The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming was an Emmy award given to performers in television programming. During the 1970s and 1980s, guest performers in dramatic specials and regular performers on children's series competed in the same category. However, starting in 1989, separate categories for performances in children's series and performances in children's specials were created and used until after 2007 when all categories related to Children's Specials were dropped.
The youngest Emmy nominee, Jodelle Ferland, was nominated in this category in 2001 at the age of six. The youngest Emmy winner, Bindi Irwin, won in 2008 at age nine.
In November 2021, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that all Daytime Emmy categories honoring children's programming will be retired in favor of a separate Children's & Family Emmy Awards ceremony, to be held starting in 2022.
Winners and Nominees Winners in bold. For "Individual Achievement" categories, only nominees relevant to this page are listed.
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming 1975 Bill Cosby - Highlights of Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus (NBC) Robert Keeshan - Captain Kangaroo (CBS) 1978 Tom Aldredge - The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People ("Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare") (CBS) 1979 Jack Gilford - Big Blue Marble ("Hello in There") (SYN) Geraldine Fitzgerald - Special Treat ("Rodeo Red and the Runaways") (NBC) Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt - Sesame Street (PBS) 1980 Maia Danziger - ABC Afterschool Special ("The Late Great Me! Story of a Teenage Alcoholic") (ABC) Butterfly McQueen - ABC Afterschool Special ("Seven Wishes of a Rich Kid") (ABC) Melissa Sue Anderson - ABC Afterschool Special ("Which Mother Is Mine?") (ABC) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Robert Keeshan - Captain Kangaroo (CBS) René Auberjonois - CBS Library ("Once Upon a Midnight Dreary") (CBS) 1981 Danny Aiello - ABC Afterschool Special ("A Family of Strangers") (ABC) Bill Cosby - Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (CBS) Ken Howard - The Body Human ("Facts for Boys") (CBS) Marlo Thomas - The Body Human ("Facts for Girls") (CBS) Scott Baio - ABC Afterschool Special ("Stoned") (ABC) Hal Linden - Animals, Animals, Animals ("Llama") (ABC) Julie Andrews - The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People ("Julie Andrews' Invitation to the Dance with Rudolf Nureyev") (CBS) Bill Bixby - Once Upon a Classic ("A Tale Of Two Cities") (PBS)
Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming 1982 Robert Keeshan - Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Mike Farrell - The Body Human ("Becoming a Man") (CBS) Cicely Tyson - The Body Human ("Becoming a Woman") (CBS) Rita Moreno - CBS Library ("Orphans, Waifs and Wards") (CBS) 1983 Cloris Leachman - ABC Afterschool Special ("The Woman Who Willed a Miracle") (ABC) Kevin Dobson - CBS Afternoon Playhouse ("Help Wanted") (CBS) Lynn Redgrave - CBS Afternoon Playhouse ("The Shooting") (CBS) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Molly Picon - Young People's Specials ("Grandma Didn't Wave Back") (SYN) 1984 Dick Van Dyke - CBS Library ("The Wrong Way Kid") (CBS) Carrie Snodgress - ABC Afterschool Special ("Andrea's Story: A Hitchhiking Tragedy") (ABC) Robert Keeshan - Captain Kangaroo (CBS) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) 1985 John Carradine - Young People's Specials ("Umbrella Jack") (SYN) Scott Baio - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("All the Kids Do It") (CBS) Betty Buckley - Special Treat ("Bobby and Sarah") (NBC) Richard Pryor - Pryor's Place (CBS) Lily Tomlin - Pryor's Place (CBS) 1986 Pearl Bailey - ABC Afterschool Special ("Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale") (ABC) Michael York - ABC Afterschool Special ("Are You My Mother?") (ABC) Beau Bridges - ABC Afterschool Special ("Can a Guy Say No?") (ABC) Drew Barrymore - ABC Weekend Specials ("The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn") (ABC) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) 1987 Madeline Kahn - ABC Afterschool Special ("Wanted: The Perfect Guy") (ABC) Adolph Caesar - ABC Afterschool Special ("Getting Even: A Wimp's Revenge") (ABC) Ruth Buzzi - The Berenstain Bears (CBS) Paul Reubens - Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) 1988 Philip Bosco - ABC Afterschool Special ("Read Between The Lines") (ABC) Uta Hagen - ABC Afterschool Special ("Seasonal Differences") (ABC) James Earl Jones - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Soldier Boys") (CBS) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Paul Reubens - Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS)
Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special 1989 Dana Barron - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("No Means No") (CBS) Betty Buckley - ABC Afterschool Special ("Taking a Stand") (ABC) Whoopi Goldberg - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("My Past Is My Own") (CBS) Lori Loughlin - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("No Means No") (CBS) Chad Lowe - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("No Means No") (CBS) 1990 Greg Spottiswood - Looking for Miracles (Disney Channel) Elizabeth Bliss - ABC Afterschool Special ("Torn Between Two Fathers") (ABC) Elizabeth Franz - ABC Afterschool Special ("A Town's Revenge") (ABC) Viveca Lindfors - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("A Matter of Conscience") (CBS) Zachary Bennett - Looking for Miracles (Disney Channel) 1991 Joanne Vannicola - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Maggie's Secret") (CBS) Robyn Lively - ABC Afterschool Special ("The Less Than Perfect Daughter") (ABC) Richard Murphy - ABC Afterschool Special ("The Perfect Date") (ABC) Lycia Naff - ABC Afterschool Special ("The Perfect Date") (ABC) Christopher Rydell - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Lies of the Heart") (CBS) 1992 Josh Hamilton - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Abby, My Love") (CBS) Stephanie Yu and Z. Wright - 3-2-1 Contact ("Secrets of the Code") (PBS) Alison Bartlett - ABC Afterschool Special ("It's Only Rock & Roll") (ABC) Matt McGrath - ABC Afterschool Special ("It's Only Rock & Roll") (ABC) Cara Buono - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Abby, My Love") (CBS) 1993 Dina Waters - Lifestories: Families in Crisis ("Public Law 106: The Becky Bell Story") (HBO) Stephanie Yu and Z. Wright - 3-2-1 Contact ("Get Busy: How Kids Can Save The Planet") (PBS) Monica Calhoun - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love") (CBS) Duane Martin - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love") (CBS) Noelle Parker - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love") (CBS) 1994 Justin Whalin - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Other Mothers") (CBS) Don Murray - ABC Afterschool Special ("Montana Crossroads") (ABC) Christopher Miranda - ABC Weekend Special ("William Saroyan's The Parsley Garden") (ABC) Meredith Baxter - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Other Mothers") (CBS) Joanna Cassidy - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Other Mothers") (CBS) 1995 Hal Linden - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("The Writing on The Wall") (CBS) Peter Billingsley - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("The Writing on The Wall") (CBS) Aeryk Egan - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("The Writing on The Wall") (CBS) Missy Crider - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Love in the Dark Ages") (CBS) Ben Affleck - Lifestories: Families in Crisis ("A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story") (HBO) Alan Thicke - The Trial of Red Riding Hood (Disney Channel) 1996 Kate Burton - ABC Afterschool Specials ("Notes for My Daughter") (ABC) Kristen Cloke - ABC Afterschool Special ("Long Road Home") (ABC) Grace Johnston - ABC Afterschool Special ("Notes for My Daughter") (ABC) Lindsay Crouse - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Between Mother and Daughter") (CBS) C. Fraser Press - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Stand Up") (CBS) Patti LuPone - The Song Spinner (Showtime) 1997 Donna Murphy - Lifestories: Families in Crisis ("Someone Had to be Benny") (HBO) Sam McMurray - ABC Afterschool Special ("Teenage Confidential") (ABC) Michael Shulman - Lifestories: Families in Crisis ("Someone Had to be Benny") (HBO) Paul Winfield - The Legend of Gator Face (Showtime) Brent Carver - Whiskers (Showtime) 1998 Robert Ri'chard - In His Father's Shoes (Showtime) Louis Gossett Jr. - In His Father's Shoes (Showtime) Pat Carroll - The Royale (AMC) 1999 Jordan Kiziuk - The Island on Bird Street (Showtime) Kenneth Welsh - Edison: The Wizard of Light (HBO) Michal Suchánek - Edison: The Wizard of Light (HBO) Diahann Carroll - The Sweetest Gift (Showtime) Keith David - The Tiger Woods Story (Showtime) 2000 James Earl Jones - Summer's End (Showtime) Debbie Reynolds - A Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story (Showtime) Marc Donato - Locked in Silence (Showtime) Bonnie Bedelia - Locked in Silence (Showtime) Hume Cronyn - Sea People (Showtime) 2001 Ossie Davis - Finding Buck McHenry (Showtime) Ellen Burstyn - Mermaid (Showtime) Jodelle Ferland - Mermaid (Showtime) Peter Falk - A Storm in Summer (Showtime) Alfre Woodard - The Wishing Tree (Showtime) 2002 Kelsey Keel - My Louisiana Sky (Showtime) Kevin Clash - Elmo's World: The Wild Wild West (PBS) Juliette Lewis - My Louisiana Sky (Showtime) Hume Cronyn - Off Season (Showtime) Stephen Rea - Snow in August (Showtime) 2003 Ben Foster - Bang Bang You're Dead (Showtime) Tom Cavanagh - Bang Bang You're Dead (Showtime) Bernadette Peters - Bobbie's Girl (Showtime) Vanessa Williams - Our America (Showtime) Gregory Hines - The Red Sneakers (Showtime)
Outstanding Performer in a Children/Youth/Family Special 2004 Gena Rowlands - The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie (Showtime) James Caan - The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie (Showtime) Rubén Blades - The Maldonado Miracle (Showtime) Peter Fonda - The Maldonado Miracle (Showtime) Mare Winningham - The Maldonado Miracle (Showtime) 2005 Stockard Channing - Jack (Showtime) Jane Alexander - Carry Me Home (Showtime) Ron Silver - Jack (Showtime) Hume Cronyn - A Separate Peace (Showtime) 2006 James McDaniel - Edge of America (Showtime) Tim Daly - Edge of America (Showtime) 2007 Eion Bailey - Life of the Party (Lifetime) Kera O'Bryon - Assignment Discovery ("Christmas and the Civil War") (Discovery Channel) Elijah Wood - Saving a Species ("The Great Penguin Rescue") (Discovery Kids)
Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series (1989-2014) 1989 Jim Varney - Hey Vern, It's Ernest! (CBS) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Barbara Billingsley - Muppet Babies (CBS) Sonia Manzano - Sesame Street (PBS) Ringo Starr - Shining Time Station (PBS) 1990 Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) Barbara Billingsley - Muppet Babies (CBS) Paul Reubens - Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) 1991 Tim Curry - Peter Pan & the Pirates (FOX) Edward Asner - Captain Planet and the Planeteers (TBS) Whoopi Goldberg - Captain Planet and the Planeteers (TBS) Paul Reubens - Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) 1992 Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) Sonia Manzano - Sesame Street (PBS) George Carlin - Shining Time Station (PBS) 1993 Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) John Astin - The Addams Family (ABC) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) Jerry Nelson - Sesame Street (PBS) 1994 Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) Ruth Buzzi - Sesame Street (PBS) George Carlin - Shining Time Station (PBS) Lynne Thigpen - Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1995 Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) Martin P. Robinson - Sesame Street (PBS) Lynne Thigpen - Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (PBS) 1996 Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS) LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS) Angela Bassett - Storytime (PBS) James McDaniel - Storytime (PBS)