Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series


This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The award is presented to the best performance by a lead actor in a television comedy series. Beginning with 1966, leading actors in comedy have competed alone. However, these comedic performances included actors from miniseries, telefilms, and guest performers competing against main cast competitors. Such instances are marked below: # – Indicates a performance in a miniseries or television film, prior to the category's creation§ – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation
The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards are the first Emmys where there is no representation from any of the big four broadcast networks.

Programs with multiple awards

;4 winsAll in the FamilyFrasierThe Big Bang Theory
;3 wins3rd Rock from the SunGet SmartThe Odd CoupleFamily TiesMonk
;2 wins30 RockBarryThe BearThe DefendersThe Dick Van Dyke ShowM*A*S*HTaxiCheersTed Lasso

Performers with multiple wins

;4 wins
;3 wins
;2 wins

Programs with multiple nominations

;11 nominationsCheersM*A*S*H
;10 nominationsFrasierThe Odd Couple
;8 nominationsAll in the FamilyMonk
;7 nominations30 RockBarney MillerBlack-ishThe Big Bang TheoryCurb Your EnthusiasmRoseanne
;6 nominations3rd Rock from the SunEverybody Loves RaymondThe OfficeOnly Murders in the BuildingMad About YouShameless
;5 nominationsBensonThe Larry Sanders ShowLouieSeinfeldTaxiTwo and a Half Men
;4 nominationsBarryThe Bob Cummings ShowThe Danny Thomas ShowThe Dick Van Dyke ShowEpisodesFamily AffairFamily TiesFriendsGet SmartHouse of LiesThe Phil Silvers ShowSpin CityWill & Grace
;3 nominationsAtlantaThe BearChico and the ManCoachEmpty NestFather Knows BestThe Good PlaceHappy DaysThe Kominsky MethodNewhartNight CourtSanford and SonThree's CompanyTed LassoTransparent
;2 nominationsArrested DevelopmentThe Bernie Mac ShowBlack MondayBuffalo BillCrazy Like a FoxThe DefendersDragnetEvening ShadeHenneseyHogan's HeroesThe Jack Benny ProgramThe Jackie Gleason ShowThe Last Man on EarthMaster of NoneNaked CityPerry MasonSchitt's CreekShrinkingSoapThe Wonder Years

Performers with multiple nominations

;14 nominations
;11 nominations
;8 nominations
;7 nominations
;6 nominations
;5 nominations
;4 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations
refers to those who have won in this category

Total awards by network

  • NBC – 26
  • CBS – 19
  • ABC – 11
  • HBO/HBO Max – 3
  • USA – 3
  • Amazon – 2
  • Apple TV+ – 2
  • FX – 1
  • Pop TV - 1