2025-09-13T14:04:01Z
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The Emmy Awards are, in many respects, considered the small-screen counterpart to the Academy Awards — essentially the television industry’s own Oscars. While the Oscars celebrate cinematic triumphs, the Emmys stand as the ultimate recognition of artistic excellence in television. In anticipation of the 2025 Emmy Awards, which are scheduled to air on Sunday, September 14, on CBS and Paramount+, we have meticulously reviewed historical results, statistics, and records to compile a ranking of the actors who have achieved the greatest number of Emmy victories. This compilation spans a wide range of television history, including beloved icons such as Mary Tyler Moore, comedy legend Betty White, dramatic powerhouse Bryan Cranston, and the incomparable Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Winning an Emmy remains, without question, the pinnacle of achievement for actors working in television. For many performers, a single Emmy represents validation of their artistry, but when a role resonates profoundly with Emmy voters, nominations often come in abundance, and multiple statuettes follow. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, for example, holds a particularly remarkable place among these performers. Not only is she tied with Cloris Leachman as a performer with eight Emmy wins, but her role as both actress and executive producer has allowed her to claim the record for the most Emmy wins overall when production awards are included. Similarly, Bryan Cranston’s legacy is amplified by his dual recognition as both lead actor and producer during the groundbreaking run of *Breaking Bad*.
One crucial note must be underscored: not every Emmy counted here is strictly for acting. Several multi-talented stars have been honored for contributions in additional creative capacities, such as writing, directing, or producing. For instance, Cranston was recognized as a producer on *Breaking Bad,* and Louis-Dreyfus received trophies for producing *Veep*. Nonetheless, the majority of awards featured here celebrate the artistry of performance itself.
Below is the ranking of actors with the highest number of Emmy wins, illuminating the careers of individuals whose work has profoundly shaped television and whose names remain synonymous with excellence:
**15th place (tie) — Don Knotts: 5 wins, 5 nominations.**
Knotts achieved something rare: a perfect record. Every single one of his five Emmy nominations — spanning the years 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, and 1967 — resulted in a victory, all awarded for his beloved and comedic portrayal of the bumbling deputy Barney Fife in *The Andy Griffith Show*.
**15th place (tie) — John Larroquette: 5 wins, 7 nominations.**
Between 1985 and 1988, Larroquette made Emmy history with four consecutive victories for his memorable role in *Night Court*. A decade later, he won once more for a powerful guest appearance in *The Practice* (1998).
**15th place (tie) — Candice Bergen: 5 wins, 9 nominations.**
Bergen’s five trophies all came from her iconic performance in the titular role of the CBS sitcom *Murphy Brown*, a show that reshaped television’s portrayal of women in journalism. She later added two further nominations for her work in *Boston Legal* during the 2000s.
**15th place (tie) — Peter Falk: 5 wins, 12 nominations.**
Best known for his unforgettable creation of Detective Frank Columbo in *Columbo*, Falk won nearly all of his Emmys for this enduring character. His exceptional work was also recognized once earlier, in 1962, for *The Dick Powell Show*.
**11th place (tie) — Tim Conway: 6 wins, 13 nominations.**
Conway displayed both comedic brilliance and writing talent, earning Emmys for performances on *The Carol Burnett Show*, *Coach*, and *30 Rock*. His awards reflect both his knack for acting and his impact in the writers’ room.
**11th place (tie) — Michael J. Fox: 5 wins, 18 nominations.**
Fox first gained widespread acclaim with three consecutive Emmy victories (1986–1988) for his charming role as Alex P. Keaton in *Family Ties*. Later, he added Emmys for *Spin City* and for his poignant guest role on *Rescue Me*.
**11th place (tie) — Kelsey Grammer: 5 wins, 17 nominations.**
Grammer’s deeply intellectual and long-lived character Frasier Crane earned him four Emmy Awards for *Frasier*. His versatility was further recognized with a win for his vocal portrayal of Sideshow Bob in *The Simpsons*.
**11th place (tie) — Betty White: 5 wins, 21 nominations.**
A television legend spanning decades, White won awards for her work on *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, *The Golden Girls*, *The John Larroquette Show*, and even late in her career with a guest-hosting turn on *Saturday Night Live*.
**8th place (tie) — Maya Rudolph: 6 wins, 15 nominations.**
Rudolph’s range has been rewarded with multiple statuettes: two for her comedic brilliance on *Saturday Night Live*, and four for voicing the hilariously unfiltered Connie the Hormone Monstress on *Big Mouth*.
**8th place (tie) — Art Carney: 6 wins, 12 nominations.**
Carney’s comedic genius shone through with four victories for *The Jackie Gleason Show*, a fifth for *The Honeymooners,* and a later recognition for the TV film *Terrible Joe Moran*.
**8th place (tie) — Tyne Daly: 6 wins, 16 nominations.**
Daly’s impressive record includes four lead actress trophies for *Cagney & Lacey* (1983, 1984, 1985, 1988). She later added wins with *Christy* (1996) and *Judging Amy* (2003).
**8th place (tie) — Alan Alda: 6 wins, 34 nominations.**
Alda excelled not only as an actor but also as a writer and director on *M*A*S*H*, where he collected five trophies. In 2006, he earned another for a standout guest appearance on *The West Wing*.
**4th place (tie) — Bryan Cranston: 7 wins, 16 nominations.**
Renowned for his role in *Breaking Bad*, Cranston’s six Emmys for acting and producing crowned his transformation from comedy actor to dramatic icon. Most recently, in 2025, he added a seventh Emmy at the Creative Arts Awards for his guest performance in *The Studio*.
**4th place (tie) — Allison Janney: 7 wins, 15 nominations.**
Janney’s formidable résumé includes four wins for *The West Wing* (2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004), where she played the sharp and witty C.J. Cregg. She later prevailed again with roles in *Masters of Sex* and *Mom*.
**4th place (tie) — Ed Asner: 7 wins, 17 nominations.**
Asner’s career is marked by its breadth, earning honors for *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, *Rich Man, Poor Man*, *Roots*, and *Lou Grant* — the last two making him one of the rare actors to win for embodying the same character in both a comedy and a drama.
**4th place (tie) — Mary Tyler Moore: 7 wins, 15 nominations.**
Moore remains one of television’s most cherished figures. She won two Emmys for *The Dick Van Dyke Show*, added four more for her groundbreaking sitcom *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, and later triumphed in a TV film, *Stolen Babies*.
**3rd place — Cloris Leachman: 8 wins, 22 nominations.**
Spanning more than three decades, Leachman’s Emmy record demonstrates astonishing versatility. Her roles in *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, *A Brand New Life*, *Cher*, the *Screen Actors Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration*, *Promised Land*, and *Malcolm in the Middle* reinforced her as a true chameleon of television acting.
**1st place (tie) — Carl Reiner: 11 wins, 18 nominations.**
Although best known as a comedy legend, Reiner’s Emmys were diverse. He earned three for acting, notably in *Caesar’s Hour* and *Mad About You*. The majority of his trophies, however, recognized his brilliant writing and producing, particularly on *The Dick Van Dyke Show* and the variety special *The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special*.
**1st place (tie) — Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 11 wins, 26 nominations.**
Louis-Dreyfus stands as one of the most decorated performers in Emmy history. She won a record-breaking six consecutive awards for her central role in *Veep*, and another three for producing it. Earlier in her career, she secured Emmys for *Seinfeld* and *The New Adventures of Old Christine*, establishing her status as the definitive queen of television comedy.
Carrie Wittmer contributed to an earlier version of this comprehensive listing.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/actors-with-most-emmy-awards
