Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Most Wins
1. Anthony Geary = 8 wins
2. David Canary = 5 wins
3. Maurice Benard, Peter Bergman and Christian Le Blanc = 3 wins
4. Larry Bryggman, Macdonald Carey, Justin Deas, Michael Park and Douglass Watson = 2 wins
1. Anthony Geary = 8 wins
2. David Canary = 5 wins
3. Maurice Benard, Peter Bergman and Christian Le Blanc = 3 wins
4. Larry Bryggman, Macdonald Carey, Justin Deas, Michael Park and Douglass Watson = 2 wins
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Thorsten moved to the US in 1985 on a track (decathlon) scholarship to the United States International University in San Diego. Although Thorsten majored in physical education (and minored in drama), a serious motorcycle accident forced him to choose a different direction. He played soccer for a while, but ultimately changed his major to drama and received his Bachelor's Degree in fine arts. After a rugby tour through Europe, Kaye enrolled in graduate school at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he earned his master's degree in theater and theater history.
Although he fondly remembers his first professional role as that of the "Wicked Witch of the West" when he was 17 years old in England, Thorsten portrayed some of the most memorable characters in classical theater, from Macbeth to Mark Antony, while a member of the Hilberry Repertory Theatre Company in Detroit. Thorsten then moved to Los Angeles, where he garnered roles in various television projects, including the CBS mini-series: Sidney Sheldon's "Nothing Lasts Forever", before moving to New York to accept the role of Professer Patrick Thornhart on the ABC-TV daytime drama "One Life to Live."
After leaving "One life to Live," Thorsten starred in the 2000 film "Shark Attack 2." Later in 2000, Thorsten returned to daytime television as Dr. Ian Thornhart (Patrick's older brother) on the ABC-TV drama "Port Charles." In 2004, he accepted the role of the mysterious Zach Slater on ABC-TV's "All My Children."
Thorsten is the author of two books: "From Timber Ridge to Daymer Gardens: A Journey in Words," co-written with the late Dorothy Bridges, and "A Solid Wheel of Colored Ribbons," a book of children's poems with illustrations by Tami Evans Foster (to be published in the spring of 2009).
When not working, Thorsten enjoys music, literature, riding American motorcycles, hockey (following the Detroit Red Wings), and football (he is a Miami Dolphins fan).2023: The Bold and the Beautiful- Actor
- Soundtrack
John McCook was born on 20 June 1944 in Ventura, California, USA. He is an actor, known for The Bold and the Beautiful (1987), The Young and the Restless (1973) and Magnum, P.I. (1980). He has been married to Laurette Spang since 16 February 1980. They have three children. He was previously married to Juliet Prowse and Marilynn Ann McPherson.2022: The Bold and the Beautiful- Actor
- Soundtrack
Daytime Emmy Award winning Actor Maurice Benard joined the cast of General Hospital in the role of Sonny Corinthos in August 1993. He briefly left the show for a year-long hiatus in December 1998. For his portrayal, Mr. Benard received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003. He was also nominated in 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006 and 2011.
Mr. Benard's multi-cultural upbringing began in San Francisco, where he was born to parents from Nicaragua and San Salvador. Uninspired by the traditional education route, he gleaned an education in the open job market after high school. He began modeling in his early twenties. Following that, Mr. Benard took up acting in numerous theatrical productions in the Bay area.
After auditioning for a role on the ABC drama All My Children, Mr. Benard was cast as Nico Kelly. Two years later, he struck out to find new challenges and moved to Los Angeles, where he was cast as the lead in the much-publicized TV movie, Lucy and Desi: Before the Laughter. He later added a pivotal role in the feature film Ruby to several other prominent film and television credits.
Mr. Benard has been a popular voice in the battle against bipolar disorder. He has been very open about his personal battle with the illness, appearing on television programs such as The View, Entertainment Tonight, and Oprah. He has been featured in People and LA Life Magazines. He also began working with the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) on the "Bipolar Disorder: Do You Know It?" campaign to help educate Americans about the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder.2021: General Hospital
2019: General Hospital
2003: General Hospital- Jason Thompson was born on 15 November 1976 in Alberta, Canada. He is an actor, known for General Hospital (1963), The Young and the Restless (1973) and General Hospital: Night Shift (2007). He has been married to Paloma Jonas since 5 April 2015. They have two children.2020: The Young and the Restless
- Actor
- Producer
James Reynolds was born on 10 August 1946 in Oskaloosa, Kansas, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Days of Our Lives (1965), Dying to Learn (2022) and Generations (1989). He has been married to Lissa Layng since 21 December 1986. They have two children. He was previously married to Laura Toffenetti.2018: Days of Our Lives- Actor
- Soundtrack
Scott Clifton was nominated for 5 Daytime Emmys. Three for his work as Dillon Quartermaine on ABC's General Hospital, one for his work as Schuyler Joplin on ABC's One Life to Live, and one for his work as Liam Cooper on CBS' The Bold and the Beautiful. Scott was born on Halloween .2017: The Bold and the Beautiful- Tyler Christopher was born on 11 November 1972 in Joliet, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for General Hospital (1963), Shouting Secrets (2011) and Into the West (2005). He was married to Brienne Pedigo and Eva Longoria. He died on 31 October 2023 in San Diego, California, USA.2016: General Hospital
- Actor
- Producer
Mr. Geary has come a long way from Coalville, Utah, the small mountain community of 800 where he was born. Tony was a gifted student, attending the University of Utah as a Presidential Award Scholar in theater. Jack Albertson saw Tony perform there, a nd cast him in "The Subject Was Roses." The production, starring Albertson and Martha Scott, toured Hawaii and settled at the Huntington Hartford Theater in Los Angeles, where Tony decided to establish himself. His ensuing musical theater credits comprise a catalog of classics. A highlight in this period was his co-starring engagement with Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas in "Your Show of Shows." Mr. Geary has performed in more than 50 stage productions throughout the United States. His extensive theatrical credits include roles in productions of "The Wild Duck, " "The Inspector General, " "The Cat's Paw, " "The Glass Menagerie, " and "Barabbas" a t the Los Angeles Theater Center. In addition, he toured with a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar, " portraying the title role. He also portrayed Octavius Caesar, opposite Lynn Redgrave and Timothy Dalton, in a production of Shakespeare's "Antony and C leopatra" for PBS and the BBC. Mr. Geary has made guest appearances on more than 40 television shows. Among his TV credits are roles on "Starsky & Hutch, " "Barnaby Jones, " "The Streets of San Francisco, " "The Blue Knight, " "All in the Family, " "The Six Million Dollar Man, " "The Par tridge Family, " "Most Wanted, " "Mannix, " "The Mod Squad, " "Room 222, " "Doc Elliot, " "Temperatures Rising, " "Marcus Welby, M.D., " Arthur Hailey's "Hotel" and "Murder, She Wrote." He also performed in the television movies, "Perry Mason and the Case of the Murdered Madam, " "Kicks, " "Sins of the Past, " "The Imposter, " "Intimate Agony" and "Do You Know the Muffin Man?" and in the daytime dramas, "Bright Promise" and "The Young and the Restless." As a producer, Mr. Geary received a Cindy Award for the drama, "Sound of Sunshine, Sound of Rain, " a children's story for Public Radio. He has also taught improvisation and story-theater techniques. Mr. Geary competed in track and field and swimming events as a college student, and also raced horses. He is a certified scuba diver as well as an accomplished rollerblader. Tony also claims to be "the world's oldest Hip Hop dancer." As portrayed by Anthony Geary, Luke Spencer was described as the most popular character in soap opera history. One critic said, "Geary's individualism, uniqueness and awesome range is the most notable in daytime (television) history, " a statement that is typical of the actor's reviews. He added to his laurels by winning the 1981 Emmy Award as Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series. In January, 1991, Mr. Geary returned to "General Hospital" in the role of Bill Eckert, a cousin of Spencer's, and a man of many, often dark, colors. Mr. Geary was seen on-screen as both Bill Eckert and Luke Spencer as the story progressed, until the death of Eckert.2015: General Hospital
2012: General Hospital
2008: General Hospital
2006: General Hospital
2004: General Hospital
2000: General Hospital
1999: General Hospital
1982: General Hospital- Billy Miller was born on 17 September 1979 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for The Young and the Restless (1973), General Hospital (1963) and American Sniper (2014). He died on 15 September 2023 in Austin, Texas, USA.2014: The Young and the Restless
- Doug Davidson was born on 24 October 1954 in Glendale, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Young and the Restless (1973), I'll Take Manhattan (1987) and Season of Rage. He has been married to Cindy Fisher since 27 May 1984. They have two children.2013: The Young and the Restless
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Michael Park was born on 20 July 1968 in New York, USA. He is an actor, known for As the World Turns (1956), Stranger Things (2016) and Gotham the Series (2009). He has been married to Laurie Nowak since 6 January 1996. They have three children.2011: As the World Turns
2010: As the World Turns- Christian Jules Le Blanc was born on August 25, 1958 in North Carolina, USA. He is the son of Major Andre Victor Le Blanc (a veteran) and Alice Le Blanc. He grew up in a large family, being the second eldest of eight children. As a teen, he attended Jesuit High School and later went on to receive a BA degree from Tulane University (Louisiana, USA), majoring in ancient history and pre-med. Before pursuing an acting career, he had planned to spend his life working in the medical field.
Christian made his screen debut in a commercial for Barq's Root Beer. He's most known for his work on In the Heat of the Night (1988) and for playing lawyer Michael Baldwin, on The Young and the Restless (1973). A man of many skills, he is also an award-winning artist and has MC'd and hosted numerous events for charities and other organizations. He has been with his husband, a yoga instructor named Sid Montz, since 1993.2009: The Young and the Restless
2007: The Young and the Restless
2005: The Young and the Restless - Peter Bergman was born on 11 June 1953 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He is an actor, known for The Young and the Restless (1973), All My Children (1970) and The Bold and the Beautiful (1987). He has been married to Mariellen Bergman since 1985. They have two children. He was previously married to Christine Ebersole.2002: The Young and the Restless
1992: The Young and the Restless
1991: The Young and the Restless - David Canary was born on 25 August 1938 in Elwood, Indiana, USA. He was an actor, known for All My Children (1970), One Life to Live (1968) and Hombre (1967). He was married to Maureen Maloney and Julie M. Anderson. He died on 16 November 2015 in Wilton, Connecticut, USA.2001: All My Children
1993: All My Children
1989: All My Children
1988: All My Children
1986: All My Children - Eric Braeden is a German actor in America who began his career playing Nazis and eventually became a star of daytime soap operas. Born Hans Gudegast in Kiel, Germany, during the Second World War, he was a superb athlete who excelled in track-and-field events. As a teenager, he immigrated to the United States and worked in Texas and Montana as a translator, a cowhand, and a lumber millhand. His athleticism won him a scholarship to Montana State University. While attending college, he and friend Bob McKinnon made a film, The Riverbusters, about their successful attempt to be the first men to take a boat from the source to the mouth of the Salmon river and back again. He traveled to Los Angeles in hopes of finding a distributor for the documentary, but instead found that his handsome visage and accented English made him a valuable commodity as an actor. He appeared in small parts under his real name before landing the leading role of the antagonist, Captain Hans Dietrich, on the World War II television series The Rat Patrol (1966).
The series was a hit, and Gudegast's sympathetic German officer was very popular. He appeared in a few movies and television films thereafter in supporting roles, then was given the lead in Universal's science-fiction computer thriller Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970). His delight at this huge career boost was muted by the studio's insistence that he change his name. With extreme reluctance, he agreed and became known subsequently as Eric Braeden. Braeden worked continuously in television movies for the next decade. He also worked on Broadway and in Los Angeles area theatre. In 1980, he reluctantly accepted a role in a daytime drama, The Young and the Restless (1973), and gained a stardom in this medium that had just eluded him in film and prime time television. As lead Victor Newman, Braeden brought a gravity and a strong center to the program. Amazingly handsome and athletic into his sixties, Braeden maintained the charisma that first brought him notice in "The Rat Patrol".
His infrequent film work during his nearly quarter century on "The Young and the Restless" included a prominent role as John Jacob Astor in Titanic (1997). A five-time Emmy nominee for his "The Young and the Restless" role (he won in 1998), he was also nominated eleven times for the Soap Opera Digest Outstanding Leading Actor Award, winning three times. In 1987, he was appointed, along with Henry Kissinger, Paul Volker, Steffi Graf, Alexander Haig, and Katherine Graham, to the German-American Advisory Board, and in 1991 received the Federal Medal of Honor from the president of his native land, Germany. He married his college sweetheart Dale Russell in 1966. Their son, Christian Gudegast is a screenwriter.1998: The Young and the Restless - Justin Deas was born on 30 March 1948 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for Santa Barbara (1984), Guiding Light (1952) and As the World Turns (1956). He has been married to Margaret Colin since 23 January 1988. They have two children. He was previously married to Jody Catlin.1997: Guiding Light
1995: Guiding Light - Charles Keating was born on 22 October 1941 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Another World (1964), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and The Bodyguard (1992). He was married to Mary Ellen Cudbody. He died on 8 August 2014 in Weston, Connecticut, USA.1996: Another World
- Actor
- Writer
Michael Zaslow was born on November 1, 1942 in Inglewood, California and was an actor and writer, best known for his work in daytime dramas, or soap operas. He was married twice, to Joanne Dorian and Susan Hufford, by whom he had two daughters, Helena and Marika. He died on December 6, 1998 in New York City, succumbing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a nerve-cell disorder better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Michael's Broadway credits included Fiddler on the Roof, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Boccaccio, and Onward Victoria, while he appeared in the films You Light Up My Life, Meteor, and Seven Minutes in Heaven, and guested on numerous primetime series, from Star Trek (1966) to Law and Order (1990). He acted in several soap operas, namely CBS's Search for Tomorrow (1951) and Love Is a Many Spledored Thing (1967), and ABC's One Life to Live (1968), and wrote for NBC's Another World (1964). But he was best known for portraying the manipulative businessman Roger Thorpe on the CBS daytime drama (The) Guiding Light, the longest running dramatic series of any genre, beginning January 25, 1937 on radio, and playing from June 30, 1952 to September 18, 2009 on television. Michael received four Emmy nominations playing the villainous Roger Thorpe from 1971 to 1980, and again from 1989 to 1997, and garnered a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1994 for the role. He was a favorite of both critics and fans.1994: Guiding Light- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
A Martinez was born in Glendale, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Longmire (2012), Dark Winds (2022) and Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024). He has been married to Leslie Bryans since 17 July 1982. They have three children. He was previously married to Mare Winningham.1990: Santa Barbara- Larry Bryggman was born on 21 December 1938 in Concord, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Spy Game (2001), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) and As the World Turns (1956). He has been married to Tracey Hanley Bryggman since 1999. They have two children. He was previously married to Jacqueline Schultz and Barbara Creed.1987: As the World Turns
1984: As the World Turns - Actor
- Director
- Additional Crew
Darnell Williams was born on 3 March 1954 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and director, known for All My Children (1970), Short Cuts (1993) and S1m0ne (2002).1985: All My Children
1982: All My Children- Robert S. Woods was born on 13 March 1948 in Maywood, California, USA. He is an actor, known for One Life to Live (1968), All My Children (1970) and Days of Our Lives (1965). He has been married to Loyita Chapel since 1985. They have two children.1983: One Life to Live
- Douglass Watson was born on 24 February 1921 in Jackson, Georgia, USA. He was an actor, known for Another World (1964), Julius Caesar (1953) and The Money Pit (1986). He was married to Eugenia Laring-Clark. He died on 1 May 1989 in Arizona, USA.1981: Another World
1980: Another World - Actor
- Director
- Writer
Al Freeman, Jr. was an actor and director who was the first African American to win a Daytime Emmy Award for acting. His most famous role was that of Police Captain Ed Hall in the soap opera One Life to Live (1968), which brought him the Emmy in 1979. He was a regular on the soap from 1972 through 1987, and appeared off and on as Captain Hall from 1988 through 2000. He received three additional Emmy nominations playing the role in 1983, '86 and '87. Freeman also was the first African American to direct a TV soap opera, helming "One Life to Live" episodes.
Born on March 21, 1934 in San Antonio, Texas, he was raised primarily by his father, an actor and jazz musician, after his parents divorced. Al Freeman father and son left Texas, moving to Cleveland, Ohio. After studying drama at Los Angeles City College, Freeman fils moved to New York City to act in the theater, making his Broadway debut in Ketti Frings's "The Long Dream" in 1960, a flop that closed after five performances. He had a major success playing the lead in James Baldwin's play "Blues for Mister Charlie" in 1964. In 1970, he appeared in "Look to the Lilies" on Broadway, a musical version of the 1963 movie Lilies of the Field (1963), playing the part of Homer Smith, the role that brought Sidney Poitier an Oscar. Despite a prestigious production team that included director Joshua Logan, composer Jule Styne and lyricist Sammy Cahn, the show was a flop.
Freeman made his reputation primarily in television. He debuted as a television actor in the series Suspicion (1957) in 1958, and his soap opera debut came in 1967 in The Edge of Night (1956). He was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for My Sweet Charlie (1970) and for Roots: The Next Generations (1979), in which he played Malcolm X.
In 1958, Freeman made his movie debut in an uncredited role in the Glenn Ford WWII picture _Torpedo Run (1958)_ and first received billing in the 1960 gang war B-movie potboiler This Rebel Breed (1960). His most memorable role was the lead in Amiri Baraka's Dutchman (1966) opposite Shirley Knight, who was named Best Actress at the 1967 Venice Film Festival. Freeman won the N.A.A.C.P. Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for playing Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992).
Freeman was a professor in the drama department of Howard University. When he died on August 9, 2012, in Washington, D.C. at the age of 78, he had established himself as a legend in the African American arts community.1979: One Life to Live- Actor
- Soundtrack
James Pritchett was born on 27 October 1922 in Lenoir, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for The Doctors (1963), Night of the Comet (1984) and ABC Afterschool Specials (1972). He was married to Cynthia Arnold. He died on 15 March 2011 in New York City, New York, USA.1978: The Doctors