The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of the "world-class status of London theatre." The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
This award was introduced in 1979, along with the award for Best Actress in a Musical. In 1977 and 1978, there had been a commingled actor/actress award for Best Performance in a Musical, won both times by an actress.
Winners and nominees 1970s Year Actor Musical Character 1979 Anton Rodgers Songbook Various Characters Tony Britton My Fair Lady Henry Higgins Michael Crawford Charlie and Algernon Charlie Ben Cross Chicago Billy Flynn
1980s Year Actor Musical Character 1980 Denis Quilley Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Tom Conti They're Playing Our Song Vernon John Diedrich Oklahoma! Curly McLain Denis Lawson Pal Joey Joey 1981 Michael Crawford Barnum P.T. Barnum Brian Blessed Cats Old Deuteronomy Henderson Forsythe The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd Wayne Sleep Cats Mister Mistoffolees 1982 Roy Hudd Underneath the Arches Bud Flanagan Tim Curry The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King Bob Hoskins Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Stephen Moore Poppy Jack Idle 1983 Denis Lawson Mr. Cinders Jim Lancaster George Costigan Blood Brothers Mickey Teddy Kempner Snoopy Snoopy Peter Woodward Bashville Cashel Byron 1984 Paul Clarkson The Hired Man John Tallentire Tim Flavin On Your Toes Junior David Kernan The Ratepayers' Iolanthe The Lord Chancellor Lon Satton Starlight Express Poppa 1985 Robert Lindsay Me and My Girl Bill Snibson Alun Armstrong Les Misérables M. Thénardier Mark McGann Lennon John Lennon Colm Wilkinson Les Misérables Jean Valjean 1986 Michael Crawford The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera Paul Bentley H.M.S. Pinafore Captain Corcoran George Hearn La Cage aux Folles Albin Tommy Körberg Chess The Russian 1987 John Bardon Kiss Me, Kate Gangster 1 Emil Wolk Gangster 2 Bernard Alane Bless the Bride Pierre Fontaine Mark McGann Up on the Roof Scott Gary Olsen Keith 1988 Con O'Neill Blood Brothers Mickey Bille Brown The Wizard of Oz Miss Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West Nickolas Grace Candide Voltaire / Dr. Pangloss Mickey Rooney Sugar Babies Mickey 1989/90 Jonathan Pryce Miss Saigon The Engineer Alun Armstrong The Baker's Wife Aimable Matthew Devitt Return to the Forbidden Planet Cookie Paul Hipp Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Buddy Holly
1990s Year Actor Musical Character 1991 Philip Quast Sunday in the Park with George George Ian Bartholomew Into the Woods The Baker Bruce Hubbard Show Boat Joe Paul J. Medford Five Guys Named Moe Little Moe 1992 Alan Bennett Talking Heads Graham Whittaker Philip Bird Good Rockin' Tonite Unknown Jason Donovan Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Joseph Damon Evans Carmen Jones Joe 1993 Henry Goodman Assassins Charles Guiteau Brent Carver Kiss of the Spider Woman Molina Michael Hayden Carousel Billy Bigelow Kirby Ward Crazy for You Bobby Child 1994 Alun Armstrong Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Roger Allam City of Angels Stone David Burt The Beggar's Opera Captain Macheath Alan Cumming Cabaret Emcee 1995 John Gordon Sinclair She Loves Me Georg Peter Duncan The Card Denry Machin Tim Flavin Crazy for You Bobby Child Jonathan Pryce Oliver! Fagin 1996 Adrian Lester Company Robert Brian Conley Jolson Al Jolson Ross Lehman Hot Mikado Koko Clarke Peters Unforgettable Nat King Cole 1997 Robert Lindsay Oliver! Fagin Iain Glen Martin Guerre Martin Guerre Paul Keating Tommy Tommy Steven Pacey By Jeeves Bertie Wooster 1998 Philip Quast The Fix Grahame Chandler John Barrowman The Fix Cal Chandler Henry Goodman Chicago Billy Flynn Andrew C Wadsworth Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham 1999 Entire Cast Kat and the Kings Entire Cast Adam Garcia Saturday Night Fever Tony Manero Hugh Jackman Oklahoma! Curly McLain Clarke Peters Chicago Billy Flynn
2000s Year Actor Musical Character 2000 Simon Russell Beale Candide Voltaire / Dr. Pangloss Rob Edwards The Lion King Scar Daniel Evans Candide Candide Ben Keaton Animal Crackers Spaulding Gus MacGregor Buddy Buddy Holly 2001 Daniel Evans Merrily We Roll Along Charley Jimmy Johnston The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King Paul Robinson Singin' in the Rain Don Lockwood David Shannon The Beautiful Game John 2002 Philip Quast South Pacific Emile de Becque Brent Barrett Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham Paul Keating Closer to Heaven Straight Dave Jonathan Pryce My Fair Lady Henry Higgins 2003 Alex Jennings My Fair Lady Henry Higgins Tim Flavin My One and Only Captain Billy Buck Chandler Michael Jibson Our House Joe Casey Euan Morton Taboo George 2004 David Bedella Jerry Springer Warm Up Man / Satan Graham Bickley Ragtime Tateh Michael Brandon Jerry Springer Jerry Springer Kevyn Morrow Ragtime Coalhouse 2005 Nathan Lane The Producers Max Bialystock Lee Evans The Producers Leo Bloom Paul Hegarty Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Gavin Lee Mary Poppins Bert 2006 James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower Billy Elliot Billy Elliot Douglas Hodge Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Ewan McGregor Sky Masterson 2007 Daniel Evans Sunday in the Park with George George Tim Curry Spamalot King Arthur Clarke Peters Porgy and Bess Porgy Philip Quast Evita Juan Perón 2008 Michael Ball Hairspray Edna Turnblad Bertie Carvel Parade Leo Henry Goodman Fiddler on the Roof Tevye Bob Martin The Drowsy Chaperone Man in Chair 2009 Douglas Hodge La Cage aux Folles Albin Denis Lawson La Cage aux Folles Georges Ryan Molloy Jersey Boys Frankie Valli Matt Rawle Zorro Zorro
2010s Year Actor Musical Character 2010 Aneurin Barnard Spring Awakening Melchior Gabor Rowan Atkinson Oliver! Fagin Bob Golding Morecambe Eric Morecambe Alexander Hanson A Little Night Music Frederik Tony Sheldon Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Bernadette 2011 David Thaxton Passion Giorgio Alex Gaumond Legally Blonde Emmett Forrest Ramin Karimloo Love Never Dies The Phantom Sahr Ngaujah Fela! Fela Kuti Michael Xavier Love Story Oliver Barratt IV 2012 Bertie Carvel Matilda Miss Trunchbull Nigel Lindsay Shrek Shrek Reece Shearsmith Betty Blue Eyes Gilbert Chilvers Paulo Szot South Pacific Emile de Becque 2013 Michael Ball Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Alex Bourne Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham Tom Chambers Top Hat Jerry Will Young Cabaret The Master of Ceremonies 2014 Gavin Creel The Book of Mormon Elder Price Jared Gertner The Book of Mormon Elder Cunningham Douglas Hodge Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Willy Wonka Kyle Scatliffe The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson 2015 John Dagleish Sunny Afternoon Ray Davies Jon Jon Briones Miss Saigon The Engineer Brandon Victor Dixon The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson Killian Donnelly Memphis Huey Calhoun 2016 Matt Henry Kinky Boots Lola / Simon Ian Bartholomew Mrs Henderson Presents Vivian Van Damm Killian Donnelly Kinky Boots Charlie Price David Haig Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Jamie Parker Sky Masterson 2017Andy KarlGroundhog DayPhil Connors David Fynn School of RockDewey FinnTyrone HuntleyJesus Christ SuperstarJudas IscariotCharlie StempHalf a SixpenceArthur Kipps2018Giles TereraHamiltonAaron BurrCiarán HindsGirl from the North CountryNick LaneJohn McCreaEverybody's Talking About JamieJamie NewJamael Westman HamiltonAlexander Hamilton2019Kobna Holdbrook-SmithTinaIke TurnerMarc AntolinLittle Shop of HorrorsSeymour KrelbornZubin VarlaFun HomeBruce BechdelKen WatanabeThe King and IThe King of Siam
2020s Year Actor Musical Character2020 Sam TuttyDear Evan Hansen Evan HansenAndy NymanFiddler on the Roof TevyeCharlie StempMary PoppinsBert Jac YarrowJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoseph 2021 Not presented due to extended closing of theatre productions during COVID-19 pandemic2022Eddie RedmayneCabaretEmceeOlly DobsonBack to the Future: The MusicalMarty McFlyArinzé KeneGet Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley MusicalBob MarleyRobert LindsayAnything GoesMoonface Martin2023Arthur DarvillOklahoma!Curly McLainAlon AbutbulThe Band's Visit Tewfiq Julian OvendenSouth PacificEmile de BecqueAndrew RannellsTammy FayeJim Bakker2024Tom FrancisSunset BoulevardJoe GillisDavid CummingOperation MincemeatCharles Cholmondeley, Doctor Pobil & OthersDaniel MaysGuys and DollsNathan DetroitCharlie StempCrazy for YouBobby Child2025John DagleishThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonBenjamin ButtonAdam DannheisserFiddler on the RoofTevyeMyles FrostMJ the MusicalMichael JacksonSimon LipkinOliver!FaginJamie MuscatoNatasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Anatole Kuragin2026James Hameed and Arti ShahPaddington: The MusicalPaddingtonMarc AntolinThe ProducersLeo BloomAndy NymanMax BialystockJamie ParkerInto The WoodsThe BakerDiego Andres RodriguezEvitaChe
Multiple awards and nominations for Best Actor Awards Three awards Philip Quast
Two awards Michael Ball Michael Crawford Robert Lindsay Daniel Evans John Dagleish
Nominations Four nominations Philip Quast
Three nominations Alun Armstrong Michael Crawford Daniel Evans Tim Flavin Henry Goodman Douglas Hodge Denis Lawson Robert Lindsay Clarke Peters Jonathan Pryce Charlie Stemp
Two nominations Michael Ball Ian Bartholomow Bertie Carvel Tim Curry Killian Donnelly Paul Keating Mark McGann Andy Nyman Marc Antolin Jamie Parker
Multiple awards and nominations for a character Awards 3 awards Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2 awards George from Sunday in the Park with George
Nominations 4 nominations Fagin from Oliver! Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
3 nominations Billy Flynn from Chicago Bobby Child from Crazy for You Curly McLain from Oklahoma! Emcee in Cabaret Emile de Becque from South Pacific Fred Graham from Kiss Me, Kate Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof
2 nominations Albin from La Cage aux Folles Bert from Mary Poppins George from Sunday in the Park with George Haywood Patterson from The Scottsboro Boys Joseph from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Mickey from Blood Brothers Sky Masterson from Guys and Dolls The Engineer from Miss Saigon The Pirate King from The Pirates of Penzance
See also Best Actor Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Lists of acting awards Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
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