and 2008.

  • 1954Art Carney
  • 1954Ben Alexander
  • 1954William Frawley
  • 1954Tony Randall
  • 1954Carl Reiner
  • 1955Art Carney
  • 1955Ben Alexander
  • 1955Don DeFore
  • 1955William Frawley
  • 1955Gale Gordon
  • 1956Art Carney
  • 1956Ed Begley
  • 1956William Frawley
  • 1956Carl Reiner
  • 1956Cyril Ritchard
  • 1957Carl Reiner
  • 1957Art Carney
  • 1957Paul Ford
  • 1957William Frawley
  • 1957Ed Wynn
  • 1958Carl Reiner
  • 1958Paul Ford
  • 1958William Frawley
  • 1958Louis Nye
  • 1958Dennis Weaver
  • 1959Tom Poston
  • 1959Richard Crenna
  • 1959Paul Ford
  • 1959Maurice Gosfield
  • 1959Billy Gray
  • 1959Harry Morgan
  • 1961Don Knotts
  • 1961Abby Dalton
  • 1961Barbara Hale
  • 1962Don Knotts
  • 1962Sam Jaffe
  • 1962Barry Jones
  • 1962Horace McMahon
  • 1962George C. Scott
  • 1963Don Knotts
  • 1963Tim Conway
  • 1963Paul Ford
  • 1963Hurd Hatfield
  • 1963Robert Redford
  • 1964Albert Paulsen
  • 1964Sorrell Booke
  • 1964Conlan Carter
  • 1964Carl Lee
  • 1966Don Knotts
  • 1966Morey Amsterdam
  • 1966Frank Gorshin
  • 1966Werner Klemperer
  • 1967Don Knotts
  • 1967Gale Gordon
  • 1967Werner Klemperer
  • 1968Werner Klemperer
  • 1968Jack Cassidy
  • 1968William Demarest
  • 1968Gale Gordon
  • 1969Werner Klemperer
  • 1969Greg Morris
  • 1969Leonard Nimoy
  • 1970Michael Constantine
  • 1970Werner Klemperer
  • 1970Charles Nelson Reilly
  • 1971Ed Asner
  • 1971Michael Constantine
  • 1971Gale Gordon
  • 1972Ed Asner
  • 1972Ted Knight
  • 1972Rob Reiner
  • 1973Ted Knight
  • 1973Ed Asner
  • 1973Gary Burghoff
  • 1973Rob Reiner
  • 1973McLean Stevenson
  • 1974Rob Reiner
  • 1974Ed Asner
  • 1974Gary Burghoff
  • 1974Ted Knight
  • 1974McLean Stevenson
  • 1975Ed Asner
  • 1975Gary Burghoff
  • 1975Ted Knight
  • 1975Rob Reiner
  • 1975McLean Stevenson
  • 1976Ted Knight
  • 1976Ed Asner
  • 1976Gary Burghoff
  • 1976Harry Morgan
  • 1976Abe Vigoda
  • 1977Gary Burghoff
  • 1977Ed Asner
  • 1977Ted Knight
  • 1977Harry Morgan
  • 1977Abe Vigoda
  • 1978Rob Reiner
  • 1978Tom Bosley
  • 1978Gary Burghoff
  • 1978Harry Morgan
  • 1978Vic Tayback
  • 1979Robert Guillaume
  • 1979Gary Burghoff
  • 1979Danny DeVito
  • 1979Max Gail
  • 1979Harry Morgan
  • 1980Harry Morgan
  • 1980Mike Farrell
  • 1980Max Gail
  • 1980Howard Hesseman
  • 1980Steve Landesberg
  • 1981Danny DeVito
  • 1981Howard Hesseman
  • 1981Steve Landesberg
  • 1981Harry Morgan
  • 1981David Ogden Stiers
  • 1982Christopher Lloyd
  • 1982Danny DeVito
  • 1982Ron Glass
  • 1982Steve Landesberg
  • 1982Harry Morgan
  • 1982David Ogden Stiers
  • 1983Christopher Lloyd
  • 1983Nicholas Colasanto
  • 1983Danny DeVito
  • 1983Harry Morgan
  • 1983Eddie Murphy
  • 1984Pat Harrington Jr.
  • 1984Rene Auberjonois
  • 1984Nicholas Colasanto
  • 1984Tom Poston
  • 1984George Wendt
  • 1985John Larroquette
  • 1985Nicholas Colasanto
  • 1985Michael J. Fox
  • 1985John Ratzenberger
  • 1985George Wendt
  • 1986John Larroquette
  • 1986Tom Poston
  • 1986John Ratzenberger
  • 1986Malcolm-Jamal Warner
  • 1986George Wendt
  • 1987John Larroquette
  • 1987Woody Harrelson
  • 1987Tom Poston
  • 1987Peter Scolari
  • 1987George Wendt
  • 1988John Larroquette
  • 1988Kelsey Grammer
  • 1988Woody Harrelson
  • 1988Peter Scolari
  • 1988George Wendt
  • 1989Woody Harrelson
  • 1989Joe Regalbuto
  • 1989Peter Scolari
  • 1989Meshach Taylor
  • 1989George Wendt
  • 1990Alex Rocco
  • 1990Kelsey Grammer
  • 1990Woody Harrelson
  • 1990Charles Kimbrough
  • 1990Jerry Van Dyke
  • 1991Jonathan Winters
  • 1991Charles Durning
  • 1991Woody Harrelson
  • 1991Michael Jeter
  • 1991Jerry Van Dyke
  • 1992Michael Jeter
  • 1992Jason Alexander
  • 1992Charles Durning
  • 1992Harvey Fierstein
  • 1992Jay Thomas
  • 1992Jerry Van Dyke
  • 1993Michael Richards
  • 1993Jason Alexander
  • 1993Michael Jeter
  • 1993Jeffrey Tambor
  • 1993Rip Torn
  • 1994Michael Richards
  • 1994Jason Alexander
  • 1994David Hyde Pierce
  • 1994Rip Torn
  • 1994Jerry Van Dyke
  • 1995David Hyde Pierce
  • 1995Jason Alexander
  • 1995Michael Richards
  • 1995David Schwimmer
  • 1995Rip Torn
  • 1996Rip Torn
  • 1996Jason Alexander
  • 1996David Hyde Pierce
  • 1996Michael Richards
  • 1996Jeffrey Tambor
  • 1997Michael Richards
  • 1997Jason Alexander
  • 1997David Hyde Pierce
  • 1997Jeffrey Tambor
  • 1997Rip Torn
  • 1998David Hyde Pierce
  • 1998Jason Alexander
  • 1998Phil Hartman
  • 1998Jeffrey Tambor
  • 1998Rip Torn
  • 1999David Hyde Pierce
  • 1999Peter Boyle
  • 1999Peter MacNicol
  • 1999John Mahoney
  • 1999David Spade
  • 2000Sean Hayes
  • 2000Peter Boyle
  • 2000Brad Garrett
  • 2000Peter MacNicol
  • 2000David Hyde Pierce
  • 2001Peter MacNicol
  • 2001Peter Boyle
  • 2001Robert Downey Jr.
  • 2001Sean Hayes
  • 2001David Hyde Pierce
  • 2002Brad Garrett
  • 2002Peter Boyle
  • 2002Bryan Cranston
  • 2002Sean Hayes
  • 2002David Hyde Pierce
  • 2003Brad Garrett
  • 2003Peter Boyle
  • 2003Bryan Cranston
  • 2003Sean Hayes
  • 2003John Mahoney
  • 2003David Hyde Pierce
  • 2004David Hyde Pierce
  • 2004Peter Boyle
  • 2004Brad Garrett
  • 2004Sean Hayes
  • 2004Jeffrey Tambor
  • 2005Brad Garrett
  • 2005Peter Boyle
  • 2005Sean Hayes
  • 2005Jeremy Piven
  • 2005Jeffrey Tambor
  • 2006Jeremy Piven
  • 2006Will Arnett
  • 2006Bryan Cranston
  • 2006Jon Cryer
  • 2006Sean Hayes
  • 2007Jeremy Piven
  • 2007Jon Cryer
  • 2007Kevin Dillon
  • 2007Neil Patrick Harris
  • 2007Rainn Wilson
  • 2008Jeremy Piven
  • 2008Jon Cryer
  • 2008Kevin Dillon
  • 2008Neil Patrick Harris
  • 2008Rainn Wilson
  • 2009Jon Cryer
  • 2009Kevin Dillon
  • 2009Neil Patrick Harris
  • 2009Jack McBrayer
  • 2009Tracy Morgan
  • 2009Rainn Wilson
  • 2010Eric Stonestreet
  • 2010Ty Burrell
  • 2010Chris Colfer
  • 2010Jon Cryer
  • 2010Jesse Tyler Ferguson
  • 2010Neil Patrick Harris
  • 2011Ty Burrell
  • 2011Chris Colfer
  • 2011Jon Cryer
  • 2011Jesse Tyler Ferguson
  • 2011Ed O'Neill
  • 2011Eric Stonestreet
  • 2012Eric Stonestreet
  • 2012Ty Burrell
  • 2012Jesse Tyler Ferguson
  • 2012Max Greenfield
  • 2012Bill Hader
  • 2012Ed O'Neill
  • 2013Tony Hale
  • 2013Ty Burrell
  • 2013Adam Driver
  • 2013Jesse Tyler Ferguson
  • 2013Bill Hader
  • 2013Ed O'Neill
  • 2014Ty Burrell
  • 2014Fred Armisen
  • 2014Andre Braugher
  • 2014Adam Driver
  • 2014Jesse Tyler Ferguson
  • 2014Tony Hale
  • 2015Tony Hale
  • 2015Andre Braugher
  • 2015Tituss Burgess
  • 2015Ty Burrell
  • 2015Adam Driver
  • 2015Keegan-Michael Key

This ties with Supporting Actress in a Comedy as the second-least-diverse category among the acting nominees. One actor of color has won in this category: Robert Guillaume in 1979 for Soap. Twelve of the 278 nominees in this category, or 4.3 percent, have been men of color, five of whom were nominated in just the last two years. No actors of color were nominated between 1990 and 2008.

  • 1954Vivian Vance
  • 1954Bea Benaderet
  • 1954Ruth Gilbert
  • 1954Marion Lorne
  • 1954Audrey Meadows
  • 1955Audrey Meadows
  • 1955Bea Benaderet
  • 1955Jean Hagen
  • 1955Marion Lorne
  • 1955Vivian Vance
  • 1956Nanette Fabray
  • 1956Ann B. Davis
  • 1956Jean Hagen
  • 1956Audrey Meadows
  • 1956Thelma Ritter
  • 1957Pat Carroll
  • 1957Ann B. Davis
  • 1957Audrey Meadows
  • 1957Mildred Natwick
  • 1957Vivian Vance
  • 1958Ann B. Davis
  • 1958Pat Carroll
  • 1958Verna Felton
  • 1958Marion Lorne
  • 1958Vivian Vance
  • 1959Ann B. Davis
  • 1959Rosemary DeCamp
  • 1959Elinor Donahue
  • 1959Verna Felton
  • 1959Kathleen Nolan
  • 1959Zasu Pitts
  • 1961Don Knotts
  • 1961Abby Dalton
  • 1961Barbara Hale
  • 1962Pamela Brown
  • 1962Jeanne Cooper
  • 1962Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1962Joan Hackett
  • 1962Mary Wickes
  • 1963Glenda Farrell
  • 1963Davey Davison
  • 1963Nancy Malone
  • 1963Rose Marie
  • 1963Kate Reid
  • 1964Ruth White
  • 1964Martine Bartlett
  • 1964Anjanette Comer
  • 1964Rose Marie
  • 1964Claudia McNeil
  • 1966Alice Pearce
  • 1966Rose Marie
  • 1966Agnes Moorehead
  • 1967Frances Bavier
  • 1967Nancy Kulp
  • 1967Marion Lorne
  • 1968Marion Lorne
  • 1968Agnes Moorehead
  • 1968Marge Redmond
  • 1968Nita Talbot
  • 1969Susan Saint James
  • 1969Barbara Anderson
  • 1969Agnes Moorehead
  • 1970Karen Valentine
  • 1970Agnes Moorehead
  • 1970Lurene Tuttle
  • 1971Valerie Harper
  • 1971Agnes Moorehead
  • 1971Karen Valentine
  • 1972Valerie Harper (tie)
  • 1972Sally Struthers (tie)
  • 1972Cloris Leachman
  • 1973Valerie Harper
  • 1973Cloris Leachman
  • 1973Sally Struthers
  • 1974Cloris Leachman
  • 1974Sally Struthers
  • 1974Loretta Swit
  • 1974Valerie Harper
  • 1975Betty White
  • 1975Julie Kavner
  • 1975Loretta Swit
  • 1975Nancy Walker
  • 1976Betty White
  • 1976Georgia Engel
  • 1976Julie Kavner
  • 1976Loretta Swit
  • 1976Nancy Walker
  • 1977Mary Kay Place
  • 1977Georgia Engel
  • 1977Julie Kavner
  • 1977Loretta Swit
  • 1977Betty White
  • 1978Julie Kavner
  • 1978Polly Holliday
  • 1978Sally Struthers
  • 1978Loretta Swit
  • 1978Nancy Walker
  • 1979Sally Struthers
  • 1979Polly Holliday
  • 1979Marion Ross
  • 1979Loretta Swit
  • 1980Loretta Swit
  • 1980Loni Anderson
  • 1980Polly Holliday
  • 1980Inga Swenson
  • 1981Eileen Brennan
  • 1981Loni Anderson
  • 1981Marla Gibbs
  • 1981Anne Meara
  • 1981Loretta Swit
  • 1982Loretta Swit
  • 1982Eileen Brennan
  • 1982Marla Gibbs
  • 1982Andrea Martin
  • 1982Anne Meara
  • 1982Inga Swenson
  • 1983Carol Kane
  • 1983Eileen Brennan
  • 1983Marla Gibbs
  • 1983Rhea Perlman
  • 1983Loretta Swit
  • 1984Rhea Perlman
  • 1984Julia Duffy
  • 1984Marla Gibbs
  • 1984Paula Kelly
  • 1984Marion Ross
  • 1985Rhea Perlman
  • 1985Selma Diamond
  • 1985Julia Duffy
  • 1985Marla Gibbs
  • 1985Inga Swenson
  • 1986Rhea Perlman
  • 1986Justine Bateman
  • 1986Lisa Bonet
  • 1986Julia Duffy
  • 1986Estelle Getty
  • 1986Keshia Knight Pulliam
  • 1987Jackée Harry
  • 1987Justine Bateman
  • 1987Julia Duffy
  • 1987Estelle Getty
  • 1987Rhea Perlman
  • 1988Estelle Getty
  • 1988Julia Duffy
  • 1988Jackée Harry
  • 1988Katherine Helmond
  • 1988Rhea Perlman
  • 1989Rhea Perlman
  • 1989Julia Duffy
  • 1989Faith Ford
  • 1989Estelle Getty
  • 1989Katherine Helmond
  • 1990Bebe Neuwirth
  • 1990Julia Duffy
  • 1990Faith Ford
  • 1990Estelle Getty
  • 1990Rhea Perlman
  • 1991Bebe Neuwirth
  • 1991Elizabeth Ashley
  • 1991Faith Ford
  • 1991Estelle Getty
  • 1991Rhea Perlman
  • 1992Laurie Metcalf
  • 1992Faith Ford
  • 1992Estelle Getty
  • 1992Alice Ghostley
  • 1992Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 1992Frances Sternhagen
  • 1993Laurie Metcalf
  • 1993Shelley Fabares
  • 1993Sara Gilbert
  • 1993Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 1993Rhea Perlman
  • 1994Laurie Metcalf
  • 1994Shelley Fabares
  • 1994Faith Ford
  • 1994Sara Gilbert
  • 1994Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 1994Liz Torres
  • 1995Christine Baranski
  • 1995Lisa Kudrow
  • 1995Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 1995Laurie Metcalf
  • 1995Liz Torres
  • 1996Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 1996Christine Baranski
  • 1996Janeane Garofalo
  • 1996Jayne Meadows
  • 1996Renée Taylor
  • 1997Kristen Johnston
  • 1997Christine Baranski
  • 1997Janeane Garofalo
  • 1997Lisa Kudrow
  • 1997Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 1998Lisa Kudrow
  • 1998Christine Baranski
  • 1998Kristen Johnston
  • 1998Jane Leeves
  • 1998Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • 1999Kristen Johnston
  • 1999Lisa Kudrow
  • 1999Lucy Liu
  • 1999Wendie Malick
  • 1999Doris Roberts
  • 2000Megan Mullally
  • 2000Jennifer Aniston
  • 2000Kim Cattrall
  • 2000Lisa Kudrow
  • 2000Doris Roberts
  • 2001Doris Roberts
  • 2001Jennifer Aniston
  • 2001Kim Cattrall
  • 2001Lisa Kudrow
  • 2001Megan Mullally
  • 2002Doris Roberts
  • 2002Kim Cattrall
  • 2002Wendie Malick
  • 2002Megan Mullally
  • 2002Cynthia Nixon
  • 2003Doris Roberts
  • 2003Kim Cattrall
  • 2003Cheryl Hines
  • 2003Megan Mullally
  • 2003Cynthia Nixon
  • 2004Cynthia Nixon
  • 2004Kim Cattrall
  • 2004Kristin Davis
  • 2004Megan Mullally
  • 2004Doris Roberts
  • 2005Doris Roberts
  • 2005Conchata Ferrell
  • 2005Megan Mullally
  • 2005Holland Taylor
  • 2005Jessica Walter
  • 2006Megan Mullally
  • 2006Cheryl Hines
  • 2006Elizabeth Perkins
  • 2006Jaime Pressly
  • 2006Alfre Woodard
  • 2007Jaime Pressly
  • 2007Conchata Ferrell
  • 2007Jenna Fischer
  • 2007Elizabeth Perkins
  • 2007Holland Taylor
  • 2007Vanessa Williams
  • 2008Jean Smart
  • 2008Kristin Chenoweth
  • 2008Amy Poehler
  • 2008Holland Taylor
  • 2008Vanessa Williams
  • 2009Kristin Chenoweth
  • 2009Jane Krakowski
  • 2009Elizabeth Perkins
  • 2009Amy Poehler
  • 2009Kristen Wiig
  • 2009Vanessa Williams
  • 2010Jane Lynch
  • 2010Julie Bowen
  • 2010Jane Krakowski
  • 2010Holland Taylor
  • 2010Sofía Vergara
  • 2010Kristen Wiig
  • 2011Julie Bowen
  • 2011Jane Krakowski
  • 2011Jane Lynch
  • 2011Sofía Vergara
  • 2011Betty White
  • 2011Kristen Wiig
  • 2012Julie Bowen
  • 2012Mayim Bialik
  • 2012Kathryn Joosten
  • 2012Sofía Vergara
  • 2012Merritt Wever
  • 2012Kristen Wiig
  • 2013Merritt Wever
  • 2013Mayim Bialik
  • 2013Julie Bowen
  • 2013Anna Chlumsky
  • 2013Jane Krakowski
  • 2013Jane Lynch
  • 2013Sofía Vergara
  • 2014Allison Janney
  • 2014Mayim Bialik
  • 2014Julie Bowen
  • 2014Anna Chlumsky
  • 2014Kate McKinnon
  • 2014Kate Mulgrew
  • 2015Allison Janney
  • 2015Mayim Bialik
  • 2015Julie Bowen
  • 2015Anna Chlumsky
  • 2015Gaby Hoffmann
  • 2015Jane Krakowski
  • 2015Kate McKinnon
  • 2015Niecy Nash

Only one actor of color has won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy in Emmy history — Jackée Harry in 1987 for 227. Twenty-two of the 280 nominees in this category, or 7.9 percent, have been women of color — ten of them were in the period from 1981–1988, while nine have come in the last decade. Marla Gibbs was nominated five times for The Jeffersons, and Sofia Vergara was nominated four times for Modern Family.

  • 1954Donald O'Connor
  • 1954Sid Caesar
  • 1954Wally Cox
  • 1954Jackie Gleason
  • 1954Jack Webb
  • 1955Danny Thomas
  • 1955Richard Boone
  • 1955Robert Cummings
  • 1955Jackie Gleason
  • 1955Jack Webb
  • 1956Phil Silvers
  • 1956Robert Cummings
  • 1956Jackie Gleason
  • 1956Danny Thomas
  • 1956Robert Young
  • 1957Robert Young
  • 1957James Arness
  • 1957Charles Boyer
  • 1957David Niven
  • 1957Hugh O'Brian
  • 1958Robert Young
  • 1958James Arness
  • 1958Robert Cummings
  • 1958Phil Silvers
  • 1958Danny Thomas
  • 1959Raymond Burr
  • 1959James Arness
  • 1959Richard Boone
  • 1959James Garner
  • 1959Craig Stevens
  • 1959Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
  • 1960Robert Stack
  • 1960Raymond Burr
  • 1960Richard Boone
  • 1961Raymond Burr
  • 1961Jackie Cooper
  • 1961Robert Stack
  • 1962E.G. Marshall
  • 1962Vincent Edwards
  • 1962Jackie Cooper
  • 1962Paul Burke
  • 1962George Maharis
  • 1963E.G. Marshall
  • 1963Vic Morrow
  • 1963Dick Van Dyke
  • 1963Ernest Borgnine
  • 1963Paul Burke
  • 1964Dick Van Dyke
  • 1964Richard Boone
  • 1964Dean Jagger
  • 1964David Janssen
  • 1964George C. Scott
  • 1966Bill Cosby
  • 1966David Janssen
  • 1966Robert Culp
  • 1966David McCallum
  • 1966Richard Crenna
  • 1967Bill Cosby
  • 1967David Janssen
  • 1967Robert Culp
  • 1967Martin Landau
  • 1967Ben Gazzara
  • 1968Bill Cosby
  • 1968Robert Culp
  • 1968Raymond Burr
  • 1968Martin Landau
  • 1968Ben Gazzara
  • 1969Carl Betz
  • 1969Raymond Burr
  • 1969Peter Graves
  • 1969Martin Landau
  • 1969Ross Martin
  • 1970Robert Young
  • 1970Raymond Burr
  • 1970Robert Wagner
  • 1970Mike Connors
  • 1971Hal Holbrook
  • 1971Raymond Burr
  • 1971Mike Connors
  • 1971Robert Young
  • 1972Peter Falk
  • 1972Raymond Burr
  • 1972Mike Connors
  • 1972Robert Young
  • 1972Keith Michell
  • 1973Richard Thomas
  • 1973William Conrad
  • 1973David Carradine
  • 1973Mike Connors
  • 1973Peter Falk
  • 1974Telly Savalas
  • 1974William Conrad
  • 1974Karl Malden
  • 1974Richard Thomas
  • 1975Robert Blake
  • 1975Telly Savalas
  • 1975Barry Newman
  • 1975Karl Malden
  • 1976Peter Falk
  • 1976James Garner
  • 1976Karl Malden
  • 1977James Garner
  • 1977Robert Blake
  • 1977Peter Falk
  • 1977Jack Klugman
  • 1977Karl Malden
  • 1978Ed Asner
  • 1978James Broderick
  • 1978Peter Falk
  • 1978Jack Klugman
  • 1978James Garner
  • 1978Ralph Waite
  • 1979Ron Leibman
  • 1979Ed Asner
  • 1979Jack Klugman
  • 1979James Garner
  • 1980Ed Asner
  • 1980James Garner
  • 1980Larry Hagman
  • 1980Jack Klugman
  • 1981Daniel J. Travanti
  • 1981Ed Asner
  • 1981Jim Davis
  • 1981Louis Gossett Jr.
  • 1981Larry Hagman
  • 1981Pernell Roberts
  • 1982Daniel J. Travanti
  • 1982Ed Asner
  • 1982John Forsythe
  • 1982James Garner
  • 1982Tom Selleck
  • 1983Ed Flanders
  • 1983William Daniels
  • 1983John Forsythe
  • 1983Tom Selleck
  • 1983Daniel J. Travanti
  • 1984Tom Selleck
  • 1984William Daniels
  • 1984Ed Flanders
  • 1984John Forsythe
  • 1984Daniel J. Travanti
  • 1985William Daniels
  • 1985Ed Flanders
  • 1985Don Johnson
  • 1985Tom Selleck
  • 1985Daniel J. Travanti
  • 1986William Daniels
  • 1986Ed Flanders
  • 1986Tom Selleck
  • 1986Bruce Willis
  • 1986Edward Woodward
  • 1987Bruce Willis
  • 1987Corbin Bernsen
  • 1987William Daniels
  • 1987Ed Flanders
  • 1987Edward Woodward
  • 1988Richard Kiley
  • 1988Corbin Bernsen
  • 1988Ron Perlman
  • 1988Michael Tucker
  • 1988Edward Woodward
  • 1989Carroll O'Connor
  • 1989Ron Perlman
  • 1989Michael Tucker
  • 1989Ken Wahl
  • 1989Edward Woodward
  • 1990Peter Falk
  • 1990Scott Bakula
  • 1990Robert Loggia
  • 1990Kyle MacLachlan
  • 1990Edward Woodward
  • 1991James Earl Jones
  • 1991Scott Bakula
  • 1991Peter Falk
  • 1991Kyle MacLachlan
  • 1991Michael Moriarty
  • 1992Christopher Lloyd
  • 1992Scott Bakula
  • 1992Kirk Douglas
  • 1992Michael Moriarty
  • 1992Rob Morrow
  • 1992Harrison Page
  • 1992Sam Waterston
  • 1993Tom Skerritt
  • 1993Scott Bakula
  • 1993Michael Moriarty
  • 1993Rob Morrow
  • 1993Sam Waterston
  • 1994Dennis Franz
  • 1994David Caruso
  • 1994Peter Falk
  • 1994Michael Moriarty
  • 1994Tom Skerritt
  • 1995Mandy Patinkin
  • 1995George Clooney
  • 1995Anthony Edwards
  • 1995Dennis Franz
  • 1995Jimmy Smits
  • 1996Dennis Franz
  • 1996Andre Braugher
  • 1996George Clooney
  • 1996Anthony Edwards
  • 1996Jimmy Smits
  • 1997Dennis Franz
  • 1997David Duchovny
  • 1997Anthony Edwards
  • 1997Jimmy Smits
  • 1997Sam Waterston
  • 1998Andre Braugher
  • 1998David Duchovny
  • 1998Anthony Edwards
  • 1998Dennis Franz
  • 1998Jimmy Smits
  • 1999Dennis Franz
  • 1999James Gandolfini
  • 1999Dylan McDermott
  • 1999Jimmy Smits
  • 1999Sam Waterston
  • 2000James Gandolfini
  • 2000Dennis Franz
  • 2000Jerry Orbach
  • 2000Martin Sheen
  • 2000Sam Waterston
  • 2001James Gandolfini
  • 2001Andre Braugher
  • 2001Dennis Franz
  • 2001Rob Lowe
  • 2001Martin Sheen
  • 2002Michael Chiklis
  • 2002Michael C. Hall
  • 2002Peter Krause
  • 2002Martin Sheen
  • 2002Kiefer Sutherland
  • 2003James Gandolfini
  • 2003Michael Chiklis
  • 2003Peter Krause
  • 2003Martin Sheen
  • 2003Kiefer Sutherland
  • 2004James Spader
  • 2004James Gandolfini
  • 2004Anthony LaPaglia
  • 2004Martin Sheen
  • 2004Kiefer Sutherland
  • 2005James Spader
  • 2005Hank Azaria
  • 2005Hugh Laurie
  • 2005Ian McShane
  • 2005Kiefer Sutherland
  • 2006Kiefer Sutherland
  • 2006Peter Krause
  • 2006Denis Leary
  • 2006Christopher Meloni
  • 2006Martin Sheen
  • 2007James Spader
  • 2007James Gandolfini
  • 2007Hugh Laurie
  • 2007Denis Leary
  • 2007Kiefer Sutherland
  • 2008Bryan Cranston
  • 2008Gabriel Byrne
  • 2008Michael C. Hall
  • 2008Jon Hamm
  • 2008Hugh Laurie
  • 2008James Spader
  • 2009Bryan Cranston
  • 2009Simon Baker
  • 2009Gabriel Byrne
  • 2009Michael C. Hall
  • 2009Jon Hamm
  • 2009Hugh Laurie
  • 2010Bryan Cranston
  • 2010Kyle Chandler
  • 2010Matthew Fox
  • 2010Michael C. Hall
  • 2010Jon Hamm
  • 2010Hugh Laurie
  • 2011Kyle Chandler
  • 2011Steve Buscemi
  • 2011Michael C. Hall
  • 2011Jon Hamm
  • 2011Hugh Laurie
  • 2011Timothy Olyphant
  • 2012Damian Lewis
  • 2012Hugh Bonneville
  • 2012Steve Buscemi
  • 2012Bryan Cranston
  • 2012Michael C. Hall
  • 2012Jon Hamm
  • 2013Jeff Daniels
  • 2013Hugh Bonneville
  • 2013Bryan Cranston
  • 2013Jon Hamm
  • 2013Damian Lewis
  • 2013Kevin Spacey
  • 2014Bryan Cranston
  • 2014Jeff Daniels
  • 2014Jon Hamm
  • 2014Woody Harrelson
  • 2014Matthew McConaughey
  • 2014Kevin Spacey
  • 2015Jon Hamm
  • 2015Kyle Chandler
  • 2015Jeff Daniels
  • 2015Bob Odenkirk
  • 2015Liev Schreiber
  • 2015Kevin Spacey

Five Outstanding Actor in a Drama awards have gone to people of color — three of these awards went to Bill Cosby for I, Spy from 1966–1968 (Cosby was also the first black actor to ever win a Primetime Emmy). James Earl Jones won in 1991 for Gabriel’s Fire, and Andre Braugher took home the trophy in 1998 for Homicide: Life on the Street. Fourteen of the 275 nominees in this category, or 5.1 percent, have been men of color: Jimmy Smits was notably nominated five times for NYPD: Blue. No people of color have been nominated in this category since Braugher’s nomination for Gideon’s Crossing,in 2001.

  • 1954Eve Arden
  • 1954Lucille Ball
  • 1954Imogene Coca
  • 1954Dinah Shore
  • 1954Loretta Young
  • 1955Loretta Young
  • 1955Gracie Allen
  • 1955Eve Arden
  • 1955Lucille Ball
  • 1955Ann Sothern
  • 1956Lucille Ball
  • 1956Gracie Allen
  • 1956Eve Arden
  • 1956Jean Hagen
  • 1956Ann Sothern
  • 1957Loretta Young
  • 1957Jan Clayton
  • 1957Ida Lupino
  • 1957Peggy Wood
  • 1957Jane Wyman
  • 1958Jane Wyatt
  • 1958Eve Arden
  • 1958Spring Byington
  • 1958Jan Clayton
  • 1958Ida Lupino
  • 1959Loretta Young
  • 1959Jan Clayton
  • 1959Phyllis Kirk
  • 1959Jane Wyman
  • 1960Jane Wyman
  • 1960Donna Reed
  • 1960Loretta Young
  • 1961Barbara Stanwyck
  • 1961Donna Reed
  • 1961Loretta Young
  • 1962Shirley Booth
  • 1962Gertrude Berg
  • 1962Donna Reed
  • 1962Mary Stuart
  • 1962Cara Williams
  • 1963Shirley Booth
  • 1963Lucille Ball
  • 1963Shirl Conway
  • 1963Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1963Irene Ryan
  • 1964Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1964Shirley Booth
  • 1964Patty Duke
  • 1964Irene Ryan
  • 1964Inger Stevens
  • 1966Barbara Stanwyck
  • 1966Ann Francis
  • 1966Barbara Parkins
  • 1967Barbara Bain
  • 1967Diana Rigg
  • 1967Barbara Stanwyck
  • 1968Barbara Bain
  • 1968Diana Rigg
  • 1968Barbara Stanwyck
  • 1969Barbara Bain
  • 1969Joan Blondell
  • 1969Peggy Lipton
  • 1970Susan Hampshire
  • 1970Joan Blondell
  • 1970Peggy Lipton
  • 1971Susan Hampshire
  • 1971Linda Cristal
  • 1971Peggy Lipton
  • 1972Glenda Jackson
  • 1972Peggy Lipton
  • 1972Susan Saint James
  • 1973Michael Learned
  • 1973Lynda Day George
  • 1973Susan Saint James
  • 1974Michael Learned
  • 1974Jean Marsh
  • 1974Jeanette Nolan
  • 1975Jean Marsh
  • 1975Angie Dickinson
  • 1975Michael Learned
  • 1976Michael Learned
  • 1976Angie Dickinson
  • 1976Anne Meara
  • 1976Brenda Vaccaro
  • 1977Lindsay Wagner
  • 1977Angie Dickinson
  • 1977Kate Jackson
  • 1977Michael Learned
  • 1977Sada Thompson
  • 1978Sada Thompson
  • 1978Melissa Sue Anderson
  • 1978Fionnula Flanagan
  • 1978Kate Jackson
  • 1978Michael Learned
  • 1978Susan Sullivan
  • 1979Mariette Hartley
  • 1979Barbara Bel Geddes
  • 1979Rita Moreno
  • 1979Sada Thompson
  • 1980Barbara Bel Geddes
  • 1980Lauren Bacall
  • 1980Mariette Hartley
  • 1980Kristy McNichol
  • 1980Sada Thompson
  • 1981Barbara Babcock
  • 1981Barbara Bel Geddes
  • 1981Linda Gray
  • 1981Veronica Hamel
  • 1981Michael Learned
  • 1981Stefanie Powers
  • 1982Michael Learned
  • 1982Debbie Allen
  • 1982Veronica Hamel
  • 1982Michelle Lee
  • 1982Stefanie Powers
  • 1983Tyne Daly
  • 1983Debbie Allen
  • 1983Linda Evans
  • 1983Sharon Gless
  • 1983Veronica Hamel
  • 1984Tyne Daly
  • 1984Debbie Allen
  • 1984Joan Collins
  • 1984Sharon Gless
  • 1984Veronica Hamel
  • 1985Tyne Daly
  • 1985Debbie Allen
  • 1985Sharon Gless
  • 1985Veronica Hamel
  • 1985Angela Lansbury
  • 1986Sharon Gless
  • 1986Tyne Daly
  • 1986Angela Lansbury
  • 1986Cybill Shepherd
  • 1986Alfre Woodard
  • 1987Sharon Gless
  • 1987Tyne Daly
  • 1987Susan Dey
  • 1987Jill Eikenberry
  • 1987Angela Lansbury
  • 1988Tyne Daly
  • 1988Susan Dey
  • 1988Jill Eikenberry
  • 1988Sharon Gless
  • 1988Angela Lansbury
  • 1989Dana Delany
  • 1989Susan Dey
  • 1989Jill Eikenberry
  • 1989Linda Hamilton
  • 1989Angela Lansbury
  • 1990Patricia Wettig
  • 1990Dana Delany
  • 1990Jill Eikenberry
  • 1990Angela Lansbury
  • 1990Piper Laurie
  • 1991Patricia Wettig
  • 1991Dana Delany
  • 1991Sharon Gless
  • 1991Angela Lansbury
  • 1992Dana Delany
  • 1992Sharon Gless
  • 1992Shirley Knight
  • 1992Angela Lansbury
  • 1992Kate Nelligan
  • 1992Regina Taylor
  • 1993Kathy Baker
  • 1993Swoosie Kurtz
  • 1993Angela Lansbury
  • 1993Regina Taylor
  • 1993Janine Turner
  • 1994Sela Ward
  • 1994Kathy Baker
  • 1994Swoosie Kurtz
  • 1994Angela Lansbury
  • 1994Jane Seymour
  • 1995Kathy Baker
  • 1995Claire Danes
  • 1995Angela Lansbury
  • 1995Sherry Stringfield
  • 1995Cicely Tyson
  • 1996Kathy Baker
  • 1996Gillian Anderson
  • 1996Christine Lahti
  • 1996Angela Lansbury
  • 1996Sherry Stringfield
  • 1997Gillian Anderson
  • 1997Roma Downey
  • 1997Christine Lahti
  • 1997Julianna Margulies
  • 1997Sherry Stringfield
  • 1998Christine Lahti
  • 1998Gillian Anderson
  • 1998Roma Downey
  • 1998Julianna Margulies
  • 1998Jane Seymour
  • 1999Edie Falco
  • 1999Gillian Anderson
  • 1999Margulies Bracco
  • 1999Christine Lahti
  • 1999Julianna Margulies
  • 2000Sela Ward
  • 2000Loraine Bracco
  • 2000Amy Brenneman
  • 2000Edie Falco
  • 2000Julianna Margulies
  • 2001Edie Falco
  • 2001Loraine Bracco
  • 2001Amy Brenneman
  • 2001Marg Helgenberger
  • 2001Sela Ward
  • 2002Allison Janney
  • 2002Amy Brenneman
  • 2002Frances Conroy
  • 2002Jennifer Garner
  • 2002Rachel Griffiths
  • 2003Edie Falco
  • 2003Frances Conroy
  • 2003Jennifer Garner
  • 2003Marg Helgenberger
  • 2003Allison Janney
  • 2004Allison Janney
  • 2004Edie Falco
  • 2004Jennifer Garner
  • 2004Mariska Hargitay
  • 2004Amber Tamblyn
  • 2005Patricia Arquette
  • 2005Glenn Close
  • 2005Frances Conroy
  • 2005Jennifer Garner
  • 2005Mariska Hargitay
  • 2006Mariska Hargitay
  • 2006Frances Conroy
  • 2006Geena Davis
  • 2006Allison Janney
  • 2006Kyra Sedgwick
  • 2007Sally Field
  • 2007Patricia Arquette
  • 2007Minnie Driver
  • 2007Edie Falco
  • 2007Mariska Hargitay
  • 2007Kyra Sedgwick
  • 2008Glenn Close
  • 2008Sally Field
  • 2008Mariska Hargitay
  • 2008Holly Hunter
  • 2008Kyra Sedgwick
  • 2009Glenn Close
  • 2009Sally Field
  • 2009Mariska Hargitay
  • 2009Holly Hunter
  • 2009Elisabeth Moss
  • 2009Kyra Sedgwick
  • 2010Kyra Sedgwick
  • 2010Connie Britton
  • 2010Glenn Close
  • 2010Mariska Hargitay
  • 2010January Jones
  • 2010Julianna Margulies
  • 2011Julianna Margulies
  • 2011Kathy Bates
  • 2011Connie Britton
  • 2011Mireille Enos
  • 2011Mariska Hargitay
  • 2011Elisabeth Moss
  • 2012Claire Danes
  • 2012Kathy Bates
  • 2012Glenn Close
  • 2012Michelle Dockery
  • 2012Julianna Margulies
  • 2012Elisabeth Moss
  • 2013Claire Danes
  • 2013Connie Britton
  • 2013Michelle Dockery
  • 2013Vera Farmiga
  • 2013Elisabeth Moss
  • 2013Kerry Washington
  • 2013Robin Wright
  • 2014Julianna Margulies
  • 2014Lizzy Caplan
  • 2014Claire Danes
  • 2014Michelle Dockery
  • 2014Kerry Washington
  • 2014Robin Wright
  • 2015Viola Davis
  • 2015Claire Danes
  • 2015Taraji P. Henson
  • 2015Tatiana Maslany
  • 2015Elisabeth Moss
  • 2015Robin Wright

When it comes to acting winners, this is the least diverse category. The only person of color to ever win here is Viola Davis, who took home the Emmy in 2015 for How to Get Away With Murder. Fourteen of the 244 nominees in this category, or 5.7 percent, have been women of color: Debbie Allen alone was nominated four times for Fame. No women of color were nominated in this category between 1996–2012; since 2013, there have been four nominations for actresses of color for Kerry Washington (twice), Taraji P. Henson, and Davis.

  • 1954Art Carney
  • 1954Ben Alexander
  • 1954William Frawley
  • 1954Tony Randall
  • 1954Carl Reiner
  • 1955Art Carney
  • 1955Ben Alexander
  • 1955Don DeFore
  • 1955William Frawley
  • 1955Gale Gordon
  • 1956Art Carney
  • 1956Ed Begley
  • 1956William Frawley
  • 1956Carl Reiner
  • 1956Cyril Ritchard
  • 1957Carl Reiner
  • 1957Art Carney
  • 1957Paul Ford
  • 1957William Frawley
  • 1957Ed Wynn
  • 1958Carl Reiner
  • 1958Paul Ford
  • 1958William Frawley
  • 1958Louis Nye
  • 1958Dennis Weaver
  • 1959Dennis Weaver
  • 1959Herschel Bernardi
  • 1959Johnny Crawford
  • 1959William Hopper
  • 1961Don Knotts
  • 1961Abby Dalton
  • 1961Barbara Hale
  • 1962Don Knotts
  • 1962Sam Jaffe
  • 1962Barry Jones
  • 1962Horace McMahon
  • 1962George C. Scott
  • 1963Don Knotts
  • 1963Tim Conway
  • 1963Paul Ford
  • 1963Hurd Hatfield
  • 1963Robert Redford
  • 1964Albert Paulsen
  • 1964Sorrell Booke
  • 1964Conlan Carter
  • 1964Carl Lee
  • 1966James Daly
  • 1966David Burns
  • 1966Leo G. Carroll
  • 1967Eli Wallach
  • 1967Leo G. Carroll
  • 1967Leonard Nimoy
  • 1968Milburn Stone
  • 1968Joseph Campanella
  • 1968Lawrence Dobkin
  • 1968Leonard Nimoy
  • 1969Werner Klemperer
  • 1969Greg Morris
  • 1969Leonard Nimoy
  • 1970James Brolin
  • 1970Tige Andrews
  • 1970Greg Morris
  • 1971David Burns
  • 1971James Brolin
  • 1971Robert Young
  • 1972Jack Warden
  • 1972James Brolin
  • 1972Greg Morris
  • 1973Scott Jacoby
  • 1973James Brolin
  • 1973Will Geer
  • 1974Michael Moriarty
  • 1974Michael Douglas
  • 1974Will Geer
  • 1974Sam Waterston
  • 1975Will Geer
  • 1975J.D. Cannon
  • 1975Michael Douglas
  • 1976Anthony Zerbe
  • 1976Michael Douglas
  • 1976Will Geer
  • 1976Ray Milland
  • 1976Robert Reed
  • 1977Gary Frank
  • 1977Noah Beery Jr.
  • 1977David Doyle
  • 1977Tom Ewell
  • 1977Will Geer
  • 1978Robert Vaughn
  • 1978Ossie Davis
  • 1978Will Geer
  • 1978Sam Wanamaker
  • 1978David Warner
  • 1979Stuart Margolin
  • 1979Mason Adams
  • 1979Noah Beery Jr.
  • 1979Joe Santos
  • 1979Robert Walden
  • 1980Stuart Margolin
  • 1980Mason Adams
  • 1980Noah Beery Jr.
  • 1980Robert Walden
  • 1981Michael Conrad
  • 1981Mason Adams
  • 1981Charles Haid
  • 1981Robert Walden
  • 1981Bruce Weitz
  • 1982Michael Conrad
  • 1982Taurean Blacque
  • 1982Charles Haid
  • 1982Michael Warren
  • 1982Bruce Weitz
  • 1983James Coco
  • 1983Ed Begley Jr.
  • 1983Michael Conrad
  • 1983Joe Spano
  • 1983Bruce Weitz
  • 1984Bruce Weitz
  • 1984Ed Begley Jr.
  • 1984Michael Conrad
  • 1984John Hillerman
  • 1984James B. Sikking
  • 1985Edward James Olmos
  • 1985Ed Begley Jr.
  • 1985John Hillerman
  • 1985John Karlen
  • 1985Bruce Weitz
  • 1986John Karlen
  • 1986Ed Begley Jr.
  • 1986John Hillerman
  • 1986Edward James Olmos
  • 1986Bruce Weitz
  • 1987John Hillerman
  • 1987Ed Begley Jr.
  • 1987John Karlen
  • 1987Jimmy Smits
  • 1987Michael Tucker
  • 1988Larry Drake
  • 1988Ed Begley Jr.
  • 1988Timothy Busfield
  • 1988Alan Rachins
  • 1988Jimmy Smits
  • 1989Larry Drake
  • 1989Jonathan Banks
  • 1989Timothy Busfield
  • 1989Richard Dysart
  • 1989Jimmy Smits
  • 1990Jimmy Smits
  • 1990Timothy Busfield
  • 1990Larry Drake
  • 1990Richard Dysart
  • 1990Dean Stockwell
  • 1991Timothy Busfield
  • 1991David Clennon
  • 1991Richard Dysart
  • 1991Jimmy Smits
  • 1991Dean Stockwell
  • 1992Richard Dysart
  • 1992Ed Asner
  • 1992John Corbett
  • 1992Richard Kiley
  • 1992Jimmy Smits
  • 1992Dean Stockwell
  • 1993Chad Lowe
  • 1993Barry Corbin
  • 1993John Collum
  • 1993Fyvush Finkel
  • 1993Dean Stockwell
  • 1994Fyvush Finkel
  • 1994Gordon Clapp
  • 1994Barry Corbin
  • 1994Nicholas Turturro
  • 1994Ray Walston
  • 1995Ray Walston
  • 1995Héctor Elizondo
  • 1995James Earl Jones
  • 1995Eriq La Salle
  • 1995Noah Wyle
  • 1996Ray Walston
  • 1996Héctor Elizondo
  • 1996James McDaniel
  • 1996Stanley Tucci
  • 1996Noah Wyle
  • 1997Héctor Elizondo
  • 1997Adam Arkin
  • 1997Eriq La Salle
  • 1997Nicholas Turturro
  • 1997Noah Wyle
  • 1998Gordon Clapp
  • 1998Héctor Elizondo
  • 1998Steven Hill
  • 1998Eriq La Salle
  • 1998Noah Wyle
  • 1999Michael Badalucco
  • 1999Benjamin Bratt
  • 1999Steve Harris
  • 1999Steven Hill
  • 1999Noah Wyle
  • 2000Richard Schiff
  • 2000Michael Badalucco
  • 2000Dominic Chianese
  • 2000Steve Harris
  • 2000John Spencer
  • 2001Bradley Whitford
  • 2001Dominic Chianese
  • 2001Michael Imperioli
  • 2001Richard Schiff
  • 2001John Spencer
  • 2002John Spencer
  • 2002Victor Garber
  • 2002Dulé Hill
  • 2002Freddy Rodriguez
  • 2002Richard Schiff
  • 2002Bradley Whitford
  • 2003Joe Pantoliano
  • 2003Victor Garber
  • 2003Michael Imperioli
  • 2003John Spencer
  • 2003Bradley Whitford
  • 2004Michael Imperioli
  • 2004Steve Buscemi
  • 2004Brad Dourif
  • 2004Victor Garber
  • 2004John Spencer
  • 2005William Shatner
  • 2005Alan Alda
  • 2005Naveen Andrews
  • 2005Terry O'Quinn
  • 2005Oliver Platt
  • 2006Alan Alda
  • 2006Michael Imperioli
  • 2006Gregory Itzin
  • 2006Oliver Platt
  • 2006William Shatner
  • 2007Terry O'Quinn
  • 2007Michael Emerson
  • 2007Michael Imperioli
  • 2007T. R. Knight
  • 2007Masi Oka
  • 2007William Shatner
  • 2008Željko Ivanek
  • 2008Ted Danson
  • 2008Michael Emerson
  • 2008William Shatner
  • 2008John Slattery
  • 2009Michael Emerson
  • 2009Christian Clemenson
  • 2009William Hurt
  • 2009Aaron Paul
  • 2009William Shatner
  • 2009John Slattery
  • 2010Aaron Paul
  • 2010Andre Braugher
  • 2010Michael Emerson
  • 2010Terry O'Quinn
  • 2010Martin Short
  • 2010John Slattery
  • 2011Peter Dinklage
  • 2011Andre Braugher
  • 2011Josh Charles
  • 2011Alan Cumming
  • 2011Walton Goggins
  • 2011John Slattery
  • 2012Aaron Paul
  • 2012Jim Carter
  • 2012Brendan Coyle
  • 2012Peter Dinklage
  • 2012Giancarlo Esposito
  • 2012Jared Harris
  • 2013Bobby Cannavale
  • 2013Jonathan Banks
  • 2013Jim Carter
  • 2013Peter Dinklage
  • 2013Mandy Patinkin
  • 2013Aaron Paul
  • 2014Aaron Paul
  • 2014Jim Carter
  • 2014Josh Charles
  • 2014Peter Dinklage
  • 2014Mandy Patinkin
  • 2014Jon Voight
  • 2015Peter Dinklage
  • 2015Jonathan Banks
  • 2015Jim Carter
  • 2015Alan Cumming
  • 2015Michael Kelly
  • 2015Ben Mendelsohn

Four actors of color have won here — Albert Paulsen in 1964 for One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Edward James Olmos in 1985 for Miami Vice, Jimmy Smits in 1990 for L.A. Law, and Héctor Elizondo in 1997 for Chicago Hope. Thirty-seven of the 257 nominees, or 14.4 percent, have gone to actors of color, making it the most diverse acting category, nominee-wise. Smits was nominated six times for L.A. Law, and Elizondo was nominated four times for Chicago Hope.

  • 1954Vivian Vance
  • 1954Bea Benaderet
  • 1954Ruth Gilbert
  • 1954Marion Lorne
  • 1954Audrey Meadows
  • 1955Audrey Meadows
  • 1955Bea Benaderet
  • 1955Jean Hagen
  • 1955Marion Lorne
  • 1955Vivian Vance
  • 1956Nanette Fabray
  • 1956Ann B. Davis
  • 1956Jean Hagen
  • 1956Audrey Meadows
  • 1956Thelma Ritter
  • 1957Pat Carroll
  • 1957Ann B. Davis
  • 1957Audrey Meadows
  • 1957Mildred Natwick
  • 1957Vivian Vance
  • 1958Ann B. Davis
  • 1958Pat Carroll
  • 1958Verna Felton
  • 1958Marion Lorne
  • 1958Vivian Vance
  • 1959Barbara Hale
  • 1959Lola Albright
  • 1959Amanda Blake
  • 1959Hope Emerson
  • 1961Don Knotts
  • 1961Abby Dalton
  • 1961Barbara Hale
  • 1962Pamela Brown
  • 1962Jeanne Cooper
  • 1962Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1962Joan Hackett
  • 1962Mary Wickes
  • 1963Glenda Farrell
  • 1963Davey Davison
  • 1963Nancy Malone
  • 1963Rose Marie
  • 1963Kate Reid
  • 1964Ruth White
  • 1964Martine Bartlett
  • 1964Anjanette Comer
  • 1964Rose Marie
  • 1964Claudia McNeil
  • 1966Lee Grant
  • 1966Diane Baker
  • 1966Pamela Franklin
  • 1966Jeanette Nolan
  • 1967Agnes Moorehead
  • 1967Tina Chen
  • 1967Ruth Warrick
  • 1968Barbara Anderson
  • 1968Linda Cristal
  • 1968Tessie O'Shea
  • 1969Susan Saint James
  • 1969Barbara Anderson
  • 1969Agnes Moorehead
  • 1970Gail Fisher
  • 1970Barbara Anderson
  • 1970Susan Saint James
  • 1971Margaret Leighton
  • 1971Gail Fisher
  • 1971Susan Saint James
  • 1971Elena Verdugo
  • 1972Jenny Agutter
  • 1972Gail Fisher
  • 1972Elena Verdugo
  • 1973Ellen Corby
  • 1973Gail Fisher
  • 1973Nancy Walker
  • 1974Joanna Miles
  • 1974Ellen Corby
  • 1974Nancy Walker
  • 1975Ellen Corby
  • 1975Angela Baddeley
  • 1975Nancy Walker
  • 1976Ellen Corby
  • 1976Angela Baddeley
  • 1976Susan Howard
  • 1976Dorothy McGuire
  • 1976Sada Thompson
  • 1977Kristy McNichol
  • 1977Meredith Baxter
  • 1977Ellen Corby
  • 1977Lee Meriwether
  • 1977Jacqueline Tong
  • 1978Nancy Marchand
  • 1978Meredith Baxter
  • 1978Tovah Feldshuh
  • 1978Linda Kelsey
  • 1978Kristy McNichol
  • 1979Kristy McNichol
  • 1979Linda Kelsey
  • 1979Nancy Marchand
  • 1980Nancy Marchand
  • 1980Nina Foch
  • 1980Linda Kelsey
  • 1980Jessica Walter
  • 1981Nancy Marchand
  • 1981Barbara Barrie
  • 1981Barbara Bosson
  • 1981Linda Kelsey
  • 1981Betty Thomas
  • 1982Nancy Marchand
  • 1982Barbara Bosson
  • 1982Julie Harris
  • 1982Linda Kelsey
  • 1982Betty Thomas
  • 1983Doris Roberts
  • 1983Barbara Bosson
  • 1983Christina Pickles
  • 1983Madge Sinclair
  • 1983Betty Thomas
  • 1984Alfre Woodard
  • 1984Barbara Bosson
  • 1984Piper Laurie
  • 1984Madge Sinclair
  • 1984Betty Thomas
  • 1985Betty Thomas
  • 1985Barbara Bosson
  • 1985Christina Pickles
  • 1985Doris Roberts
  • 1985Madge Sinclair
  • 1986Bonnie Bartlett
  • 1986Allyce Beasley
  • 1986Christina Pickles
  • 1986Betty Thomas
  • 1987Bonnie Bartlett
  • 1987Allyce Beasley
  • 1987Christina Pickles
  • 1987Susan Ruttan
  • 1987Betty Thomas
  • 1988Patricia Wettig
  • 1988Bonnie Bartlett
  • 1988Polly Draper
  • 1988Christina Pickles
  • 1988Susan Ruttan
  • 1989Melanie Mayron
  • 1989Michele Greene
  • 1989Lois Nettleton
  • 1989Amanda Plummer
  • 1989Susan Ruttan
  • 1990Marg Helgenberger
  • 1990Sherilyn Fenn
  • 1990Melanie Mayron
  • 1990Diana Muldaur
  • 1990Susan Ruttan
  • 1991Madge Sinclair
  • 1991Marg Helgenberger
  • 1991Piper Laurie
  • 1991Melanie Mayron
  • 1991Diana Muldaur
  • 1992Valerie Mahaffey
  • 1992Mary Alice
  • 1992Barbara Barrie
  • 1992Conchata Ferrell
  • 1992Cynthia Geary
  • 1992Marg Helgenberger
  • 1992Kay Lenz
  • 1993Mary Alice
  • 1993Cynthia Geary
  • 1993Kay Lenz
  • 1993Kellie Martin
  • 1993Peg Phillips
  • 1994Leigh Taylor-Young
  • 1994Amy Brenneman
  • 1994Jill Eikenberry
  • 1994Sharon Lawrence
  • 1994Gail O'Grady
  • 1995Julianna Margulies
  • 1995Barbara Babcock
  • 1995Tyne Daly
  • 1995Sharon Lawrence
  • 1995Gail O'Grady
  • 1996Tyne Daly
  • 1996Barbara Bosson
  • 1996Sharon Lawrence
  • 1996Julianna Margulies
  • 1996Gail O'Grady
  • 1997Kim Delaney
  • 1997Laura Innes
  • 1997C.C.H. Pounder
  • 1997Della Reese
  • 1997Gloria Reuben
  • 1998Camryn Manheim
  • 1998Kim Delaney
  • 1998Laura Innes
  • 1998Della Reese
  • 1998Gloria Reuben
  • 1999Holland Taylor
  • 1999Lara Flynn Boyle
  • 1999Kim Delaney
  • 1999Camryn Manheim
  • 1999Nancy Marchand
  • 2000Allison Janney
  • 2000Stockard Channing
  • 2000Tyne Daly
  • 2000Nancy Marchand
  • 2000Holland Taylor
  • 2001Allison Janney
  • 2001Stockard Channing
  • 2001Tyne Daly
  • 2001Maura Tierney
  • 2001Aida Turturro
  • 2002Stockard Channing
  • 2002Lauren Ambrose
  • 2002Tyne Daly
  • 2002Janel Moloney
  • 2002Mary-Louise Parker
  • 2003Tyne Daly
  • 2003Lauren Ambrose
  • 2003Stockard Channing
  • 2003Rachel Griffiths
  • 2003Lena Olin
  • 2004Drea de Matteo
  • 2004Stockard Channing
  • 2004Tyne Daly
  • 2004Janel Moloney
  • 2004Robin Weigert
  • 2005Blythe Danner
  • 2005Stockard Channing
  • 2005Tyne Daly
  • 2005Sandra Oh
  • 2005C.C.H. Pounder
  • 2006Blythe Danner
  • 2006Candice Bergen
  • 2006Sandra Oh
  • 2006Jean Smart
  • 2006Chandra Wilson
  • 2007Katherine Heigl
  • 2007Lorraine Bracco
  • 2007Rachel Griffiths
  • 2007Sandra Oh
  • 2007Aida Turturro
  • 2007Chandra Wilson
  • 2008Dianne Wiest
  • 2008Candice Bergen
  • 2008Rachel Griffiths
  • 2008Sandra Oh
  • 2008Chandra Wilson
  • 2009Cherry Jones
  • 2009Rose Byrne
  • 2009Hope Davis
  • 2009Sandra Oh
  • 2009Dianne Wiest
  • 2009Chandra Wilson
  • 2010Archie Panjabi
  • 2010Christine Baranski
  • 2010Rose Byrne
  • 2010Sharon Gless
  • 2010Christina Hendricks
  • 2010Elisabeth Moss
  • 2011Margo Martindale
  • 2011Christine Baranski
  • 2011Michelle Forbes
  • 2011Christina Hendricks
  • 2011Kelly Macdonald
  • 2011Archie Panjabi
  • 2012Maggie Smith
  • 2012Christine Baranski
  • 2012Joanne Froggatt
  • 2012Anna Gunn
  • 2012Christina Hendricks
  • 2012Archie Panjabi
  • 2013Anna Gunn
  • 2013Morena Baccarin
  • 2013Christine Baranski
  • 2013Emilia Clarke
  • 2013Christina Hendricks
  • 2013Maggie Smith
  • 2014Anna Gunn
  • 2014Christine Baranski
  • 2014Joanne Froggatt
  • 2014Lena Headey
  • 2014Christina Hendricks
  • 2014Maggie Smith
  • 2015Uzo Aduba
  • 2015Christine Baranski
  • 2015Emilia Clarke
  • 2015Joanne Froggatt
  • 2015Lena Headey
  • 2015Christina Hendricks

This is the second-most-diverse acting category when it comes to both nominees and winners. Six actors of color have taken home an Emmy here: Gail Fisher in 1970 for Mannix, Alfre Woodard in 1984 for Hill Street Blues, Madge Sinclair in 1991 for Gabriel’s Fire, Mary Alice in 1993 for I’ll Fly Away, Archie Panjabi in 2010 for The Good Wife, and Uzo Aduba in 2015 for Orange Is the New Black. Thirty-four of the 249 nominees in this category, or 13.7 percent, have been actresses of color, and nearly half of them have been in the last 11 years. Fisher was nominated four times for Mannix, Sinclair was nominated three times for Trapper John, M.D., and once for Gabriel’s Fire, and Sandra Oh was nominated five times for Grey’s Anatomy.

  • 1955Robert Cummings
  • 1955Frank Lovejoy
  • 1955Fredric March
  • 1955Fredric March (again)
  • 1955Thomas Mitchell
  • 1955David Niven
  • 1956Lloyd Nolan
  • 1956Ralph Bellamy
  • 1956José Ferrer
  • 1956Everett Sloane
  • 1956Barry Sullivan
  • 1957Jack Palance
  • 1957Lloyd Bridges
  • 1957Fredric March
  • 1957Sal Mineo
  • 1957Red Skelton
  • 1958Peter Ustinov
  • 1958Lee J. Cobb
  • 1958Mickey Rooney
  • 1958David Wayne
  • 1958Ed Wynn
  • 1959Fred Astaire
  • 1959Robert Crawford Jr.
  • 1959Paul Muni
  • 1959Christopher Plummer
  • 1959Mickey Rooney
  • 1959Rod Steiger
  • 1960Laurence Olivier
  • 1960Lee J. Cobb
  • 1960Alec Guinness
  • 1961Maurice Evans
  • 1961Cliff Robertson
  • 1961Ed Wynn
  • 1962Peter Falk
  • 1962Milton Berle
  • 1962James Donald
  • 1962Lee Marvin
  • 1962Mickey Rooney
  • 1963Trevor Howard
  • 1963Bradford Dillman
  • 1963Don Gordon
  • 1963Walter Matthau
  • 1963Joseph Schildkraut
  • 1964Jack Klugman
  • 1964James Earl Jones
  • 1964Roddy McDowall
  • 1964Jason Robards
  • 1964Rod Steiger
  • 1964Harold J. Stone
  • 1966Cliff Robertson
  • 1966Ed Begley
  • 1966Melvyn Douglas
  • 1966Trevor Howard
  • 1966Christopher Plummer
  • 1967Peter Ustinov
  • 1967Alan Arkin
  • 1967Lee J. Cobb
  • 1967Ivan Dixon
  • 1967Hal Holbrook
  • 1968Melvyn Douglas
  • 1968Raymond Burr
  • 1968Van Heflin
  • 1968George C. Scott
  • 1968Eli Wallach
  • 1969Paul Scofield
  • 1969Ossie Davis
  • 1969David McCallum
  • 1969Bill Travers
  • 1970Peter Ustinov
  • 1970Al Freeman Jr.
  • 1970Laurence Olivier
  • 1971George C. Scott
  • 1971Jack Cassidy
  • 1971Hal Holbrook
  • 1971Richard Widmark
  • 1971Gig Young
  • 1972Keith Michell
  • 1972James Caan
  • 1972Richard Harris
  • 1972George C. Scott
  • 1972Billy Dee Williams
  • 1973Laurence Olivier
  • 1973Henry Fonda
  • 1973Hal Holbrook
  • 1973Telly Savalas
  • 1973Anthony Murphy
  • 1973John Abineri
  • 1973Philippe Leroy
  • 1974Hal Holbrook
  • 1974Alan Alda
  • 1974Dick Van Dyke
  • 1974Laurence Olivier
  • 1974Martin Sheen
  • 1974William Holden
  • 1974Peter Falk
  • 1974Dennis Weaver
  • 1975Laurence Olivier
  • 1975Richard Chamberlain
  • 1975Charles Durning
  • 1975William Devane
  • 1975Henry Fonda
  • 1975Peter Falk
  • 1975Dennis Weaver
  • 1976Anthony Hopkins
  • 1976William Devane
  • 1976Jack Lemmon
  • 1976Edward Herrmann
  • 1976Jason Robards
  • 1976Hal Holbrook
  • 1976Nick Nolte
  • 1976Peter Strauss
  • 1976George Grizzard
  • 1977Ed Flanders
  • 1977Peter Boyle
  • 1977Peter Finch
  • 1977Edward Herrmann
  • 1977George C. Scott
  • 1977Christopher Plummer
  • 1977Stanley Baker
  • 1977Richard Jordan
  • 1977Steven Keats
  • 1978Fred Astaire
  • 1978Alan Alda
  • 1978Hal Holbrook
  • 1978Martin Sheen
  • 1978James Stacy
  • 1978Michael Moriarty
  • 1978Hal Holbrook
  • 1978Jason Robards
  • 1978Fritz Weaver
  • 1978Paul Winfield
  • 1979Peter Strauss
  • 1979Ned Beatty
  • 1979Louis Gossett Jr.
  • 1979Kurt Russell
  • 1980Powers Boothe
  • 1980Tony Curtis
  • 1980Henry Fonda
  • 1980Jason Robards
  • 1981Anthony Hopkins
  • 1981Richard Chamberlain
  • 1981Toshirō Mifune
  • 1981Peter O'Toole
  • 1981Peter Strauss
  • 1982Mickey Rooney
  • 1982Anthony Andrews
  • 1982Philip Anglim
  • 1982Anthony Hopkins
  • 1982Jeremy Irons
  • 1983Tommy Lee Jones
  • 1983Robert Blake
  • 1983Richard Chamberlain
  • 1983Alec Guinness
  • 1983Roger Rees
  • 1984Laurence Olivier
  • 1984Ted Danson
  • 1984Louis Gossett Jr.
  • 1984Mickey Rooney
  • 1984Daniel J. Travanti
  • 1985Richard Crenna
  • 1985Richard Chamberlain
  • 1985James Garner
  • 1985Richard Kiley
  • 1985George C. Scott
  • 1986Dustin Hoffman
  • 1986Kirk Douglas
  • 1986Ben Gazzara
  • 1986John Lithgow
  • 1986Aidan Quinn
  • 1987James Woods
  • 1987Alan Arkin
  • 1987James Garner
  • 1987Louis Gossett Jr.
  • 1987Randy Quaid
  • 1988Jason Robards
  • 1988Hume Cronyn
  • 1988Danny Glover
  • 1988Stacy Keach
  • 1988Jack Lemmon
  • 1989James Woods
  • 1989Robert Duvall
  • 1989John Gielgud
  • 1989Tommy Lee Jones
  • 1989Ben Kingsley
  • 1990Hume Cronyn
  • 1990Michael Caine
  • 1990Art Carney
  • 1990Albert Finney
  • 1990Tom Hulce
  • 1991John Gielgud
  • 1991James Garner
  • 1991Dennis Hopper
  • 1991Sidney Poitier
  • 1991Christopher Walken
  • 1992Beau Bridges
  • 1992Rubén Blades
  • 1992Hume Cronyn
  • 1992Brian Dennehy
  • 1992Maximilian Schell
  • 1993Robert Morse
  • 1993Robert Blake
  • 1993Robert Duvall
  • 1993James Garner
  • 1993James Woods
  • 1994Hume Cronyn
  • 1994Michael Caine
  • 1994James Garner
  • 1994Matthew Modine
  • 1994Sam Waterston
  • 1995Raúl Juliá
  • 1995Charles S. Dutton
  • 1995John Goodman
  • 1995John Lithgow
  • 1995James Woods
  • 1996Alan Rickman
  • 1996Alec Baldwin
  • 1996Beau Bridges
  • 1996Laurence Fishburne
  • 1996Gary Sinise
  • 1997Armand Assante
  • 1997Beau Bridges
  • 1997Robert Duvall
  • 1997Laurence Fishburne
  • 1997Sidney Poitier
  • 1998Gary Sinise
  • 1998Jack Lemmon
  • 1998Sam Neill
  • 1998Ving Rhames
  • 1998Patrick Stewart
  • 1999Stanley Tucci
  • 1999Don Cheadle
  • 1999Ian Holm
  • 1999Jack Lemmon
  • 1999Sam Shepard
  • 2000Jack Lemmon
  • 2000Beau Bridges
  • 2000Brian Dennehy
  • 2000William H. Macy
  • 2000Liev Schreiber
  • 2001Kenneth Branagh
  • 2001Andy García
  • 2001Gregory Hines
  • 2001Ben Kingsley
  • 2001Barry Pepper
  • 2002Albert Finney
  • 2002Kenneth Branagh
  • 2002Beau Bridges
  • 2002James Franco
  • 2002Michael Gambon
  • 2003William H. Macy
  • 2003Brad Garrett
  • 2003Paul Newman
  • 2003Tom Wilkinson
  • 2003James Woods
  • 2004Al Pacino
  • 2004Antonio Banderas
  • 2004James Brolin
  • 2004Mos Def
  • 2004Alan Rickman
  • 2005Geoffrey Rush
  • 2005Kenneth Branagh
  • 2005Ed Harris
  • 2005William H. Macy
  • 2005Jonathan Rhys Meyers
  • 2006Andre Braugher
  • 2006Charles Dance
  • 2006Ben Kingsley
  • 2006Donald Sutherland
  • 2006Jon Voight
  • 2007Robert Duvall
  • 2007Jim Broadbent
  • 2007William H. Macy
  • 2007Matthew Perry
  • 2007Tom Selleck
  • 2008Paul Giamatti
  • 2008Ralph Fiennes
  • 2008Ricky Gervais
  • 2008Kevin Spacey
  • 2008Tom Wilkinson
  • 2009Brendan Gleeson
  • 2009Kevin Bacon
  • 2009Kenneth Branagh
  • 2009Kevin Kline
  • 2009Ian McKellen
  • 2009Kiefer Sutherland
  • 2010Al Pacino
  • 2010Jeff Bridges
  • 2010Ian McKellen
  • 2010Dennis Quaid
  • 2010Michael Sheen
  • 2011Barry Pepper
  • 2011Idris Elba
  • 2011Laurence Fishburne
  • 2011William Hurt
  • 2011Greg Kinnear
  • 2011Édgar Ramírez
  • 2012Kevin Costner
  • 2012Benedict Cumberbatch
  • 2012Idris Elba
  • 2012Woody Harrelson
  • 2012Clive Owen
  • 2012Bill Paxton
  • 2013Michael Douglas
  • 2013Benedict Cumberbatch
  • 2013Matt Damon
  • 2013Toby Jones
  • 2013Al Pacino
  • 2014Benedict Cumberbatch
  • 2014Chiwetel Ejiofor
  • 2014Idris Elba
  • 2014Martin Freeman
  • 2014Mark Ruffalo
  • 2014Billy Bob Thornton
  • 2015Richard Jenkins
  • 2015Adrien Brody
  • 2015Ricky Gervais
  • 2015Timothy Hutton
  • 2015David Oyelowo
  • 2015Mark Rylance

Two actors of color have won in this category: Raúl Juliá for The Burning Season in 1995 (posthumously) and Andre Braugher for Thief in 2006. Thirty-three of the 331 nominees in this category, or 10 percent, have been men of color. Given the limited nature of miniseries, not many actors in this category have been nominated more than once (though Laurence Fishburne was, three times), meaning a greater number of working actors of color are represented here than in other categories.

  • 1955Judith Anderson
  • 1955Ethel Barrymore
  • 1955Beverly Garland
  • 1955Ruth Hussey
  • 1955Dorothy McGuire
  • 1955Eva Marie Saint
  • 1955Claire Trevor
  • 1956Mary Martin
  • 1956Julie Harris
  • 1956Eva Marie Saint
  • 1956Jessica Tandy
  • 1956Loretta Young
  • 1957Claire Trevor
  • 1957Edna Best
  • 1957Gracie Fields
  • 1957Nancy Kelly
  • 1957Evelyn Rudie
  • 1958Polly Bergen
  • 1958Julie Andrews
  • 1958Helen Hayes
  • 1958Piper Laurie
  • 1958Teresa Wright
  • 1959Julie Harris
  • 1959Judith Anderson
  • 1959Helen Hayes
  • 1959Piper Laurie
  • 1959Geraldine Page
  • 1959Maureen Stapleton
  • 1960Ingrid Bergman
  • 1960Julie Harris
  • 1960Teresa Wright
  • 1961Judith Anderson
  • 1961Ingrid Bergman
  • 1961Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1962Julie Harris
  • 1962Geraldine Brooks
  • 1962Suzanne Pleshette
  • 1962Inger Stevens
  • 1962Ethel Waters
  • 1963Kim Stanley
  • 1963Diahann Carroll
  • 1963Diana Hyland
  • 1963Eleanor Parker
  • 1963Sylvia Sidney
  • 1964Shelley Winters
  • 1964Ruby Dee
  • 1964Bethel Leslie
  • 1964Jeanette Nolan
  • 1964Diana Sands
  • 1966Simone Signoret
  • 1966Eartha Kitt
  • 1966Margaret Leighton
  • 1966Shelley Winters
  • 1967Geraldine Page
  • 1967Shirley Booth
  • 1967Mildred Dunnock
  • 1967Lynn Fontanne
  • 1967Julie Harris
  • 1968Maureen Stapleton
  • 1968Judith Anderson
  • 1968Geneviève Bujold
  • 1968Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1968Anne Jackson
  • 1969Geraldine Page
  • 1969Anne Baxter
  • 1969Lee Grant
  • 1970Patty Duke
  • 1970Edith Evans
  • 1970Shirley Jones
  • 1971Lee Grant
  • 1971Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1971Lee Grant (two noms)
  • 1972Glenda Jackson
  • 1972Glenda Jackson (two noms)
  • 1972Helen Hayes
  • 1972Patricia Neal
  • 1972Susannah York
  • 1973Cloris Leachman
  • 1973Lauren Bacall
  • 1973Hope Lange
  • 1973Susan Hampshire
  • 1973Vivien Heilbron
  • 1973Margaret Tyzach
  • 1974Cicely Tyson
  • 1974Carol Burnett
  • 1974Katharine Hepburn
  • 1974Cloris Leachman
  • 1974Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1974Mildred Natwick
  • 1974Helen Hayes
  • 1974Lee Remick
  • 1975Katharine Hepburn
  • 1975Jill Clayburgh
  • 1975Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1975Diana Rigg
  • 1975Maureen Stapleton
  • 1975Jessica Walter
  • 1975Susan Saint James
  • 1976Susan Clark
  • 1976Jane Alexander
  • 1976Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1976Sada Thompson
  • 1976Rosemary Harris
  • 1976Susan Blakely
  • 1976Jean Marsh
  • 1976Lee Remick
  • 1977Sally Field
  • 1977Jane Alexander
  • 1977Susan Clark
  • 1977Julie Harris
  • 1977Joanne Woodward
  • 1977Patty Duke
  • 1977Dori Brenner
  • 1977Susan Flannery
  • 1977Eva Marie Saint
  • 1977Jane Seymour
  • 1978Joanne Woodward
  • 1978Helen Hayes
  • 1978Eva Marie Saint
  • 1978Maureen Stapleton
  • 1978Sada Thompson
  • 1978Meryl Streep
  • 1978Rosemary Harris
  • 1978Elizabeth Montgomery
  • 1978Lee Remick
  • 1978Cicely Tyson
  • 1979Bette Davis
  • 1979Carol Burnett
  • 1979Olivia Cole
  • 1979Katharine Hepburn
  • 1979Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1980Patty Duke
  • 1980Bette Davis
  • 1980Melissa Gilbert
  • 1980Lee Remick
  • 1981Vanessa Redgrave
  • 1981Ellen Burstyn
  • 1981Catherine Hicks
  • 1981Yoko Shimada
  • 1981Joanne Woodward
  • 1982Ingrid Bergman
  • 1982Glenda Jackson
  • 1982Ann Jillian
  • 1982Jean Stapleton
  • 1982Cicely Tyson
  • 1983Barbara Stanwyck
  • 1983Ann-Margret
  • 1983Rosanna Arquette
  • 1983Mariette Hartley
  • 1983Angela Lansbury
  • 1984Jane Fonda
  • 1984Jane Alexander
  • 1984Ann-Margret
  • 1984Glenn Close
  • 1984JoBeth Williams
  • 1985Joanne Woodward
  • 1985Jane Alexander
  • 1985Peggy Ashcroft
  • 1985Farrah Fawcett
  • 1985Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1986Marlo Thomas
  • 1986Katharine Hepburn
  • 1986Vanessa Redgrave
  • 1986Gena Rowlands
  • 1986Mare Winningham
  • 1987Gena Rowlands
  • 1987Ann-Margret
  • 1987Ellen Burstyn
  • 1987Lee Remick
  • 1987Alfre Woodard
  • 1988Jessica Tandy
  • 1988Ann Jillian
  • 1988Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1988Mary Steenburgen
  • 1988JoBeth Williams
  • 1989Holly Hunter
  • 1989Anjelica Huston
  • 1989Diane Lane
  • 1989Amy Madigan
  • 1989Jane Seymour
  • 1990Barbara Hershey
  • 1990Farrah Fawcett
  • 1990Christine Lahti
  • 1990Annette O'Toole
  • 1990Lesley Ann Warren
  • 1990Alfre Woodard
  • 1991Lynn Whitfield
  • 1991Glenn Close
  • 1991Barbara Hershey
  • 1991Suzanne Pleshette
  • 1991Lee Purcell
  • 1992Gena Rowlands
  • 1992Anne Bancroft
  • 1992Meredith Baxter
  • 1992Judy Davis
  • 1992Laura Dern
  • 1993Holly Hunter
  • 1993Glenn Close
  • 1993Helen Mirren
  • 1993Maggie Smith
  • 1993Joanne Woodward
  • 1994Kirstie Alley
  • 1994Bette Midler
  • 1994Helen Mirren
  • 1994Jessica Tandy
  • 1994Joanne Woodward
  • 1995Glenn Close
  • 1995Sally Field
  • 1995Anjelica Huston
  • 1995Diane Keaton
  • 1995Alfre Woodard
  • 1996Helen Mirren
  • 1996Ashley Judd
  • 1996Jessica Lange
  • 1996Mira Sorvino
  • 1996Sela Ward
  • 1997Alfre Woodard
  • 1997Stockard Channing
  • 1997Glenn Close
  • 1997Helen Mirren
  • 1997Meryl Streep
  • 1998Ellen Barkin
  • 1998Jamie Lee Curtis
  • 1998Judy Davis
  • 1998Olympia Dukakis
  • 1998Angelina Jolie
  • 1998Sigourney Weaver
  • 1999Helen Mirren
  • 1999Ann-Margret
  • 1999Stockard Channing
  • 1999Judy Davis
  • 1999Leelee Sobieski
  • 2000Halle Berry
  • 2000Judy Davis
  • 2000Sally Field
  • 2000Holly Hunter
  • 2000Gena Rowlands
  • 2001Judy Davis
  • 2001Judi Dench
  • 2001Holly Hunter
  • 2001Hannah Taylor Gordon
  • 2001Emma Thompson
  • 2002Laura Linney
  • 2002Angela Bassett
  • 2002Blythe Danner
  • 2002Vanessa Redgrave
  • 2002Gena Rowlands
  • 2003Maggie Smith
  • 2003Thora Birch
  • 2003Helena Bonham Carter
  • 2003Jessica Lange
  • 2003Helen Mirren
  • 2004Meryl Streep
  • 2004Glenn Close
  • 2004Judy Davis
  • 2004Helen Mirren
  • 2004Emma Thompson
  • 2005S. Epatha Merkerson
  • 2005Halle Berry
  • 2005Blythe Danner
  • 2005Cynthia Nixon
  • 2005Debra Winger
  • 2006Helen Mirren
  • 2006Gillian Anderson
  • 2006Kathy Bates
  • 2006Annette Bening
  • 2006Judy Davis
  • 2007Helen Mirren
  • 2007Queen Latifah
  • 2007Debra Messing
  • 2007Mary-Louise Parker
  • 2007Gena Rowlands
  • 2008Laura Linney
  • 2008Judi Dench
  • 2008Catherine Keener
  • 2008Phylicia Rashad
  • 2008Susan Sarandon
  • 2009Jessica Lange
  • 2009Drew Barrymore
  • 2009Shirley MacLaine
  • 2009Sigourney Weaver
  • 2009Chandra Wilson
  • 2010Claire Danes
  • 2010Joan Allen
  • 2010Hope Davis
  • 2010Judi Dench
  • 2010Maggie Smith
  • 2011Kate Winslet
  • 2011Taraji P. Henson
  • 2011Diane Lane
  • 2011Jean Marsh
  • 2011Elizabeth McGovern
  • 2012Julianne Moore
  • 2012Connie Britton
  • 2012Ashley Judd
  • 2012Nicole Kidman
  • 2012Emma Thompson
  • 2013Laura Linney
  • 2013Jessica Lange
  • 2013Helen Mirren
  • 2013Elisabeth Moss
  • 2013Sigourney Weaver
  • 2014Jessica Lange
  • 2014Helena Bonham Carter
  • 2014Minnie Driver
  • 2014Sarah Paulson
  • 2014Cicely Tyson
  • 2014Kristen Wiig
  • 2015Frances McDormand
  • 2015Maggie Gyllenhaal
  • 2015Felicity Huffman
  • 2015Jessica Lange
  • 2015Queen Latifah
  • 2015Emma Thompson

Five actresses of color have won in this category: Cicely Tyson in 1974 for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Lynn Whitfield in 1991 for The Josephine Baker Story, Alfre Woodard in 1997 for Miss Evers’ Boys, Halle Berry in 2000 for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and S. Epatha Merkerson in 2005 for Lackawanna Blues. Twenty-five of the 326 nominees in this category, or 7.7 percent, have been women of color. Woodard and Tyson were both nominated four times each — Tyson was also the first black actress to win a Primetime Emmy.

  • 1975Anthony Quayle
  • 1975Ralph Bellamy
  • 1975Jack Hawkins
  • 1975Trevor Howard
  • 1976Ed Flanders
  • 1976Ray Bolger
  • 1976Art Carney
  • 1977Burgess Meredith
  • 1977Martin Balsam
  • 1977Mark Harmon
  • 1977Yaphet Kotto
  • 1977Walter McGinn
  • 1978Howard Da Silva
  • 1978James Farentino
  • 1978Burgess Meredith
  • 1978Donald Pleasence
  • 1978Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
  • 1979Marlon Brando
  • 1979Ed Flanders
  • 1979Al Freeman, Jr.
  • 1979Robert Vaughn
  • 1979Paul Winfield
  • 1980George Grizzard
  • 1980Ernest Borgnine
  • 1980John Cassavetes
  • 1980Charles Durning
  • 1980Harold Gould
  • 1981David Warner
  • 1981Andy Griffith
  • 1981Yuki Meguro
  • 1981Anthony Quayle
  • 1981John Rhys-Davies
  • 1982Laurence Olivier
  • 1982Jack Albertson
  • 1982John Gielgud
  • 1982Derek Jacobi
  • 1982Leonard Nimoy
  • 1983Richard Kiley
  • 1983Ralph Bellamy
  • 1983Bryan Brown
  • 1983Christopher Plummer
  • 1983David Threlfall
  • 1984Art Carney
  • 1984Keith Carradine
  • 1984John Gielgud
  • 1984John Lithgow
  • 1984Randy Quaid
  • 1984David Ogden Stiers
  • 1985Karl Malden
  • 1985Richard Burton
  • 1985John Gielgud
  • 1985Richard Masur
  • 1985Rip Torn
  • 1986John Malkovich
  • 1986Charles Durning
  • 1986John Glover
  • 1986Harold Gould
  • 1986Pat Morita
  • 1987Dabney Coleman
  • 1987Stephen Collins
  • 1987John Glover
  • 1987Laurence Olivier
  • 1987Eli Wallach
  • 1988John Shea
  • 1988Dabney Coleman
  • 1988Anthony Quinn
  • 1988Ron Silver
  • 1988Bruce Weitz
  • 1989Derek Jacobi
  • 1989Armand Assante
  • 1989James Garner
  • 1989Danny Glover
  • 1989Corin Nemec
  • 1990Vincent Gardenia
  • 1990Ned Beatty
  • 1990Brian Dennehy
  • 1990Anthony Hopkins
  • 1990James Earl Jones
  • 1990Max von Sydow
  • 1991James Earl Jones
  • 1991Ruben Blades
  • 1991David Dukes
  • 1991Richard Kiley
  • 1991Leon Russom
  • 1992Hume Cronyn
  • 1992Brian Dennehy
  • 1992Hector Elizondo
  • 1992Jerry Orbach
  • 1992Ben Vereen
  • 1993Beau Bridges
  • 1993Brian Dennehy
  • 1993Jonathan Pryce
  • 1993Peter Riegert
  • 1993Maximilian Schell
  • 1994Michael Goorjian
  • 1994Alan Alda
  • 1994Matthew Broderick
  • 1994Richard Gere
  • 1994Ian McKellen
  • 1995Donald Sutherland
  • 1995Jeffrey DeMunn
  • 1995Sam Elliott
  • 1995Ben Kingsley
  • 1995Edward James Olmos
  • 1996Tom Hulce
  • 1996Andre Braugher
  • 1996John Goodman
  • 1996Ian McKellen
  • 1996Treat Williams
  • 1997Beau Bridges
  • 1997Obba Babatundé
  • 1997Michael Caine
  • 1997Ossie Davis
  • 1997Joe Mantegna
  • 1998George C. Scott
  • 1998Hume Cronyn
  • 1998Gregory Peck
  • 1998Martin Short
  • 1998J.T. Walsh
  • 1999Peter O'Toole
  • 1999Beau Bridges
  • 1999Don Cheadle
  • 1999Peter Fonda
  • 1999Joe Mantegna
  • 2000Hank Azaria
  • 2000Klaus Maria Brandauer
  • 2000James Cromwell
  • 2000Danny Glover
  • 2000John Malkovich
  • 2001Brian Cox
  • 2001Alan Alda
  • 2001Colin Firth
  • 2001Victor Garber
  • 2001Ian Holm
  • 2001Stanley Tucci
  • 2002Michael Moriarty
  • 2002Alex Baldwin
  • 2002Jim Broadbent
  • 2002Don Cheadle
  • 2002Jon Voight
  • 2003Ben Gazzara
  • 2003Alan Arkin
  • 2003Chris Cooper
  • 2003John Malkovich
  • 2003Peter O'Toole
  • 2004Jeffrey Wright
  • 2004Justin Kirk
  • 2004William H. Macy
  • 2004Ben Shenkman
  • 2004Patrick Wilson
  • 2005Paul Newman
  • 2005Brian Dennehy
  • 2005Philip Seymour Hoffman
  • 2005Christopher Plummer
  • 2005Randy Quaid
  • 2006Jeremy Irons
  • 2006Robert Carlyle
  • 2006Clifton Collins Jr.
  • 2006Hugh Dancy
  • 2006Denis Lawson
  • 2007Thomas Hayden Church
  • 2007Ed Asner
  • 2007Joe Mantegna
  • 2007Aidan Quinn
  • 2007August Schellenberg
  • 2008Tom Wilkinson
  • 2008Bob Balaban
  • 2008Stephen Dillane
  • 2008Denis Leary
  • 2008David Morse
  • 2009Ken Howard
  • 2009Len Cariou
  • 2009Tom Courtenay
  • 2009Bob Newhart
  • 2009Andy Serkis
  • 2010David Strathairn
  • 2010Michael Gambon
  • 2010John Goodman
  • 2010Jonathan Pryce
  • 2010Patrick Stewart
  • 2011Guy Pearce
  • 2011Paul Giamatti
  • 2011Brian F. O'Byrne
  • 2011Tom Wilkinson
  • 2011James Woods
  • 2012Tom Berenger
  • 2012Martin Freeman
  • 2012Ed Harris
  • 2012Denis O'Hare
  • 2012David Strathairn
  • 2013James Cromwell
  • 2013Scott Bakula
  • 2013John Benjamin Hickey
  • 2013Peter Mullan
  • 2013Zachary Quinto
  • 2014Martin Freeman
  • 2014Matt Bomer
  • 2014Colin Hanks
  • 2014Joe Mantello
  • 2014Alfred Molina
  • 2014Jim Parsons
  • 2015Bill Murray
  • 2015Richard Cabral
  • 2015Damian Lewis
  • 2015Denis O'Hare
  • 2015Michael K. Williams
  • 2015Finn Wittrock

Two actors of color have won in this category: James Earl Jones in 1991, for Heat Wave, and Jeffrey Wright in 2004, for Angels in America. Twenty-four of the 210 nominees in this category, or 11.4 percent, have been men of color. Danny Glover, James Earl Jones, and Don Cheadle were each nominated twice. August Schellenberg – the only Native American actor to have ever been recognized at the Emmys in the major acting categories – was nominated for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee in 2007.Between 2008–2014, no actors of color were nominated.

  • 1975Juliet Mills
  • 1975Eileen Heckart
  • 1975Charlotte Rae
  • 1975Lee Remick
  • 1976Rosemary Murphy
  • 1976Lois Nettleton
  • 1976Lilia Skala
  • 1976Irene Tedrow
  • 1977Diana Hyland
  • 1977Ruth Gordon
  • 1977Rosemary Murphy
  • 1977Patricia Neal
  • 1977Susan Oliver
  • 1978Eve Le Gallienne
  • 1978Tyne Daly
  • 1978Patty Duke
  • 1978Mariette Hartley
  • 1978Cloris Leachman
  • 1978Viveca Lindfors
  • 1979Esther Rolle
  • 1979Ruby Dee
  • 1979Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1979Eileen Heckart
  • 1979Celeste Holm
  • 1980Mare Winningham
  • 1980Eileen Heckart
  • 1980Patricia Neal
  • 1980Carrie Nye
  • 1981Jane Alexander
  • 1981Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1981Patty Duke
  • 1981Shirley Knight
  • 1981Piper Laurie
  • 1982Penny Fuller
  • 1982Claire Bloom
  • 1982Judy Davis
  • 1982Vicki Lawrence
  • 1982Rita Moreno
  • 1983Jean Simmons
  • 1983Judith Anderson
  • 1983Polly Bergen
  • 1983Bette Davis
  • 1983Piper Laurie
  • 1984Roxana Zal
  • 1984Beverly D'Angelo
  • 1984Patty Duke
  • 1984Cloris Leachman
  • 1984Tuesday Weld
  • 1985Kim Stanley
  • 1985Penny Fuller
  • 1985Ann Jillian
  • 1985Deborah Kerr
  • 1985Alfre Woodard
  • 1986Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1986Phyllis Frelich
  • 1986Dorothy McGuire
  • 1986Vanessa Redgrave
  • 1986Sylvia Sidney
  • 1987Piper Laurie
  • 1987Claudette Colbert
  • 1987Olivia de Haviland
  • 1987Christine Lahti
  • 1987Elizabeth Wilson
  • 1988Jane Seymour
  • 1988Stockard Channing
  • 1988Ruby Dee
  • 1988Julie Harris
  • 1988Lisa Jacobs
  • 1989Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1989Peggy Ashcroft
  • 1989Polly Bergen
  • 1989Glenne Headly
  • 1989Paula Kelly
  • 1990Eva Marie Saint
  • 1990Stockard Channing
  • 1990Colleen Dewhurst
  • 1990Swoosie Kurtz
  • 1990Irene Worth
  • 1991Ruby Dee
  • 1991Olympia Dukakis
  • 1991Vanessa Redgrave
  • 1991Doris Roberts
  • 1991Elaine Stritch
  • 1992Amanda Plummer
  • 1992Anne Bancroft
  • 1992Bibi Besch
  • 1992Penny Fuller
  • 1992Maureen Stapleton
  • 1993Mary Tyler Moore
  • 1993Ann-Margret
  • 1993Lee Grant
  • 1993Peggy McCay
  • 1993Joan Plowright
  • 1994Cicely Tyson
  • 1994Anne Bancroft
  • 1994Swoosie Kurtz
  • 1994Lee Purcell
  • 1994Lily Tomlin
  • 1995Judy Davis (tie)
  • 1995Shirley Knight (tie)
  • 1995Sonia Braga
  • 1995Sissy Spacek
  • 1995Sada Thompson
  • 1996Greta Scacchi
  • 1996Kathy Bates
  • 1996Diana Scarwid
  • 1996Mare Winningham
  • 1996Alfre Woodard
  • 1997Diana Rigg
  • 1997Kirstie Alley
  • 1997Bridget Fonda
  • 1997Glenne Headly
  • 1997Frances McDormand
  • 1998Mare Winningham
  • 1998Helena Bonham Carter
  • 1998Julie Harris
  • 1998Judith Ivey
  • 1998Angelina Jolie
  • 1999Anne Bancroft
  • 1999Jacqueline Bisset
  • 1999Olympia Dukakis
  • 1999Bebe Neuwirth
  • 1999Cicely Tyson
  • 1999Dianne Wiest
  • 2000Vanessa Redgrave
  • 2000Kathy Bates
  • 2000Elizabeth Franz
  • 2000Melanie Griffith
  • 2000Maggie Smith
  • 2001Tammy Blanchard
  • 2001Anne Bancroft
  • 2001Brenda Blethyn
  • 2001Holly Hunter
  • 2001Audra McDonald
  • 2002Stockard Channing
  • 2002Joan Allen
  • 2002Anjelica Huston
  • 2002Diana Rigg
  • 2002Sissy Spacek
  • 2003Gena Rowlands
  • 2003Kathy Baker
  • 2003Anne Bancroft
  • 2003Juliette Lewis
  • 2003Helen Mirren
  • 2004Mary-Louise Parker
  • 2004Julie Andrews
  • 2004Anne Heche
  • 2004Anjelica Huston
  • 2004Angela Lansbury
  • 2005Jane Alexander
  • 2005Kathy Bates
  • 2005Camryn Manheim
  • 2005Charlize Theron
  • 2005Joanne Woodward
  • 2006Kelly Macdonald
  • 2006Ellen Burstyn
  • 2006Shirley Jones
  • 2006Cloris Leachman
  • 2006Alfre Woodard
  • 2007Judy Davis
  • 2007Toni Collette
  • 2007Samantha Morton
  • 2007Anna Paquin
  • 2007Greta Scacchi
  • 2008Eileen Atkins
  • 2008Laura Dern
  • 2008Ashley Jensen
  • 2008Audra McDonald
  • 2008Alfre Woodard
  • 2009Shohreh Aghdashloo
  • 2009Marcia Gay Harden
  • 2009Janet McTeer
  • 2009Jeanne Tripplehorn
  • 2009Cicely Tyson
  • 2010Julia Ormond
  • 2010Kathy Bates
  • 2010Catherine O'Hara
  • 2010Susan Sarandon
  • 2010Brenda Vaccaro
  • 2011Maggie Smith
  • 2011Eileen Atkins
  • 2011Melissa Leo
  • 2011Mare Winningham
  • 2011Evan Rachel Wood
  • 2012Jessica Lange
  • 2012Frances Conroy
  • 2012Judy Davis
  • 2012Sarah Paulson
  • 2012Mare Winningham
  • 2013Ellen Burstyn
  • 2013Sarah Paulson
  • 2013Charlotte Rampling
  • 2013Imelda Staunton
  • 2013Alfre Woodard
  • 2014Kathy Bates
  • 2014Angela Bassett
  • 2014Ellen Burstyn
  • 2014Frances Conroy
  • 2014Julia Roberts
  • 2014Allison Tolman
  • 2015Regina King
  • 2015Angela Bassett
  • 2015Kathy Bates
  • 2015Zoe Kazan
  • 2015Mo'Nique
  • 2015Sarah Paulson

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries — the category in which Regina King won last year — is the most diverse of the acting categories when it comes to winners. Six actresses, or 14.3 percent of winners, have been women of color: Esther Rolle in 1979 for Summer of My German Soldier;Roxana Zal in 1984 for Something About Amelia;Ruby Dee in 1991 for Decoration Day;Cicely Tyson in 1994 for Castalia;Shohreh Aghdashloo in 2009 for House of Saddam;and King in 2015, for American Crime. Twenty-three of the 210 nominees in this category, or 11 percent, have been women of color. Alfre Woodard was nominated five times, and Tyson and Dee were nominated three times each.

The Entire History of Emmy-Award Diversity

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The Entire History of Diversity at the Emmy Awards (2024)
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