The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series is an award presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). In early Primetime Emmy Award ceremonies, the supporting categories were not always genre, or even gender, specific. Beginning with 1970, supporting actors in drama have competed alone. However, these dramatic performances often included actors from miniseries, telefilms, and guest performers competing against main cast competitors. Such instances are marked below:
# – Indicates a performance in a Miniseries or Television film, prior to the category's creation in 1975 § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation in 1975
Winners and nominations 1950s Year Actor Role Program NetworkBest Series Supporting Actor 1954(6th)Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre specific acting categories Art Carney Various characters The Jackie Gleason Show CBS Ben Alexander Officer Frank Smith Dragnet NBC William Frawley Fred Mertz I Love Lucy CBS Tony Randall Harvey Weskitt Mister PeepersNBC Carl Reiner Various characters Your Show of ShowsBest Supporting Actor in a Regular Series 1955(7th) Art Carney Various characters The Jackie Gleason Show CBS Ben Alexander Officer Frank Smith Dragnet NBC Don DeFore Thorny The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet ABC William Frawley Fred Mertz I Love LucyCBS Gale Gordon Osgood Conklin Our Miss BrooksBest Actor in a Supporting Role 1956(8th) Art Carney Ed Norton The Honeymooners CBS Ed Begley # Andy Sloane Patterns NBC William Frawley Fred Mertz I Love Lucy CBS Carl Reiner Various characters Caesar's HourNBC Cyril Ritchard # Mr. Darling / Captain Hook Peter PanBest Supporting Performance by an Actor 1957(9th) Carl Reiner Various characters Caesar's Hour NBC Art Carney Various characters The Jackie Gleason ShowCBS Paul Ford Col. John T. Hall The Phil Silvers Show William Frawley Fred Mertz I Love Lucy Ed Wynn # Army Requiem for a HeavyweightBest Continuing Supporting Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic or Comedy Series 1958(10th) Carl Reiner Various characters Caesar's Hour NBC Paul Ford Col. John T. Hall The Phil Silvers ShowCBS William Frawley Fred Mertz I Love Lucy Louis Nye Various characters The Steve Allen Show NBC Dennis Weaver Chester Goode Gunsmoke CBSBest Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series 1959(11th) Dennis Weaver Chester Goode Gunsmoke CBS Herschel Bernardi Lt. Jacoby Peter Gunn NBC Johnny Crawford Mark McCain The Rifleman ABC William Hopper Paul Drake Perry Mason CBS
1960s Year Actor Role Program NetworkOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead or Support) 1960(12th) Robert Stack Eliot Ness The Untouchables ABC Richard Boone Paladin Have Gun – Will TravelCBS Raymond Burr Perry Mason Perry MasonOutstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series 1961(13th) Don Knotts Barney Fife The Andy Griffith Show CBS Abby Dalton Lt. Martha Hale HenneseyCBS Barbara Hale Della Street Perry MasonOutstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor 1962(14th) Don Knotts Barney Fife The Andy Griffith Show CBS Sam Jaffe Dr. David Zorba Ben Casey ABC Barry Jones # The Dean Hallmark Hall of Fame NBC Horace McMahon Lt. Mike Parker Naked CityABC George C. Scott § Dr. Karl Anders Ben Casey 1963(15th) Don Knotts Barney Fife The Andy Griffith Show CBS Tim Conway Ens. Charles Parker McHale's Navy ABC Paul Ford # Col. Wainwright Purdy IIITeahouse of the August Moon: Hallmark Hall of FameNBC Hurd Hatfield # Lionel de Rothschild Invincible Mr. Disraeli: Hallmark Hall of Fame Robert Redford # George Laurents Premiere, Presented by Fred Astaire ABC 1964(16th) Albert Paulsen # Lt. Volkoval Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre NBC Sorrell Booke § Julius Orloff Dr. Kildare NBC Conlan Carter Doc Combat! ABC Carl Lee § Lonnie Hill The Nurses CBSOutstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Actors and Performers 1965 Leonard Bernstein Conductor New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein CBS Lynn Fontanne Fanny Bowditch HolmesHallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee"| rowspan=2|NBC|- style="background:#FAEB86" | Alfred Lunt| Oliver Wendell Holmes|- style="background:#FAEB86" | Barbra Streisand| Herself| My Name Is BarbraCBS Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show Julie Andrews Herself The Andy Williams ShowNBC Johnny Carson Himself The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Gladys Cooper Margaret St. ClairThe Rogues Robert Coote Timmy St. Clair Richard Crenna James Slattery Slattery's People CBS Julie Harris Florence Nightingale Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Holy Terror"NBC Bob Hope Himself Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special Dean Jagger Principal Albert Vane Mr. Novak Danny Kaye Himself The Danny Kaye Show CBS David McCallum Illya Kuryakin The Man from U.N.C.L.E. NBC Red Skelton Himself The Red Skelton Hour CBSOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series 1966(18th) James Daly # Dr. O'Meara Eagle in a Cage NBC David Burns § The Great McGonigle The Trials of O'Brien CBS Leo G. Carroll Alexander Waverly The Man from U.N.C.L.E. NBC 1967(19th) Eli Wallach # Happy Locarno The Poppy Is Also a Flower ABC Leo G. Carroll Alexander Waverly The Man from U.N.C.L.E.NBC Leonard Nimoy Spock Star Trek 1968(20th) Milburn Stone Doc Gunsmoke CBS Joseph Campanella Lew Wickersham MannixCBS Lawrence Dobkin # Dr. Gettlinger CBS Playhouse Leonard Nimoy Spock Star Trek NBCOutstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series 1969(21st) Werner Klemperer Colonel Klink Hogan's Heroes CBS Greg Morris Barney Collier Mission: Impossible CBS Leonard Nimoy Spock Star Trek NBC
1970s Year Actor Role Program Network Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama 1970(22nd) James Brolin Dr. Steven Kiley Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Tige Andrews Capt. Adam Greer The Mod Squad ABC Greg Morris Barney Collier Mission: Impossible CBS 1971(23rd) David Burns # Mr. Solomon The Price: Hallmark Hall of Fame NBC James Brolin Dr. Steven Kiley Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Robert Young # Senator Earl Gannon Vanished!: NBC World Premiere Movie NBC 1972(24th) Jack Warden # George Halas Brian's Song: ABC Movie of the Week ABC James Brolin Dr. Steven Kiley Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Greg Morris Barney Collier Mission: Impossible CBS 1973(25th) Scott Jacoby # Nick Salter That Certain Summer: ABC Movie of the Week ABC James Brolin Dr. Steven Kiley Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Will Geer Zebulon Walton The Waltons CBS Best Supporting Actor in Drama 1974(26th) Michael Moriarty # Jim O'Connor The Glass Menagerie ABCSam Waterston #Tom WingfieldThe Glass MenagerieABC Michael Douglas Steve Keller The Streets of San Francisco ABC Will Geer Zebulon Walton The Waltons CBS Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 1975(27th) Will Geer Zebulon Walton The Waltons CBS J.D. Cannon Peter B. Clifford McCloud NBC Michael Douglas Steve Keller The Streets of San Francisco ABC 1976(28th) Anthony Zerbe Lt. K.C. Trench Harry O ABCRay Milland #Duncan CalderwoodRich Man, Poor ManABCRobert Reed #Teddy Boylan Michael Douglas Steve Keller The Streets of San Francisco Will Geer Zebulon Walton The Waltons CBS 1977(29th) Gary Frank Willie Lawrence Family ABC Noah Beery Jr. Joseph "Rocky" Rockford The Rockford Files NBC David Doyle John Bosley Charlie's AngelsABC Tom Ewell Billy Truman Baretta Will Geer Zebulon Walton The Waltons CBS 1978(30th) Robert Vaughn # Frank Flaherty Washington: Behind Closed Doors ABCSam Wanamaker #Moses WeissHolocaustNBCDavid Warner #Heydrich Ossie Davis # Martin Luther King Sr. King Will Geer Zebulon Walton The Waltons CBS Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 1979(31st) Stuart Margolin Evelyn "Angel" Martin The Rockford Files NBCNoah Beery Jr.Joseph "Rocky" RockfordThe Rockford FilesNBCJoe SantosDet. Dennis Becker Mason Adams Charlie Hume Lou Grant CBSRobert WaldenJoe Rossi
1980s Year Actor Role Program Network 1980(32nd) Stuart Margolin Evelyn "Angel" Martin The Rockford Files NBC Noah Beery Jr. Joseph "Rocky" Rockford The Rockford Files NBC Mason Adams Charlie Hume Lou Grant CBS Robert Walden Joe Rossi 1981(33rd) Michael Conrad Sgt. Phil Esterhaus Hill Street Blues NBC Charles Haid Officer Andy Renko Hill Street Blues NBCBruce WeitzDet. Mick Belker Mason Adams Charlie Hume Lou Grant CBS Robert Walden Joe Rossi 1982(34th) Michael Conrad Sgt. Phil Esterhaus Hill Street Blues NBC Taurean Blacque Det. Neal WashingtonHill Street BluesNBC Charles Haid Officer Andy Renko Michael Warren Officer Bobby Hill Bruce Weitz Det. Mick Belker 1983(35th) James Coco § Arnie St. Elsewhere NBC Ed Begley Jr. Dr. Victor Ehrlich St. ElsewhereNBC Michael Conrad Sgt. Phil EsterhausHill Street Blues Joe Spano Sgt. Henry Goldblume Bruce Weitz Det. Mick Belker 1984(36th) Bruce Weitz Det. Mick Belker Hill Street Blues NBC Michael Conrad Sgt. Phil Esterhaus Hill Street BluesNBC James Sikking Lt. Howard Hunter Ed Begley Jr. Dr. Victor Ehrlich St. Elsewhere John Hillerman Jonathan Higgins Magnum, P.I. CBS 1985(37th) Edward James Olmos Lt. Martin Castillo Miami Vice NBC Ed Begley Jr. Dr. Victor Ehrlich St. Elsewhere NBC Bruce Weitz Det. Mick Belker Hill Street Blues John Hillerman Jonathan Higgins Magnum, P.I.CBS John Karlen Harvey Lacey Sr. Cagney & Lacey 1986(38th) John Karlen Harvey Lacey Sr. Cagney & Lacey CBS John Hillerman Jonathan Higgins Magnum, P.I. CBS Ed Begley Jr. Dr. Victor Ehrlich St. Elsewhere NBC Edward James Olmos Lt. Martin Castillo Miami Vice Bruce Weitz Det. Mick Belker Hill Street Blues 1987(39th) John Hillerman Jonathan Higgins Magnum, P.I. CBSJimmy SmitsVictor SifuentesL.A. LawNBCMichael TuckerStuart Markowitz Ed Begley Jr. Dr. Victor Ehrlich St. Elsewhere NBC John Karlen Harvey Lacey Sr. Cagney & Lacey CBS 1988(40th) Larry Drake Benny Stulwicz L.A. Law NBCAlan RachinsDouglas BrackmanL.A. LawNBCJimmy SmitsVictor SifuentesNBC Ed Begley Jr. Dr. Victor Ehrlich St. Elsewhere NBC Timothy Busfield Elliot Weston Thirtysomething ABC 1989(41st) Larry Drake Benny Stulwicz L.A. Law NBCRichard DysartLeland McKenzieL.A. LawNBCJimmy SmitsVictor SifuentesNBC Jonathan Banks Frank McPike Wiseguy CBS Timothy Busfield Elliot Weston Thirtysomething ABC
1990s