| | 1980-1981: Daniel J. Travanti, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
| | 1981-1982: Daniel J. Travanti, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
| | 1982-1983: Ed Flanders, St. Elsewhere (NBC) |
| | 1983-1984: Tom Selleck, Magnum P.I. (CBS) |
| | 1984-1985: William Daniels, St. Elsewhere (NBC) |
| | 1985-1986: William Daniels, St. Elsewhere (NBC) |
| | 1986-1987: Bruce Willis, Moonlighting (ABC) |
| | 1987-1988: Richard Kiley, A Year in the Life (NBC) |
| | 1988-1989: Carroll O'Connor, In the Heat of the Night (NBC) |
| | 1989-1990: Peter Falk, Columbo (ABC) |
| | 1990-1991: James Earl Jones, Gabriel's Fire (ABC) |
| | 1991-1992: Christopher Lloyd, Avonlea (Disney) |
| | 1992-1993: Tom Skerritt, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| | 1993-1994: Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
| | 1994-1995: Mandy Patinkin, Chicago Hope (CBS) |
| | 1995-1996: Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
| | 1996-1997: Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
| | 1997-1998: Andre Braugher, Homicide: Life on the Street (NBC) |
| | 1998-1999: Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue (ABC) |
| | 1999-2000: James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| | 2000-2001: James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| | 2001-2002: Michael Chiklis, The Shield (FX) |
| | 2002-2003: James Gandolfini, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| | 2003-2004: James Spader, The Practice, Boston Legal (ABC) |
| | 2004-2005: James Spader, The Practice, Boston Legal (ABC) |
| | 2005-2006: Kiefer Sutherland, 24 (FOX) |