Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series is an award presented annually by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).

It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the daytime drama industry.

In 1979, Al Freeman, Jr. became the first African-American to have garnered the award, winning for his role as Ed Hall on One Life to Live.

In 2008, Anthony Geary became the actor with the most wins in the category when he won for a sixth time, surpassing David Canary's previous record.

As of the 2024 ceremony, Thorsten Kaye is the most recent winner in this category for his portrayal of Ridge Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful.

A man with dark hair, wearing a suit including a tie.
Macdonald Carey won two from three nominations for his role as Tom Horton on Days of Our Lives .
A man with dark hair, wearing a hat.
John Beradino was nominated three times for his role as Steve Hardy on General Hospital .
A man with dark hair, wearing a suit. Also accompanied with a woman with dark hair.
Val Dufour won in 1977 for his role as John Wyatt on Search for Tomorrow .
Photo of Al Freeman, Jr. in Hot L Baltimore in 1975
Al Freeman, Jr. won in 1979 for his role as Ed Hall on One Life to Live .
A man with dark hair, wearing a white suit including a black bow tie and pants, also holding an art piece.
Douglass Watson received two consecutive wins for his role as Mac Cory in 1980 and 1981 on Another World .
A black and white photo of Nicolas Coster.
Nicolas Coster was nominated three times for his role as Lionel Lockridge on Santa Barbara .
Photo of David Canary in the film Hombre in 1967
David Canary was nominated 16 times and won five times for his work on All My Children .
A man with dark hair, wearing a suit, including a purple tie and blue and white shirt.
Stuart Damon was nominated three times for his role as Alan Quartermaine on General Hospital .
A man with grey hair, wearing a navy suit, including a purple tie and blue and white shirt.
Eric Braeden was nominated eight times, winning once in 1998 for his role as Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless .
A man with dark hair, wearing a suit, including a bow tie.
Jon Hensley was nominated in 2001 for his role as Holden Snyder on As the World Turns .
A man with grey hair, wearing a black a suit.
John McCook has been nominated four times (2001, 2012, 2018, 2022) for his role as Eric Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful .
A man with grey hair, wearing a black a suit.
Robert Newman has been nominated twice for his role as Joshua Lewis on Guiding Light .
Jack Wagner was nominated in 2005 for his role as Nick Marone on The Bold and the Beautiful .
A man with dark hair, wearing a navy suit, including a navy tie and white shirt.
Christian LeBlanc won three (2005, 2007, and 2009) from seven nominations for his role as Michael Baldwin on The Young and the Restless .
A man with dark/grey hair, wearing a black shirt with pink/blue tie.
Ron Raines was nominated in 2006 for his role as Alan Spaulding on Guiding Light .
A man with dark hair, wearing a black and yellow suit, including a white shirt.
Thaao Penghlis received two nominations (2008 and 2020) for his work on Days of Our Lives .
A man with dark hair, wearing a suit, including a purple tie and blue and white shirt.
Jon Lindstrom was nominated once for his role as Craig Montgomery on As the World Turns (2011) and twice for playing dual roles on General Hospital , in 2019 and 2020.
A man with dark hair, wearing a blue tank
James Scott received two consecutive nominations (2010 and 2011) for his role as EJ DiMera on Days of Our Lives . .
Billy Miller won in 2014 for his role as Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless .
A man with dark hair, wearing a blue tank
Michael Muhney earned a nomination in 2014, for his role as Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless .
A man with dark hair, wearing a blue tank
Justin Hartley , as the third actor, who played Adam Newman , received a nomination in 2016 for the role on The Young and the Restless .
A man with dark hair, wearing a blue tank
Kristoff St. John received two consecutive nominations (2016 and 2017) for his role as Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless .
A man with dark hair wearing a grey suit including a red and grey pattern tie.
Scott Clifton won in 2017 for his role as Liam Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful .
A man with dark hair wearing a white T-shirt including a silver necklace.
James Reynolds won in 2018 for his role as on Days of Our Lives .
A man with blond hair, wearing a brown coat, with a great shirt.
Anthony Geary has the most wins in this category, with a total of eight, for his role as Luke Spencer on General Hospital .