Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series is an award presented annually by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. It was first awarded at the 7th Daytime Emmy Awards in 1980, and is given to honor an actor/actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a guest role while working within the daytime drama industry.
Originally referred to as the Outstanding Cameo Appearance in a Drama Series category, it was changed to Outstanding Guest Star in a Drama Series in 1987, when the category was re-introduced. It was reintrocuded in 2015 when the category was called Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series and marked its return after 28 years. It included a criterion that "the performer’s character must have premiered in the current eligibility year and have made a limited number of appearances in a significant role". The category then began using its current title in 2018. The eligiblity critera also was modified, permitting actors who "are playing characters they either played before, or are newly cast" as able to sumbit in the category.
The Emmy was named after an "Immy", an affectionate term used to refer to the image orthicon camera tube. The statuette was designed by Louis McManus, who modeled the award after his wife, Dorothy. The Emmy statuette is fifteen inches tall from base to tip, weighing five pounds and is composed of iron, pewter, zinc and gold.
The award was first presented to Hugh McPhillips for his role as Hugh Pearson on Days of Our Lives. Since its inception, the award has been given to ten actors. As of the 2020 ceremony, Eva LaRue, is the most recent winner in this category for her role as Celeste Rosales on The Young and the Restless.
Winners and nominees
Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees.| Indicates the winner |
won in 1987 for his performance on Santa Barbara|alt=Shipp at Magic City Comic Con 2016
won in 2015 for her role on General Hospital and was one of three recipients of the award that year.|alt=Mills in a photoshoot for Police Story
won in 2018 for his role as Matt Cannistra on The Bold and the Beautiful.|alt=Jim O'Heir
won in 2020 for her role as Celeste Roasales on The Young and the Restless.|alt=LaRue in 2009
Series with most awards
| Wins | Series |
| The Bold and the Beautiful | |
| General Hospital | |
| The Young and the Restless |
Network with most awards
| Wins | Program |
| ABC | |
| CBS | |
| NBC |