The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series is presented to the best directing of a television drama series, usually for a particular episode.Though this category is the dominant one in which dramatic directing has been recognized, there were a few years in which the categories were determined by running time, not genre. Until 1979, miniseries and television films competed alongside drama series.
Winners and nominations 1950s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) NetworkBest Direction1955Studio One "Twelve Angry Men"Nominated for Best Individual Program of the YearFranklin J. SchaffnerCBSFour Star Playhouse"The Answer"Roy KellinoCBSThe Loretta Young Show"The Clara Schumann Story"Robert FloreyNBCThe United States Steel Hour"The Interview"Alex SegalABCWaterfront"Christmas in San Pedro"Ted PostSyndicatedYour Hit ParadeClark JonesNBC1956Best Director - Film SeriesThe Phil Silvers ShowNat HikenCBSAlfred Hitchcock Presents"The Case of Mr. Pelham"Alfred HitchcockCBSThe Bob Cummings Show"Return of the Wolf"Rod AmateauDragnetJack WebbNBCMake Room for DaddySheldon LeonardABCYou Are There"Grant & Lee at Appomattox"Bernard GirardCBSBest Director - Live SeriesFord Star Jubilee"The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial"Nominated for Best Single Program of the YearFranklin J. SchaffnerCBSClimax!"Portrait in Celluloid"John FrankenheimerCBSProducers' Showcase"Peter Pan"Won Best Single Program of the YearClark JonesNBC"Our Town"Delbert MannThe United States Steel Hour"No Time for Sergeants"Alex SegalCBS1957Best Direction - Half-Hour or LessThe Danny Thomas Show"Danny's Comeback"Sheldon LeonardABCCamera Three"As I Lay Dying"Clay YurdinCBSGeneral Electric Theater"The Road That Led Afar"Herschel DaughertyTales of the 77th Bengal Lancers"The Traitor"George ArchainbaudNBCYou Are There"First Moscow Purge Trial"William D. Russell CBSBest Direction - One Hour or MorePlayhouse 90"Requiem for a Heavyweight"Ralph NelsonCBSThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show"October 5, 1956"Bob BannerNBCKraft Television Theatre"A Night to Remember"George Roy HillNBC Opera Theatre "La Boheme"Kirk BrowningPlayhouse 90"Forbidden Area"John FrankenheimerCBSThe 20th Century Fox Hour"Child of the Regiment"Lewis AllenCBS1958Best Direction - Half-Hour or LessAlfred Hitchcock Presents"The Glass Eye"Robert StevensCBSThe Danny Thomas ShowSheldon LeonardABC & CBSFather Knows BestPeter TewksburyNBCThe Patrice Munsel ShowClark JonesABCYour Hit ParadeBill HobinNBCBest Direction - One Hour or MoreThe Dinah Shore Chevy ShowBob BannerNBCHallmark Hall of Fame"The Green Pastures"George SchaeferNBCPlayhouse 90"The Comedian"John FrankenheimerCBS"Helen Morgan"George Roy Hill"The Miracle Worker"Arthur Penn1959Best Direction of a Single Program of a Dramatic Series Less Than One HourAlcoa-Goodyear Theatre"Eddie"Jack SmightNBCAlfred Hitchcock Presents"Lamb to the Slaughter"Alfred HitchcockCBSGeneral Electric Theater"Kid at the Stick"James NeilsonNBC"One is a Wanderer"Herschel DaughertyPeter Gunn"The Kill"Blake EdwardsBest Direction of a Single Dramatic Program – One Hour or LongerHallmark Hall of Fame"Little Moon of Alban"Nominated for Most Outstanding Single Program of the YearGeorge SchaeferNBCPlayhouse 90"Child of Our Time"George Roy HillCBS"A Town Has Turned to Dust"John Frankenheimer
1960s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) NetworkOutstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama1960The Moon and SixpenceRobert MulliganNBCFord Startime"The Turn of the Screw"John FrankenheimerNBCWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse"The Untouchables"Phil KarlsonCBS1961Hallmark Hall of Fame"Macbeth"Won Program of the YearGeorge SchaeferNBCNBC Sunday Showcase"Sacco-Vanzetti Story"Nominated for Program of the YearSidney LumetNBCWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse"The Man in the Funny Suit"Ralph NelsonCBS1962The DefendersFranklin J. SchaffnerCBSAlcoa Premiere"People Need People"Alex SegalABCDr. Kildare"Shining Image"Buzz KulikNBCNaked CityArthur HillerABCWestinghouse Presents"Come Again to Carthage"Jack SmightCBS1963The Defenders"The Madman"Stuart RosenbergCBSAlcoa Premiere"The Voice of Charlie Pont"Robert Ellis MillerABCBen Casey"A Cardinal Act of Mercy"Sydney PollackThe DuPont Show of the Week"Big Deal in Laredo"Fielder CookNBCHallmark Hall of Fame"Invincible Mr. Disraeli"George Schaefer1964East Side/West Side"Who Do You Kill?"Tom GriesCBSBob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"Something About Lee Wiley"Sydney PollackNBCThe Defenders"Blacklist"Stuart RosenbergCBS"Moment of Truth"Paul BogartHallmark Hall of Fame"The Patriots"George SchaeferNBCOutstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Directors1965The Defenders"The 700 Year-Old Gang"Paul BogartCBSHallmark Hall of Fame"The Magnificent Yankee"George SchaeferNBCMy Name Is BarbraDwight HemionCBSOutstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama1966Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"The Game"Sydney PollackNBCHallmark Hall of Fame"Eagle in a Cage"Nominated for Outstanding Dramatic ProgramGeorge SchaeferNBC"Inherit the Wind"I Spy"A Cup of Kindness"Sheldon Leonard1967Death of a SalesmanWon Outstanding Dramatic ProgramAlex SegalCBSCBS Playhouse"The Final War of Olly Winter"Paul BogartCBSHallmark Hall of Fame"Anastasia"George SchaeferNBCMark Twain Tonight!Paul BogartCBS1968CBS Playhouse"Dear Friends"Paul BogartCBSCBS Playhouse"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"George SchaeferCBSThe CrucibleAlex SegalMission: Impossible"The Killing"Lee H. Katzin1969CBS Playhouse"The People Next Door"David GreeneCBSCBS Playhouse"Secrets"Paul BogartCBSHallmark Hall of Fame"Teacher, Teacher"Fielder CookNBC
1970s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama1970CBS Playhouse"Shadow Game"Paul BogartCBSHallmark Hall of Fame"A Storm in Summer"Buzz KulikNBCNBC World Premiere MovieMy Sweet CharlieLamont Johnson Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama - A Single Program of a Series with Continuing Characters and/or Theme1971The Bold Ones: The Senator"The Day the Lion Died"Daryl DukeNBCThe Bold Ones: The Senator"A Single Blow of a Sword"John BadhamNBCHawaii Five-O"Over Fifty? Steal!"Bob SweeneyCBS1972The Bold Ones: The Lawyers"The Invasion of Kevin Ireland"Alexander SingerNBCColumbo"Short Fuse"Edward M. AbromsNBCThe Man and the City"Hands of Love"Daniel PetrieABC1973Kung Fu"An Eye for an Eye"Jerry ThorpeABCColumbo"The Most Dangerous Match"Edward M. AbromsNBCThe Waltons"The Love Story"Lee PhilipsCBS Best Directing in Drama - A Single Program of a Series with Continuing Characters and/or Theme1974The Blue KnightNominated for Outstanding Limited Series"Part III"Robert ButlerNBCThe Waltons"The Journey"Harry HarrisCBS"The Thanksgiving Story"Philip Leacock Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series1975Upstairs, Downstairs"A Sudden Storm"Bill BainPBSBenjamin FranklinWon Outstanding Limited Series"The Ambassador"Glenn JordanCBSKojak"Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die"David Friedkin"I Want to Report a Dream..."Telly SavalasThe Streets of San Francisco"The Mask of Death"Harry FalkABC1976Rich Man, Poor Man"Part I: Chapters 1 & 2"David GreeneABCBeacon Hill"Pilot"Fielder CookCBSJennie: Lady Randolph Churchill"Part IV"James Cellan JonesPBSLincoln"Crossing Fox River"George SchaeferNBCRich Man, Poor Man"Part VI: Chapter 8"Boris SagalABCUpstairs, Downstairs"Women Shall Not Weep"Christopher HodsonPBS1977Roots"Part I"David GreeneABCThe Adams Chronicles"John Quincy Adams: President"Fred CoePBSRoots"Part II"John ErmanABC"Part III"Marvin J. Chomsky"Part VI"Gilbert Moses1978HolocaustMarvin J. ChomskyNBCThe Dain CurseE. W. SwackhamerCBSI, ClaudiusHerbert WisePBSKingAbby MannNBCWashington: Behind Closed DoorsGary NelsonABC1979The White Shadow"Pilot"Jackie CooperCBSLou Grant"Murder"Mel DamskiCBS"Prisoner"Gene Reynolds"Schools"Burt Brinckerhoff
1980s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network1980Lou Grant"Cop"Roger YoungCBSLou Grant"Andrew, Part 2"Peter LevinCBS"Hollywood"Burt Brinckerhoff"Influence"Gene ReynoldsSkag"Pilot"Frank PerryNBC1981Hill Street Blues"Hill Street Station"Robert ButlerNBCAmerican Dream"Pilot"Mel DamskiABCHill Street Blues"Jungle Madness"Corey AllenNBC"Up in Arms"Georg Stanford BrownLou Grant"Pack"Burt BrinckerhoffCBS"Strike"Gene Reynolds1982Fame"To Soar and Never Falter"Harry HarrisNBCFame"Musical Bridge"Robert ScheererNBCHill Street Blues"The Second Oldest Profession"Robert Butler"The World According to Freedom"Jeff BlecknerLou Grant"Hometown"Gene ReynoldsCBS1983Hill Street Blues"Life in the Minors"Jeff BlecknerNBCFame"And the Winner Is..."Marc DanielsNBC"Feelings"Robert ScheererThe Mississippi"Old Hatred Die Hard"Leo PennCBS1984Hill Street Blues"Goodbye, Mr. Scripps"Corey AllenNBCFame"Sheer Will"Robert ScheererNBCHill Street Blues"Doris in Wonderland"Arthur Allan Seidelman"Midway to What?"Thomas Carter1985Cagney & Lacey"Heat"Karen ArthurCBSHill Street Blues"El Capitan"Georg Stanford BrownNBC"The Rise and Fall of Paul the Wall"Thomas CarterMiami Vice"Cool Runnin'"Lee H. Katzin"Smuggler's Blues"Paul Michael Glaser1986Cagney & Lacey"Parting Shots"Georg Stanford BrownCBSAmazing Stories"The Mission"Steven SpielbergNBCHill Street Blues"Two Easy Pieces"Gabrielle BeaumontMoonlighting"The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"Peter WernerABC"My Fair David"Will Mackenzie1987L.A. Law"Pilot"Gregory HoblitNBCCagney & Lacey"Turn, Turn, Turn, Part 2"Sharron MillerCBSL.A. Law"The Venus Butterfly"Donald PetrieNBCMoonlighting"Atomic Shakespeare"Will MackenzieABC"I Am Curious... Maddie"Allan Arkush1988St. Elsewhere"Weigh In, Way Out"Mark TinkerNBCChina Beach"Pilot"Rod HolcombABCL.A. Law"Beauty and Obese"Sam WeismanNBC"Full Martial Jacket"Win Phelps"Handroll Express"Kim Friedman"The Wizard of OddsGregory Hoblit1989Tanner '88"The Boiler Room"Robert AltmanHBOL.A. Law"I'm in the Nude for Love"Eric LaneuvilleNBC"To Live and Diet in L.A."John PasquinMidnight Caller"Conversations with the Assassin"Thomas Carterthirtysomething"We'll Meet Again"Scott WinantABC
1990s Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network1990Equal Justice"Promises to Keep"Thomas CarterABCthirtysomething"The Go-Between"Scott WinantL.A. Law"The Last Gasp"Rick WallaceNBC"Noah's Bark"Win PhelpsTwin Peaks"Pilot"David LynchABC1991Equal Justice"In Confidence"Thomas CarterABCChina Beach"You, Babe"Mimi LederABCCop Rock"Pilot"Gregory HoblitL.A. Law"God Rest You Murray Gentleman"Tom MooreNBC1992I'll Fly Away"All God's Children"Eric LaneuvilleNBCChina Beach"Rewind"Mimi LederABCL.A. Law"Say Goodnight, Gracie"Rick WallaceNBCNorthern Exposure"Seoul Mates"Jack BenderCBSThe Trials of Rosie O'Neill"Heartbreak Hotel"Nancy Malone1993Homicide: Life on the Street"Gone for Goode"Barry LevinsonNBCI'll Fly Away"Until Tomorrow"Eric LaneuvilleNBCLaw & Order"Conspiracy"Edwin SherinSirens"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love"Robert ButlerABCSisters"Crash and Born"Nancy MaloneNBCThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles"Northern Italy, 1918"Bille AugustABC1994NYPD Blue"Tempest in a C-Cup"Daniel SackheimABCLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman"Pilot"Robert ButlerABCNYPD Blue"Guns 'N Rosaries"Michael M. Robin"Pilot"Gregory Hoblit"True Confessions"Charles Haid1995ER"Love's Labor Lost"Mimi LederNBCChicago Hope"Life Support"Lou AntonioCBSER"Pilot"Rod HolcombNBCMy So-Called Life"Pilot"Scott WinantABCNYPD Blue"Innuendo"Mark Tinker1996Chicago Hope"Leave of Absence"Jeremy KaganCBSER"The Healers"Mimi LederNBC"Hell and High Water"Christopher ChulackMurder One"Chapter One"Charles HaidABCNYPD Blue"Blackboard Jungle"Mark Tinker1997NYPD Blue"Where's 'Swaldo?"Mark TinkerABCER"Fear of Flying"Christopher ChulackNBC"Last Call"Rod Holcomb"Union Station"Tom MooreThe X-Files"Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man"James WongFox1998Brooklyn South"Pilot"Mark TinkerCBSNYPD Blue"Lost Israel, Part 2"Paris BarclayABCChicago Hope"Brain Salad Surgery"Bill D'EliaCBSER"Ambush"Thomas SchlammeNBCThe X-Files"The Post-Modern Prometheus"Chris CarterFox1999NYPD Blue"Hearts and Souls"Paris BarclayABCLaw & Order"Empire"Matthew PennNBCLaw & Order/Homicide: Life on the Street"Sideshow"Edwin SherinThe Sopranos"The Sopranos"David ChaseHBO
2000s