Most Popular Emmy Winning Actors

Before he became a major motion picture star, Michael Douglas earned three of his six Emmy nominations as the younger partner of Karl Malden in the 1970s ABC police drama “The Streets of San Francisco.” Douglas won his only Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in 2013 for his role as entertainer Liberace in the HBO series “Behind the Candelabra.”

Alec Baldwin has carved out a comedy niche on television, appearing as guest host on “Saturday Night Live” and in sitcoms “Will & Grace” and “30 Rock.” Baldwin won two Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Jack Donaghy in “30 Rock” (he was nominated eight times for that role) and for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2017 for his portrayal of Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live.”

Marlon Brando, regarded as one of America’s greatest actors, did not shy away from controversy, famously turning down the Oscar for Best Actor in 1973 to protest Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans. The role that won him his lone Emmy six years later raised eyebrows as well. Brando won the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special award for his portrayal of American Nazi George Lincoln Rockwell in the ABC series “Roots: The Next Generation.”

It’s been three decades since Tommy Lee Jones appeared in a TV series or miniseries. The last time he did, as Woodrow Call in the 1989 western “Lonesome Dove,” he received an Emmy nomination. Six years prior to that, he won his sole Emmy for his performance in the Norman Mailer-penned TV movie “The Executioner’s Song.” Jones played Gary Gilmore, a real murderer who lobbied for his own death sentence.

Lisa Kudrow has been nominated for 14 Emmys throughout her career, though she has only won one for her performance as Phoebe Buffay in the hugely popular sitcom “Friends.” Other acting nominations include two for her performance as Valerie Cherish on the HBO comedy series “The Comeback.”