For several years in the late 1950s and early 1960s the Academy did not differentiate between comedies and dramas in the individual performance categories, issuing only a catch-all "Best Continuing Performance" or "Outstanding (Actor/Actress) in a Series".
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 |
| 1949 |
Pantomime Quiz (Most Popular Television Program)
(KTLA)
The Necklace (Best Film Made for Television)
(Your Show Time series) |
Shirley Dinsdale (Most Outstanding Television Personality)
(KTLA) |
| 1950 |
Texaco Star Theatre
(KNBH) |
The Ed Wynn Show
(KTTV) |
Milton Berle (Most Outstanding Kinescoped Personality)
(KNBH)
Ed Wynn (Most Outstanding Live Personality)
(KTTV) |
| 1951 |
Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
(ABC) |
The Alan Young Show
(CBS) |
Alan Young
(CBS) |
Gertrude Berg
(CBS) |
| 1952 |
The Red Skelton Show
(CBS) |
Studio One
(CBS) |
Your Show of Shows
(NBC) |
Red Skelton
(NBC) |
Sid Caesar
(NBC) |
Imogene Coca
(NBC) |
| 1953 |
I Love Lucy
(CBS) |
Robert Montgomery Presents
(NBC) |
Jimmy Durante
(NBC) |
Thomas Mitchell |
Lucille Ball
(CBS) |
Helen Hayes |
| 1954 |
The U.S. Steel Hour
(ABC)
Dragnet
(NBC) |
Omnibus
(CBS) |
Donald O'Connor
Colgate Comedy Hour
(NBC) |
Eve Arden
Our Miss Brooks
(CBS) |
| 1955 |
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) |
| 1956 |
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) |
| 1957 |
Playhouse 90
(CBS) |
no award given |
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) |
| 1958 |
Gunsmoke
(CBS)
Playhouse 90
(CBS) |
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
(NBC) |
Robert Young
Father Knows Best
(CBS) |
Jane Wyatt
Father Knows Best
(CBS) |
| 1959 |
The Jack Benny Show
(CBS) |
The Alcoa Hour/Goodyear Television Playhouse
(NBC)
Playhouse 90
(CBS)
Maverick
(ABC) |
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
(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) |
| 1960 |
Art Carney Special
(NBC) |
Playhouse 90
(CBS) |
The Garry Moore Show
(CBS) |
Robert Stack
The Untouchables
(ABC) |
Jane Wyatt
Father Knows Best
(CBS) |
| 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) |
| 1962 |
The Bob Newhart Show
(NBC) |
The Defenders
(CBS) |
The Garry Moore Show
(CBS) |
E.G. Marshall
The Defenders
(CBS) |
Shirley Booth
Hazel
(NBC) |
| 1963 |
The Dick Van Dyke Show
(CBS) |
The Andy Williams Show
(NBC) |
Jack Klugman
The Defenders
(CBS) |
| 1964 |
The Danny Kaye Show
(CBS) |
Dick Van Dyke
The Dick Van Dyke Show
(CBS) |
Mary Tyler Moore
The Dick Van Dyke Show
(CBS) |
| 1965 |
none awarded |
Dick Van Dyke
The Dick Van Dyke Show
(CBS), four others (non regular series) |
| 1966 |
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) |
| 1967 |
The Monkees
(NBC) |
Mission: Impossible
(CBS) |
Don Adams
Get Smart
(NBC) |
Lucille Ball
The Lucy Show
(CBS) |
Barbara Bain
Mission: Impossible
(CBS) |
| 1968 |
Get Smart
(NBC) |
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
(NBC) |
| 1969 |
NET Playhouse
(NET) |
Carl Betz, Judd for the Defense
(ABC) |
Hope Lange
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir
(ABC) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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)
(PBS) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 1980 |
Baryshnikov on Broadway
(ABC) |
Richard Mulligan
Soap
(ABC) |
Edward Asner
Lou Grant
(CBS) |
Cathryn Damon
Soap
(ABC) |
Barbara Bel Geddes
Dallas
(CBS) |
| 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) |
| 1982 |
Barney Miller
(ABC) |
Night of 100 Stars
(ABC) |
Alan Alda
M*A*S*H
(CBS) |
Carol Kane
Taxi
(ABC) |
Michael Learned
Nurse
(CBS) |
| 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) |
| 1984 |
Kennedy Center Honors
(CBS) |
John Ritter
Three's Company
(ABC) |
Tom Selleck
Magnum, P.I.
(CBS) |
Jane Curtin
Kate & Allie
(CBS) |
| 1985 |
The Cosby Show
(NBC) |
Cagney & Lacey
(CBS) |
Motown Returns to the Apollo
(NBC) |
Robert Guillaume
Benson
(ABC) |
William Daniels
St. Elsewhere
(NBC) |
| 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) |
| 1987 |
L.A. Law
(NBC) |
The 41st Annual Tony Awards
(CBS) |
Bruce Willis
Moonlighting
(ABC) |
Rue McClanahan
The Golden Girls
(NBC) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 1990 |
Murphy Brown
(CBS) |
In Living Color
(Fox) |
Ted Danson
Cheers
(NBC) |
Peter Falk
Columbo
(ABC) |
Patricia Wettig
thirtysomething
(ABC) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 1993 |
Seinfeld
(NBC) |
Picket Fences
(CBS) |
Saturday Night Live
(NBC) |
Ted Danson
Cheers
(NBC) |
Tom Skerritt
Picket Fences
(CBS) |
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne
(ABC) |
Kathy Baker
Picket Fences
(CBS) |
| 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) |
| 1995 |
NYPD Blue
(ABC) |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(NBC) |
Mandy Patinkin
Chicago Hope
(CBS) |
Kathy Baker
Picket Fences
(CBS) |
| 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) |
| 1997 |
Law & Order
(NBC) |
Tracey Takes On...
(HBO) |
Gillian Anderson
The X-Files
(Fox) |
| 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) |
| 1999 |
Ally McBeal
(Fox) |
John Lithgow
3rd Rock from the Sun
(NBC) |
Dennis Franz
NYPD Blue
(ABC) |
Edie Falco
The Sopranos
(HBO) |
| 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) |
| 2001 |
Sex and the City
(HBO) |
Eric McCormack
Will & Grace
(NBC) |
Edie Falco
The Sopranos
(HBO) |
| 2002 |
Friends
(NBC) |
Ray Romano
Everybody Loves Raymond
(CBS) |
Michael Chiklis
The Shield
(FX) |
Jennifer Aniston
Friends
(NBC) |
Allison Janney
The West Wing
(NBC) |
| 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) |
| 2004 |
Arrested Development
(Fox) |
The Sopranos
(HBO) |
Kelsey Grammer
Frasier
(NBC) |
James Spader
The Practice
(ABC) |
Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City (HBO) |
Allison Janney, The West Wing (NBC) |
| 2005 |
Everybody Loves Raymond
(CBS) |
Lost
(ABC) |
Tony Shalhoub
Monk
(USA) |
James Spader
Boston Legal
(ABC) |
Felicity Huffman
Desperate Housewives
(ABC) |
Patricia Arquette
Medium
(NBC) |
| 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) |
| 2007 |
30 Rock
(NBC) |
The Sopranos
(HBO) |
Ricky Gervais
Extras
(BBC/HBO) |
James Spader
Boston Legal
(ABC) |
America Ferrera
Ugly Betty
(ABC) |
Sally Field
Brothers & Sisters
(ABC) |
| 2008 |
Mad Men
(AMC) |
Alec Baldwin
30 Rock
(NBC) |
Bryan Cranston
Breaking Bad
(AMC) |
Tina Fey
30 Rock
(NBC) |
Glenn Close
Damages
(FX) |
| 2009 |
Toni Collette
United States of Tara
(Showtime) |
| 2010 |
Modern Family
(ABC) |
Jim Parsons
The Big Bang Theory
(CBS) |
Edie Falco
Nurse Jackie
(Showtime) |
Kyra Sedgwick
The Closer
(TNT) |
| 2011 |
Kyle Chandler
Friday Night Lights
(DirecTV) |
Melissa McCarthy
Mike and Molly
(CBS) |
Julianna Margulies
The Good Wife
(CBS) |