During the mid 1950s the Academy split the Best Drama award into several categories, including (but not limited to) "One Hour or More", "Half Hour or Less", and "Western or Adventure Series". Each winner is indicated below.
| Year |
Comedy |
Drama |
Variety |
Lead Comedy Actor |
Lead Drama Actor |
Lead Comedy Actress |
Lead Drama Actress |
| 1950 |
Pulitzer Prize Playhouse |
The Alan Young Show (CBS) |
Alan Young (CBS) |
Gertrude Berg (CBS) |
| 1951 |
The Red Skelton Show (CBS) |
Studio One (CBS) |
Your Show of Shows (NBC) |
Sid Caesar (NBC) |
Imogene Coca (NBC) |
| 1952 |
I Love Lucy (CBS) |
Robert Montgomery Presents (NBC) |
Thomas Mitchell |
Helen Hayes |
| 1953 |
The U.S. Steel Hour (ABC), Dragnet (NBC) |
Omnibus (CBS) |
Donald O'Connor, Colgate Comedy Hour (NBC) |
Eve Arden, Our Miss Brooks, (CBS) |
| 1954 |
Make Room for Daddy (ABC) |
The U.S. Steel Hour (ABC), Dragnet (NBC), Stories of the Century (Syndicated) |
Disneyland (ABC) |
Danny Thomas, Make Room for Daddy (ABC) |
Loretta Young, The Loretta Young Show (NBC) |
| 1955 |
The Phil Silvers Show (CBS) |
Producers' Showcase (NBC) |
Toast of the Town (CBS) |
Phil Silvers, The Phil Silvers Show (CBS) |
Lucille Ball, I Love Lucy (CBS) |
| 1956 |
Playhouse 90 (CBS) |
The Phil Silvers Show (CBS) |
Sid Caesar, Caesar's Hour (NBC) |
Robert Young, Father Knows Best (CBS) |
Nanette Fabray, Caesar's Hour (NBC) |
Loretta Young, The Loretta Young Show (NBC) |
| 1957 |
Gunsmoke (CBS), Playhouse 90 (CBS) |
The Jack Paar Tonight Show (NBC) |
Robert Young, Father Knows Best (CBS) |
Jane Wyatt, Father Knows Best (CBS) |
| 1958-1959 |
The Jack Benny Show (CBS) |
The Alcoa Hour/Goodyear Television Playhouse (NBC), Playhouse 90 (CBS), Maverick (ABC) |
An Evening with Fred Astaire (NBC) |
Jack Benny, The Jack Benny Show (CBS) |
Raymond Burr, Perry Mason (CBS) |
Jane Wyatt, Father Knows Best (CBS) |
Loretta Young, The Loretta Young Show (NBC) |
| 1959-1960 |
Art Carney Special (NBC) |
Playhouse 90 (CBS) |
The Garry Moore Show (CBS) |
Robert Stack, The Untouchables (ABC) |
Jane Wyatt, Father Knows Best (CBS) |
| 1960-1961 |
The Jack Benny Show (CBS) |
Macbeth, Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC) |
Astaire Time (NBC) |
Raymond Burr, Perry Mason (CBS) |
Barbara Stanwyck, The Barbara Stanwyck Show (NBC) |
| 1961-1962 |
The Bob Newhart Show (NBC) |
The Defenders (CBS) |
The Garry Moore Show (CBS) |
E.G. Marshall, The Defenders (CBS) |
Shirley Booth, Hazel (NBC) |
| 1962-1963 |
The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) |
The Andy Williams Show (NBC) |
Jack Klugman, The Defenders (CBS) |
| 1963-1964 |
The Danny Kaye Show (CBS) |
Dick Van Dyke, The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) |
Mary Tyler Moore, The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) |
| 1964-1965 |
The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) |
no information |
Dick Van Dyke, The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS), four others (non regular series) |
| 1965-1966 |
The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) |
The Fugitive (ABC) |
The Andy Williams Show (NBC) |
Dick Van Dyke, The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) |
Bill Cosby, I Spy (NBC) |
Mary Tyler Moore, The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) |
Barbara Stanwyck, The Big Valley (ABC) |
| 1966-1967 |
The Monkees (NBC) |
Mission: Impossible (CBS) |
Don Adams, Get Smart (NBC) |
Lucille Ball, The Lucy Show (CBS) |
Barbara Bain, Mission: Impossible (CBS) |
| 1967-1968 |
Get Smart (NBC) |
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (NBC) |
| 1968-1969 |
NET Playhouse (NET) |
Carl Betz, Judd for the Defense (ABC) |
Hope Lange, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (ABC) |
| 1969-1970 |
My World and Welcome to It (NBC) |
Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC) |
The David Frost Show (Syndicated) |
William Windom, My World and Welcome to It (NBC) |
Robert Young, Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC) |
Susan Hampshire, The Forsyte Saga (NET) |
| 1970-1971 |
All in the Family (CBS) |
The Bold Ones: The Senator (NBC) |
Singer Presents Burt Bacharach (CBS) |
Jack Klugman, The Odd Couple (ABC) |
Hal Holbrook, The Bold Ones: The Senator (NBC) |
Jean Stapleton, All in the Family (CBS) |
Susan Hampshire, The First Churchills, (Masterpiece Theatre) (PBS) |
| 1971-1972 |
Elizabeth R, (Masterpiece Theatre) (PBS) |
The Carol Burnett Show (CBS) |
Carroll O'Connor, All in the Family (CBS) |
Peter Falk, Columbo (NBC) |
Glenda Jackson, Elizabeth R, (Masterpiece Theatre) |
| 1972-1973 |
The Waltons (CBS) |
The Julie Andrews Hour (ABC) |
Jack Klugman, The Odd Couple (ABC) |
Richard Thomas, The Waltons (CBS) |
Mary Tyler Moore, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) |
Michael Learned, The Waltons (CBS) |
| 1973-1974 |
M*A*S*H (CBS) |
Upstairs, Downstairs, (Masterpiece Theatre) (PBS) |
The Carol Burnett Show (CBS) |
Alan Alda, M*A*S*H (CBS) |
Telly Savalas, Kojak (CBS) |
| 1974-1975 |
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) |
Tony Randall, The Odd Couple (ABC) |
Robert Blake, Baretta (ABC) |
Valerie Harper, Rhoda (CBS) |
Jean Marsh, Upstairs, Downstairs, (Masterpiece Theatre) (PBS) |
| 1975-1976 |
Police Story (NBC) |
Saturday Night Live (NBC) |
Jack Albertson, Chico and the Man (NBC) |
Peter Falk, Columbo (NBC) |
Mary Tyler Moore, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) |
Michael Learned, The Waltons (CBS) |
| 1976-1977 |
Upstairs, Downstairs, (Masterpiece Theatre) (PBS) |
Van Dyke and Company (NBC) |
Carroll O'Connor, All in the Family (CBS) |
James Garner, The Rockford Files (NBC) |
Bea Arthur, Maude (CBS) |
Lindsay Wagner, The Bionic Woman (ABC) |
| 1977-1978 |
All in the Family (CBS) |
The Rockford Files (NBC) |
The Muppet Show (Syndicated) |
Edward Asner, Lou Grant (CBS) |
Jean Stapleton, All in the Family (CBS) |
Sada Thompson, Family (ABC) |
| 1978-1979 |
Taxi (ABC) |
Lou Grant (CBS) |
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin (NBC) |
Ron Leibman, Kaz (CBS) |
Ruth Gordon, Taxi (ABC) |
Mariette Hartley, The Incredible Hulk (CBS) |
| 1979-1980 |
Baryshnikov on Broadway (ABC) |
Richard Mulligan, Soap (ABC) |
Edward Asner, Lou Grant (CBS) |
Cathryn Damon, Soap (ABC) |
Barbara Bel Geddes, Dallas (CBS) |
| 1980-1981 |
Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
Lily: Sold Out (CBS) |
Judd Hirsch, Taxi (ABC) |
Daniel J. Travanti, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
Isabel Sanford, The Jeffersons (CBS) |
Barbara Babcock, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
| 1981-1982 |
Barney Miller (ABC) |
Night of 100 Stars (ABC) |
Alan Alda, M*A*S*H (CBS) |
Carol Kane, Taxi (ABC) |
Michael Learned, Nurse (CBS) |
| 1982-1983 |
Cheers (NBC) |
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (NBC) |
Judd Hirsch, Taxi (NBC) |
Ed Flanders, St. Elsewhere (NBC) |
Shelley Long, Cheers (NBC) |
Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1983-1984 |
Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) |
John Ritter, Three's Company (ABC) |
Tom Selleck, Magnum P.I. (CBS) |
Jane Curtin, Kate & Allie (CBS) |
| 1984-1985 |
The Cosby Show (NBC) |
Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
Motown Returns to the Apollo (NBC) |
Robert Guillaume, Benson (ABC) |
William Daniels, St. Elsewhere (NBC) |
| 1985-1986 |
The Golden Girls (NBC) |
Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) |
Michael J. Fox, Family Ties (NBC) |
Betty White, The Golden Girls (NBC) |
Sharon Gless, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1986-1987 |
L.A. Law (NBC) |
The 41st Annual Tony Awards (CBS) |
Bruce Willis, Moonlighting (ABC) |
Rue McClanahan, The Golden Girls (NBC) |
| 1987-1988 |
The Wonder Years (ABC) |
thirtysomething (ABC) |
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration (CBS) |
Richard Kiley, A Year in the Life (NBC) |
Bea Arthur, The Golden Girls (NBC) |
Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| 1988-1989 |
Cheers (NBC) |
L.A. Law (NBC) |
The Tracey Ullman Show (FOX) |
Richard Mulligan, Empty Nest (NBC) |
Carroll O'Connor, In the Heat of the Night (NBC) |
Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
Dana Delany, China Beach (ABC) |
| 1989-1990 |
Murphy Brown (CBS) |
In Living Color (FOX) |
Ted Danson, Cheers (NBC) |
Peter Falk, Columbo (ABC) |
Patricia Wettig, thirtysomething (ABC) |
| 1990-1991 |
Cheers (NBC) |
The 63rd Annual Academy Awards (ABC) |
Burt Reynolds, Evening Shade (CBS) |
James Earl Jones, Gabriel's Fire (ABC) |
Kirstie Alley, Cheers (NBC) |
| 1991-1992 |
Murphy Brown (CBS) |
Northern Exposure (CBS) |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC) |
Craig T. Nelson, Coach (ABC) |
Christopher Lloyd, Avonlea (Disney) |
Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
Dana Delany, China Beach (ABC) |
| 1992-1993 |
Seinfeld (NBC) |
Picket Fences (CBS) |
Saturday Night Live (NBC) |
Ted Danson, Cheers (NBC) |
Tom Skerritt, Picket Fences (CBS) |
Roseanne Arnold, Roseanne (ABC) |
Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| 1993-1994 |
Frasier (NBC) |
Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) |
Kelsey Grammer, Frasier (NBC) |
Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
Sela Ward, Sisters (NBC) |
| 1994-1995 |
NYPD Blue (ABC) |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC) |
Mandy Patinkin, Chicago Hope (CBS) |
Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| 1995-1996 |
ER (NBC) |
Dennis Miller Live (HBO) |
John Lithgow, 3rd Rock from the Sun (NBC) |
Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
Helen Hunt, Mad About You (NBC) |
| 1996-1997 |
Law & Order (NBC) |
Tracey Takes On... (HBO) |
Gillian Anderson, The X-Files (FOX) |
| 1997-1998 |
The Practice (ABC) |
Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) |
Kelsey Grammer, Frasier (NBC) |
Andre Braugher, Homicide: Life on the Street (NBC) |
Christine Lahti, Chicago Hope (CBS) |
| 1998-1999 |
Ally McBeal (FOX) |
John Lithgow, 3rd Rock from the Sun (NBC) |
Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| 1999-2000 |
Will & Grace (NBC) |
The West Wing (NBC) |
Michael J. Fox, Spin City (ABC) |
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) |
Sela Ward, Once and Again (ABC) |
| 2000-2001 |
Sex and the City (HBO) |
Eric McCormack, Will & Grace (NBC) |
Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| 2001-2002 |
Friends (NBC) |
Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) |
Michael Chiklis, The Shield (FX) |
Jennifer Aniston, Friends (NBC) |
Allison Janney, The West Wing (NBC) |
| 2002-2003 |
Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) |
The Daily Show (Comedy Central) |
Tony Shalhoub, Monk (USA) |
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
Debra Messing, Will & Grace (NBC) |
Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| 2003-2004 |
Arrested Development (FOX) |
The Sopranos (HBO) |
Kelsey Grammer, Frasier (NBC) |
James Spader, The Practice, Boston Legal (ABC) |
Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City (HBO) |
Allison Janney, The West Wing (NBC) |
| 2004-2005 |
Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) |
Lost (ABC) |
Tony Shalhoub, Monk (USA) |
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives (ABC) |
Patricia Arquette, Medium (NBC) |
| 2005-2006 |
The Office (NBC) |
24 (FOX) |
Kiefer Sutherland, 24 (FOX) |
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) |
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) |
