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 the 18th Primetime Emmy Awards, 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 the category's creation.
- § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation.
Winners and nominations
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Superlatives
Programs with multiple awards
;4 awards
;3 awards
;2 awards
- Barry
- The Defenders
- The Dick Van Dyke Show
- M*A*S*H
- Taxi
- Cheers
- 30 Rock
- Transparent
Performers with multiple awards
;4 awards
;3 awards
;2 awards
;14 nominations
;11 nominations
;8 nominations
- Michael J. Fox
- Carroll O'Connor
- Tony Shalhoub
;7 nominations
;6 nominations
;5 nominations
;4 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations
