Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series


The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a guest starring role on a television drama series for the primetime network season.
The award was first presented at the 27th Primetime Emmy Awards on May 19, 1975 to Patrick McGoohan for his performance on Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light. It has undergone several name changes, originally honoring leading and supporting actors in single appearances on drama and comedy series through 1978. The award was reintroduced at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards under the name Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series, honoring actors and actresses in guest starring roles on television drama series. In 1989, the category was split into categories for each gender, resulting in the name change to its current title.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 35 actors. Bradley Whitford is the current recipient of the award for his role of Joseph Lawrence on The Handmaid's Tale. Charles S. Dutton, John Lithgow and Patrick McGoohan have won the most awards in this category with two each. Michael J. Fox has been nominated for the award on seven occasions, the most within the category.

Winners and nominees

Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees.
KeyMeaning
Indicates the winning actor.

was the first recipient of the award for his guest performance on Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light.
won the award in 1977 for his work on Roots.
won the award in both lead and supporting actor categories for his work on Rich Man, Poor Man and Roots.
received nominations in both categories in 1978 for his performances on Love Boat and Eight is Enough.
won the award in 1978 in the lead actor category for his guest appearance on Lou Grant.
won the 1991 award for his guest role on Gabriel's Fire.
won the award for his work on Tribeca.
and Crime & Punishment.
won in 1994 for his guest appearance on Picket Fences.
won the award for his role as Clyde Bruckman on The X-Files.
won the 1998 award for his guest performance on The Practice.
won in 2000 for his guest appearance on The Practice.
won in 2002 for his appearance on The Practice, the fifth consecutive win for the program in this category, and in 2003 for his performance on Without a Trace.
's 2004 win gave The Practice its six win in the category.
won in 2005 for his guest performance on ER.
won the award for his guest role as Judge Robert Bebe on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
won in 2008 for his guest appearance on In Treatment.
won the 2009 award for his performance on Rescue Me.
received two nominations in this category for his performance on Damages.
tied with Charles S. Dutton and Patrick McGoohan for the most awards in the category, winning twice for his performances on Amazing Stories and Dexter.
won the 2011 award for his guest role on Justified.
won the award for his portrayal of Rowan Pope on Scandal.
won in 2016 for his performance on Ray Donovan''.

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Performers with multiple wins

;2 wins
;6 awards
;2 awards
;7 nominations
;5 nominations
;4 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations
;14 nominations
;11 nominations
;10 nominations
;8 nominations
;7 nominations
;6 nominations
;5 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations