Actors with the Most Emmy Nominations Without a Win

Earning repeat recognition from Television Academy voters is a major achievement in itself, but some performers collect an impressive stack of nominations without ever taking home the statue. This list highlights male actors who have accumulated notable Primetime Emmy nominations while remaining winless as of August 29, 2025, along with the categories and roles that built their tallies.

To keep things clear and useful, each entry notes the main series or specials that generated the bulk of the nominations and the categories where the actor most often appeared on the ballot. For all titles mentioned, you’ll see single quotes so they’re easy to spot at a glance.

Anthony Anderson

Anthony Anderson amassed multiple Primetime Emmy nominations across acting and producing, driven primarily by his lead role in ‘Black-ish’. He was repeatedly nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for playing Andre “Dre” Johnson, and as an executive producer he also appeared on ballots for Outstanding Comedy Series during the show’s awards run.

Beyond ‘Black-ish’, Anderson’s name appeared on additional ballots linked to franchise specials and related projects tied to the series. As of August 29, 2025, he remains without a Primetime Emmy win despite frequent recognition in top comedy categories.

Steve Carell

Steve Carell has accumulated a large slate of Primetime Emmy nominations spanning comedy and drama. His acting nods include Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘The Office’ and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for ‘The Morning Show’, with additional nominations in other performance categories across his television work.

Carell’s nomination history reflects sustained recognition from different Academy branches over many seasons and networks. As of August 29, 2025, he has not converted those nominations into a Primetime Emmy win, even with recurring visibility in high-profile ensembles.

Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie’s nominations are anchored by repeated appearances in Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for ‘House’, where he was a perennial ballot presence throughout the show’s peak years. He also earned attention in other categories, including supporting and guest slots tied to roles in projects such as ‘The Night Manager’ and ‘Veep’.

Laurie’s tally spans both drama and limited-series work, reflecting a career that has crossed between broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. As of August 29, 2025, he remains winless at the Primetime Emmys despite a long run of nominations across multiple genres.

Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander’s Emmy résumé centers on multiple nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘Seinfeld’. He appeared on the ballot year after year for portraying George Costanza, maintaining one of the most consistent supporting-actor streaks of the decade.

Alexander’s nomination history also includes appearances connected to guest work and specials outside the core sitcom. As of August 29, 2025, those repeated nominations have not yielded a Primetime Emmy win.

Jonathan Banks

Jonathan Banks built his tally primarily through supporting-actor nominations tied to the ‘Breaking Bad’ universe, first with ‘Breaking Bad’ and then with ‘Better Call Saul’. He was recognized multiple times for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Mike Ehrmantraut across both series.

Banks’s nominations also include earlier work, notably a supporting-actor nod for ‘Wiseguy’, which predates his later acclaim. As of August 29, 2025, he remains without a Primetime Emmy win despite recognition across different shows and eras.

Giancarlo Esposito

Giancarlo Esposito’s Emmy nominations span several franchises and genres, led by supporting-actor nods for ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’. He has also been recognized for roles in genre hits such as ‘The Mandalorian’, adding to his totals in supporting categories.

Esposito’s nomination record reflects a mix of cable and streaming projects, often tied to series that earned broad Emmy attention across crafts and performance categories. As of August 29, 2025, he has yet to secure a Primetime Emmy win.

Michael C. Hall

Michael C. Hall’s nominations concentrate in Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for ‘Dexter’, with earlier recognition for his ensemble work on ‘Six Feet Under’. His appearances on ballots spanned multiple seasons of ‘Dexter’, reflecting sustained recognition during the show’s run.

Hall’s totals also include nominations connected to limited-series and guest roles in later years. As of August 29, 2025, he has not recorded a Primetime Emmy win despite multiple lead-actor nods for signature performances.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc earned repeated nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘Friends’ and later for ‘Episodes’. His presence on the ballot extended across different eras, from network sitcom to a meta-showbiz comedy on premium cable.

LeBlanc’s Emmy history consists of acting nominations tied to those two series, reflecting consistency across long-running and critically recognized comedies. As of August 29, 2025, those acting nods have not resulted in a Primetime Emmy win.

Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe’s Primetime Emmy recognition centers on ‘The West Wing’, where he received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. His ballot appearances reflect the impact of that role during the show’s awards-heavy years.

While Lowe has remained active across comedy, drama, and limited-series projects, his Primetime Emmy tally has not grown beyond that ‘The West Wing’ recognition. As of August 29, 2025, he remains without a Primetime Emmy win.

John Slattery

John Slattery’s nominations cluster around Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for ‘Mad Men’, where he was frequently cited for his portrayal of Roger Sterling. His name also appeared on ballots for guest spots and limited projects beyond the flagship drama.

Slattery’s totals add up across consecutive seasons in which ‘Mad Men’ dominated nominations across categories. As of August 29, 2025, he has not secured a Primetime Emmy win, even as the series itself collected numerous awards in other fields.

Ed Begley Jr.

Ed Begley Jr. earned a long string of supporting-actor nominations for ‘St. Elsewhere’, forming one of the most consistent runs for a drama supporting performer of that period. His recurring recognition reflected the series’ strong standing with Emmy voters.

Begley also gathered later nominations tied to guest appearances and television movies, contributing to his overall total. As of August 29, 2025, he remains among the most frequently nominated male actors without a Primetime Emmy win.

Michael Kenneth Williams

Michael K. Williams received multiple Primetime Emmy nominations across limited-series and drama categories, including recognition for performances in ‘The Night Of’, ‘Bessie’, ‘When They See Us’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’, and ‘Lovecraft Country’. His nominations spanned supporting and lead-level consideration depending on the project.

Williams’s ballot history shows steady recognition from the Academy for complex, character-driven roles across premium cable and streaming. As of August 29, 2025, he had not won a Primetime Emmy.

Ed O’Neill

Ed O’Neill’s nominations include supporting-actor recognition for ‘Modern Family’, where he was cited alongside fellow cast members in seasons that drew heavy Emmy attention. Earlier in his career, he also collected recognition tied to ‘Married… with Children’, adding to his long-term awards profile.

O’Neill’s appearances on the ballot reflect a career that spans landmark network comedies in different eras. As of August 29, 2025, he has not converted those nominations into a Primetime Emmy win.

Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson earned multiple supporting-actor nominations for ‘The Office’, cited for his work as Dwight Schrute during the show’s peak awards seasons. His placements came during years when the series was a regular presence across performance and series categories.

Wilson’s Emmy history also includes guest-actor consideration connected to appearances outside the flagship sitcom. As of August 29, 2025, his nominations have not produced a Primetime Emmy win.

George Clooney

George Clooney’s Primetime Emmy nominations include acting recognition for ‘ER’, reflecting his high-profile work during the series’ dominant run with voters. He later appeared on ballots again through additional television projects, expanding his nominations beyond the early-career drama spotlight.

Clooney’s overall Emmy record spans both in-front-of-camera and behind-the-scenes roles tied to prestige television. As of August 29, 2025, he has not won a Primetime Emmy.

Share any other notable win-less nominees you think belong here in the comments so everyone can compare tallies and roles.