The Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama is an award presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). This Golden Globe Award honors the best performance by an actor in a drama television series.
It was first awarded at the 19th Golden Globe Awards on March 5, 1962 to John Charles Daly and Bob Newhart under the title "Best TV Star – Male". In 1969, the award was presented under the new title "Best TV Actor – Drama"; its current title has been used since 1980. The nominees for the award have been announced annually since 1963.
Noah Wyle is the current recipient of the award for his portrayal of Michael Robinavitch in The Pitt. Ed Asner, John Forsythe, Jon Hamm, Hugh Laurie and Telly Savalas have won the most awards in this category, each winning twice. Peter Falk and Tom Selleck have both been nominated seven times each, for their respective roles on Columbo and Magnum, P.I..
Winners and nominees
Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees. Key Meaning Indicates the winning actor.
1960s + Year Actor Role Program Network RefBest TV Star – Male 1961 (19th) John Charles Daly Bob Newhart 1962 (20th) Richard Chamberlain James Kildare Dr. Kildare NBC 1963 (21st) Mickey Rooney Mickey Grady Mickey ABC Richard Boone Various Characters The Richard Boone Show NBC Jackie Gleason Various Characters American Scene Magazine CBS Lorne Greene Ben Cartwright Bonanza NBC E.G. Marshall Lawrence Preston The Defenders CBS 1964 (22nd) Gene Barry Amos Burke Burke's Law ABC Richard Crenna James Slattery Slattery's People CBS James Franciscus John Novak Mr. Novak NBC David Janssen Richard Kimble The Fugitive ABC Robert Vaughn Napoleon Solo The Man from U.N.C.L.E. NBC 1965 (23rd) David Janssen Richard Kimble The Fugitive ABC Ben Gazzara Paul Bryan Run for Your Life NBC David McCallum Illya Kuryakin The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Robert Vaughn Napoleon Solo 1966 (24th) Dean Martin Various characters The Dean Martin Show NBC Bill Cosby Alexander Scott I Spy NBC Robert Culp Kelly Robinson Ben Gazzara Paul Bryan Run for Your Life Christopher George Sam Troy The Rat Patrol ABC 1967 (25th) Martin Landau Rollin Hand Mission: Impossible CBS Brendon Boone Chief Garrison's Gorillas ABC Ben Gazzara Paul Bryan Run for Your Life NBC Dean Martin Various characters The Dean Martin Show Andy Williams Various characters The Andy Williams Show 1968 (26th) Carl Betz Clinton Judd Judd, for the Defense ABC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside Ironside NBC Peter Graves Jim Phelps Mission: Impossible CBS Dean Martin Various characters The Dean Martin Show NBC Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Lewis Erskine The F.B.I. ABCBest TV Actor – Drama 1969 (27th) Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS Peter Graves Jim Phelps Mission: Impossible CBS Lloyd Haynes Pete Dixion Room 222 ABC Robert Wagner Alexander Mundy It Takes a Thief Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D.
1970s + Year Actor Role Program Network Ref 1970 (28th) Peter Graves Jim Phelps Mission: Impossible CBS Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS Chad Everett Dr. Joe Gannon Medical Center Burt Reynolds Lt. Dan August Dan August ABC Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. 1971 (29th) Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC Raymond Burr Robert T. Ironside Ironside NBC Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS William Conrad Frank Cannon Cannon Peter Falk Lt. Columbo Columbo NBC 1972 (30th) Peter Falk Lt. Columbo Columbo NBC Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS William Conrad Frank Cannon Cannon Chad Everett Dr. Joe Gannon Medical Center David Hartman Dr. Paul Hunter The Bold Ones: The New Doctors NBC Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC 1973 (31st) James Stewart Billy Jim Hawkins Hawkins NBC David Carradine Kwai Chang Caine Kung Fu ABC Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS Peter Falk Lt. Columbo Columbo NBC Richard Thomas John-Boy Walton The Waltons CBS Robert Young Dr. Marcus Welby Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC 1974 (32nd) Telly Savalas Lt. Theo Kojak Kojak CBS Mike Connors Joe Mannix Mannix CBS Michael Douglas Steve Keller The Streets of San Francisco ABC Peter Falk Lt. Columbo Columbo NBC Richard Thomas John-Boy Walton The Waltons CBS 1975 (33rd) Robert Blake Tony Baretta Baretta ABC Telly Savalas Lt. Theo Kojak Kojak CBS Peter Falk Lt. Columbo Columbo NBC Karl Malden Mike Stone The Streets of San Francisco ABC Barry Newman Anthony J. Petrocelli Petrocelli NBC 1976 (34th) Richard Jordan Joseph Armagh Captains and the Kings NBC Lee Majors Steve Austin The Six Million Dollar Man ABC Nick Nolte Tom Jordache Rich Man, Poor Man Telly Savalas Lt. Theo Kojak Kojak CBS Peter Strauss Rudy Jordache Rich Man, Poor Man ABC 1977 (35th) Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS Robert Conrad Gregory "Pappy" Boyington Baa Baa Black Sheep NBC Peter Falk Lt. Columbo Columbo James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files Telly Savalas Lt. Theo Kojak Kojak CBS 1978 (36th) Michael Moriarty Eric Dorf Holocaust NBC Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files NBC Richard Hatch Captain Apollo Battlestar Galactica ABC John Houseman Professor Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr. The Paper Chase CBS Michael Landon Charles Ingalls Little House on the Prairie NBC 1979 (37th) Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS Richard Chamberlain Alexander McKeag Centennial NBC Erik Estrada Officer Francis Llewellyn 'Ponch' Poncherello CHiPs James Garner Jim Rockford The Rockford Files John Houseman Professor Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr. The Paper Chase CBS Martin Sheen John Dean Blind Ambition Robert Urich Dan Tanna Vega$ ABC Robert Wagner Jonathan Hart Hart to Hart
Best Actor – Television Series Drama
1980s + Year Actor Role Program Network Ref 1980 (38th) Richard Chamberlain John Blackthorne Shōgun NBC Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS Larry Hagman J. R. Ewing Dallas Robert Urich Dan Tanna Vega$ ABC Robert Wagner Jonathan Hart Hart to Hart 1981 (39th) Daniel J. Travanti Capt. Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues NBC Ed Asner Lou Grant Lou Grant CBS John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC Larry Hagman J. R. Ewing Dallas CBS Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. 1982 (40th) John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC Larry Hagman J. R. Ewing Dallas CBS Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. Daniel J. Travanti Capt. Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues NBC Robert Wagner Jonathan Hart Hart to Hart ABC 1983 (41st) John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC James Brolin Peter McDermott Hotel ABC Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS Daniel J. Travanti Capt. Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues NBC Robert Wagner Jonathan Hart Hart to Hart ABC 1984 (42nd) Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS James Brolin Peter McDermott Hotel ABC John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty Larry Hagman J. R. Ewing Dallas CBS Stacy Keach Mike Hammer Mike Hammer Daniel J. Travanti Capt. Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues NBC 1985 (43rd) Don Johnson Sonny Crockett Miami Vice NBC John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS Philip Michael Thomas Ricardo Tubbs Miami Vice NBC Daniel J. Travanti Capt. Frank Furillo Hill Street Blues 1986 (44th) Edward Woodward Robert McCall The Equalizer CBS William Devane Greg Sumner Knots Landing CBS John Forsythe Blake Carrington Dynasty ABC Don Johnson Sonny Crockett Miami Vice NBC Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS 1987 (45th) Richard Kiley Joe Gardner A Year in the Life NBC Harry Hamlin Michael Kuzak L.A. Law NBC Tom Selleck Thomas Magnum Magnum, P.I. CBS Michael Tucker Stuart Markowitz L.A. Law NBC Edward Woodward Robert McCall The Equalizer CBS 1988 (46th) Ron Perlman Vincent Beauty and the Beast CBS Corbin Bernsen Arnie Becker L.A. Law NBC Harry Hamlin Michael Kuzak Carroll O'Connor Chief Bill Gillespie In the Heat of the Night Ken Wahl Vinnie Terranova Wiseguy CBS 1989 (47th) Ken Wahl Vinnie Terranova Wiseguy CBS Corbin Bernsen Arnie Becker L.A. Law NBC Harry Hamlin Michael Kuzak Carroll O'Connor Chief Bill Gillespie In the Heat of the Night Ken Olin Michael Steadman thirtysomething ABC
1990s + Year Actor Role Program Network Ref 1990 (48th) Kyle MacLachlan Dale Cooper Twin Peaks ABC Scott Bakula Sam Beckett Quantum Leap NBC Peter Falk Lt. Columbo Columbo ABC James Earl Jones Gabriel Bird Gabriel's Fire Carroll O'Connor Chief Bill Gillespie In the Heat of the Night NBC 1991 (49th) Scott Bakula Sam Beckett Quantum Leap NBC Mark Harmon Dickie Cobb Reasonable Doubts NBC James Earl Jones Gabriel Bird Gabriel's Fire ABC Rob Morrow Joel Fleischman Northern Exposure CBS Carroll O'Connor Chief Bill Gillespie In the Heat of the Night NBC Sam Waterston Forrest Bedford I'll Fly Away 1992 (50th) Sam Waterston Forrest Bedford I'll Fly Away NBC Scott Bakula Sam Beckett Quantum Leap NBC Mark Harmon Dickie Cobb Reasonable Doubts Rob Morrow Joel Fleischman Northern Exposure CBS Jason Priestley Brandon Walsh Beverly Hills, 90210 Fox 1993 (51st) David Caruso John Kelly NYPD Blue ABC Michael Moriarty Benjamin Stone Law & Order NBC Rob Morrow Joel Fleischman Northern Exposure CBS Carroll O'Connor Bill Gillespie In the Heat of the Night Tom Skerritt Jimmy Brock Picket Fences 1994 (52nd) Dennis Franz Andy Sipowicz NYPD Blue ABC Mandy Patinkin Jeffrey Geiger Chicago Hope CBS Jason Priestley Brandon Walsh Beverly Hills, 90210 Fox Tom Skerritt Jimmy Brock Picket Fences CBS Sam Waterston Jack McCoy Law & Order NBC 1995 (53rd) Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone NYPD Blue ABC Daniel Benzali Theodore Hoffman Murder One ABC George Clooney Doug Ross ER NBC David Duchovny Fox Mulder The X-Files Fox Anthony Edwards Mark Greene ER NBC 1996 (54th) David Duchovny Fox Mulder The X-Files Fox George Clooney Doug RossER NBC Anthony Edwards Mark Greene Lance Henriksen Frank Black Millennium Fox Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone NYPD Blue ABC 1997 (55th) Anthony Edwards Mark Greene ER NBC Kevin Anderson Francis Xavier Reyneaux Nothing Sacred ABC George Clooney Doug Ross ER NBC David Duchovny Fox Mulder The X-Files Fox Lance Henriksen Frank Black Millennium 1998 (56th) Dylan McDermott Bobby Donnell The Practice ABC David Duchovny Fox Mulder The X-Files Fox Anthony Edwards Mark Greene ER NBC Lance Henriksen Frank Black Millennium Fox Jimmy Smits Bobby Simone NYPD Blue ABC 1999 (57th) James Gandolfini Tony Soprano The Sopranos HBO Billy Campbell Rick Sammler Once and Again ABC Rob Lowe Sam Seaborn The West Wing NBC Dylan McDermott Bobby Donnell The Practice ABC Martin Sheen Josiah Bartlet The West Wing NBC
2000s