Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series

It was given annually from 1985 to 2019 to honor a young actor below the age of 25, who had delivered an outstanding performance in a role while working within the daytime drama industry.

Years before this category was introduced, networks declined to broadcast the show during a time of voting integrity rumors and waning interest.

In 1992, Kristoff St. John became the first African-American to have garnered the award, winning for his role as Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless.

Scott Clifton, Bryton James, David Lago and Joshua Morrow have also received five nominations each.

At the 2019 ceremony, Kyler Pettis became the last awarded actor in this category for his portrayal of Theo Carver, on Days of Our Lives.

Actor Brian Bloom, who won a Daytime Emmy for his role as Dusty Donovan.
Brian Bloom was the first awarded actor in this category, winning for his role as Dusty Donovan on As the World Turns in 1985.
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Jon Hensley at the 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards . Hensley was nominated twice for his role as Holden Snyder on As the World Turns .
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Dondre Whitfield was nominated three times for his role as Terrence Frye on All My Children .
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Joshua Morrow (left) was nominated five times for his role as Nicholas Newman on The Young and the Restless .
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Jensen Ackles was nominated three times for his role as Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives .
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Jacob Young was nominated once for his role as Rick Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful before winning in 2002 for his role as Lucky Spencer on General Hospital .
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Jesse McCartney was nominated twice for his role as JR Chandler on All My Children .
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Scott Clifton was nominated three times for his role as Dillon Quartermaine on General Hospital and once for his role as Schuyler Joplin on One Life to Live before winning in 2011 for his role as Liam Cooper on The Bold and the Beautiful .
Photo of Bryton James
Bryton James received five nominations, winning in 2007 for his role as Devon Hamilton on The Young and the Restless .
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Darin Brooks was nominated in 2008 and won in 2009 for his role as Max Brady on Days of Our Lives .
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Freddie Smith has won once and been nominated twice for his role as Sonny Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives .
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Bryan Craig received four nominations and two wins in 2016 and 2017 for his role as Morgan Corinthos on General Hospital .
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Pierson Fodé was nominated twice, in 2016 and 2017, for his role as Thomas Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful .
Jackson in 2013.
Jonathan Jackson is the actor to have received the most nominations in this category, and one of the actors to have the most wins, with a total of three for his portrayal of Lucky Spencer on General Hospital .
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Chandler Massey is the first actor to receive the award for portraying a gay character in this category. He won the award three times, consecutively from 2012 to 2014 for his role of Will Horton on Days of Our Lives .