Satellite Awards / Television / Best Actor in a Series - Drama

With the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series - Drama are actors honored as lead actor outstanding performance in a drama series have shown. In addition to drama series, genre series have also been taken into account since 2016.

statistics
Most frequently honored leading actor	Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad (five awards)
Most frequently nominated leading actor	Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad (six nominations)
Most frequently nominated leading actor without a win	Jon Hamm for Mad Men (five nominations)

The performers from the previous year are always honored.

Nominations and winners

Late 1990s

year	Award winners	for the series	Nominations
1996	David Duchovny	The X-Files - The FBI's Creepy Cases	Andre Braugher for Homicide Anthony Edwards for Emergency Room - The Emergency Room Hector Elizondo for Chicago Hope - Terminus Hope Dennis Franz for New York Cops - NYPD Blue
1997	Jimmy Smits	New York Cops - NYPD Blue	David Duchovny for The X Files - The FBI's Creepy Cases Dennis Franz for New York Cops - NYPD Blue Sam Waterston for Law & Order Michael T. Weiss for Pretender
1998	Ernie Hudson	Oz - hell behind bars	George Clooney for Emergency Room - The Emergency Room Dylan McDermott for Practice - Jimmy Smits Lawyers for New York Cops - NYPD Blue Michael T. Weiss for Pretender
1999	Martin Sheen	The West Wing - At the center of power	James Gandolfini for The Sopranos Dylan McDermott for Practice - The Lawyers Eamonn Walker for Oz - Hell Behind Bars Sam Waterston for Law & Order

2000-2009

year	Award winners	for the series	Nominations
2000	Tim Daly	On the run	James Gandolfini for The Sopranos Dennis Haysbert for Future Man Nicky Katt for Boston Public Martin Sheen for The West Wing - In the Center of Power
2001	Kiefer Sutherland	24	James Gandolfini for The Sopranos Craig T. Nelson for The District - Work in Washington William Petersen for CSI: On the trail of the perpetrators Martin Sheen for The West Wing - In the center of power
2002	Kiefer Sutherland	24	Michael Chiklis for The Shield - Law of Violence Peter Krause for Six Feet Under - Chi McBride for Boston Public Martin Sheen for The West Wing - In the Center of Power
2003	Michael Chiklis	The Shield - Law of Violence	David Boreanaz for Angel - Hunters of Darkness Anthony LaPaglia for Without a Trace - Disappeared without a trace Julian McMahon for Nip / Tuck - Beauty has its price David Paymer for Line of Fire Nick Stahl for Carnivàle
2004	Matthew Fox	Lost	Vincent D'Onofrio for Law & Order Anthony LaPaglia for Without a Trace James Spader for Boston Legal Treat Williams for Everwood
2005	Hugh Laurie	Dr. House	Denis Leary for Rescue Me Ian McShane for Deadwood Dylan Walsh for Nip / Tuck - Beauty has its price Jake Weber for Medium - Nothing is hidden
2006	Hugh Laurie	Dr. House	Michael C. Hall for Dexter Denis Leary for Rescue Me Bill Paxton for Big Love Matthew Perry for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Bradley Whitford for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
2007	Michael C. Hall	Dexter	Eddie Izzard for The Riches Hugh Laurie for Dr. House Denis Leary for Rescue Me Bill Paxton for Big Love James Woods for Shark
2008	Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad	Gabriel Byrne for In Treatment Michael C. Hall for Dexter Jon Hamm for Mad Men Jason Isaacs for Brotherhood David Tennant for Doctor Who
2009	Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad	Gabriel Byrne for In Treatment Nathan Fillion for Castle Jon Hamm for Mad Men Lucian Msamati for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Bill Paxton for Big Love

Since 2010

year	Award winners	for the series	Nominations
2010	Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad	Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights Josh Charles for Good Wife Michael C. Hall for Dexter Jon Hamm for Mad Men Stephen Moyer for True Blood
2011	Timothy Olyphant	Justified	Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad William H. Macy for Shameless Wendell Pierce for Treme
2012	Damian Lewis	Homeland	Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom Jon Hamm for Mad Men Jonny Lee Miller for Elementary Timothy Olyphant for Justified
2013	Bryan Cranston	Breaking Bad	Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom Jon Hamm for Mad Men Freddie Highmore for Bates Motel Derek Jacobi for Last Tango in Halifax Michael Sheen for Masters of Sex Kevin Spacey for House of Cards Aden Young for Rectify
2014	Clive Owen	The kink	Martin Freeman for Fargo Woody Harrelson for True Detective Charlie Hunnam for Sons of Anarchy Mads Mikkelsen for Hannibal Lee Pace for Halt and Catch Fire Michael Sheen for Masters of Sex Billy Bob Thornton for Fargo
2015	Dominic West	The Affair	Kyle Chandler for Bloodline Timothy Hutton for American Crime Rami Malek for Mr. Robot Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul Liev Schreiber for Ray Donovan
2016	Dominic West	The Affair	Rami Malek for Mr. Robot Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul Matthew Rhys for The Americans Liev Schreiber for Ray Donovan Billy Bob Thornton for Goliath