Danny McBride – Eastbound & Down

Role: Kenny Powers

Created by: Ben Best, Jody Hill, Danny McBride

Years showed aired: 2009-2013

Number of episodes appeared: 29

Wickedly of its time in history, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay produced the comedy that follows a former professional baseball player who returns to his southern hometown to become a substitute gym teacher bringing out the very best in its leading man Danny McBride. A gem of a performance that has its loyal fans.

Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment

Role: Paul Weston

Created by: Rodrigo García

Years showed aired: 2008-2010, 2021

Number of episodes appeared: 106 episodes

Irish-born character Gabriel Byrne, best known for his film performances such as “Miller’s Crossing” (1990), “The Usual Suspects” (1995) and “Hereditary” (2018) but he made his mark as psychotherapist Dr. Paul Weston on the HBO adaptation of the Israeli series “BeTipul.” For the first three seasons, the sharp writing is elevated by Byrne’s ability to convey Paul’s confidence, and its detoration through multiple conversations through multiple patients, is beautifully complex.

Isiah Whitlock Jr. – The Wire

Role: Senator Clay Davis

Created by: David Simon

Years showed aired: 2002-2008

Number of episodes appeared: 25

What many don’t know (or remember) is Isiah Whitlock’s popular catchphrase from the hit series “The Wire” didn’t originate on the program. The actor previously used the term in his collaboration with director Spike Lee in “25th Hour” (2002). Two years later, during the sixth episode of the third season of the David Simon-created series, “sheee-it” was born on the pages of the script, and we’ve never looked back.

Jonathan Groff – Looking

Role: Patrick Murray

Created by: Michael Lannan

Years showed aired: 2014-2015

Number of episodes appeared: 18

You wouldn’t be wrong if you chose either of Jonathan Groff’s co-stars – Frankie J. Alvarez as Agustin or Murray Bartlett as Dom – as your favorite performance from the short-lived relationship dramedy. Groff’s intimate approach to his Patrick Murray feels natural, and not at all forced, which elicits a powerful engagement from the viewer.

Thandiwe Newton – Westworld

Role: Maeve Millay

Created by: Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan

Years showed aired: 2016-2022

Number of episodes appeared: 36

The original inception of this piece wasn’t meant to include any of the actors of “Westworld” but HBO had different plans, surprising fans of the show and canceling it after its fourth season. Even though the once-promising drama series was spiraling downward fast in the eyes of many, one thing remained constant: Thandiwe Newton’s committed turn as Maeve Millay was a common highpoint of the drama, for which she won an Emmy in 2018 for supporting actress drama.

Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire

Role: Enoch “Nucky” Thompson

Created by: Terence Winter

Years showed aired: 2010-2014

Number of episodes appeared: 57

Steve Buscemi is one of the great character actors of our time, and it was great to see him step into the leading role of Nucky Thompson in the Terence Winter-created series. While he never managed to win an Emmy during his tenure, his SAG prize for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series in 2012 showed, he has the respect of his peers.

Thomas Middleditch – Silicon Valley

Role: Richard Hendricks

Created by: John Altschuler, Mike Judge, Dave Krinsky

Years showed aired: 2014-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 53

The parody of the tech world through the eyes of Richard Hendricks, played vividly by comedian Thomas Middleditch is a sensational feat that not many quite understand. Only able to muster a single nom across his run, the dry wit and commitment to humor has always been one of the bedrocks of Middleditch’s gifts as a performer.

Emilia Clarke – Game of Thrones

Role: Daenerys Targaryen

Created by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Years showed aired: 2011-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 62

You know her as Khaleesi of the Dothraki, the daughter of King Aerys II, the Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, or simply, the Mother of Dragons — Clarke rose to superstardom by bringing the iconic female warrior to life. While the creators weren’t able to give the George R.R. Martin fantasy series, an ending that would please fans of the series, her descent into madness and lust for power still remain a highpoint of “GOT” during its reign. We are forever in her debt.

Peter Krause – Six Feet Under

Role: Nate Fisher

Created by: Alan Ball

Years showed aired: 2001-2005

Number of episodes appeared: 63

There are dozens of bright spots in the series about a family that runs a funeral home, and one of those is the work of Peter Krause as Nate Fisher, the eldest child that searches for meaning in his own life. His heartbreaking portrayal earned him three Emmy nominations across the show’s six seasons. And even though he never won, the cast ensemble win in 2003, was able to make up (somewhat) for it.

Bill Camp – The Night Of

Role: Dennis Box

Created by: Richard Price, Steven Zaillian

Years showed aired: 2016

Number of episodes appeared: 8

You could place Bill Camp on this list a dozen times with any role he takes on, big or small. In “The Night Of,” the intensity of his detective trying to learn the truth about a murder case is sublime. Standing tall next to his co-stars Riz Ahmed and John Turturro. He received an Emmy nomination for his towering work.

Bobby Cannavale – Boardwalk Empire

Role: Gyp Rosetti

Created by: Terence Winter

Years showed aired: 2010-2014

Number of episodes appeared: 12

Bobby Cannavale was only on the drama series for a single season but what an impression he made. Variety has referenced his shocking Emmy win in 2013 over Jonathan Banks for “Breaking Bad” before, but that’s not to say his work wasn’t memorable and towering in a show that wasn’t always as consistent as we would have liked.

Kate Winslet – Mildred Pierce

Role: Mildred Pierce

Created by: Todd Haynes, Jon Raymond (based on the novel by James M. Cain)

Years showed aired: 2011

Number of episodes appeared: 5

A role and story that is sprinkled through different mediums in art, only a master actor like Kate Winslet could make the iconic role of Mildred Pierce feel new and inventive. Playing the porced mother that opens a restaurant, her Emmy-winning portrayal is a work of beauty, standing tall next to her other outstanding portrayals in film.

Jeremy Piven – Entourage

Role: Ari Gold

Created by: Doug Ellin

Years showed aired: 2004-2011

Number of episodes appeared: 96

When you think of “Entourage,” you think of Turtle. That’s just a fact, but Ari Gold does come barreling toward the forefront when thinking of the comedy series’ high points. Piven’s work in the tale of “douchebags” making it in Hollywood was perfect for its time, earning the actor back-to-back Emmys for supporting actor comedy.

Jeff Daniels – The Newsroom

Role: Will McAvoy

Created by: Aaron Sorkin

Years showed aired: 2012-2014

Number of episodes appeared: 25

The Hollywood industry loves Jeff Daniels, shown by his unexpected win in 2013 over Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) and Damian Lewis (“Homeland”). Many critics and viewers have their issues with the Aaron Sorkin drama, but the delivery of Will McAvoy by Daniels isn’t one of them. A world in which Daniels has statuettes, is one I’d like to continue to live in.

Kate Winslet – Mare of Easttown

Role: Marianne “Mare” Sheehan

Created by: Brad Inglesby

Years showed aired: 2021

Number of episodes appeared: 7

Kate Winslet had already cemented her place as one of her generation’s most gifted actors, especially after winning an Oscar for “The Reader” and an Emmy for “Mildred Pierce.” But Winslet knows she has more to give. Her fearless transformation into Philadelphia detective Mare Sheehan is another example of her emotional range, unafraid of the depth and layers that haunt her as she relentlessly tries to solve a murder case. A truly captivating and authentic Winslet signature role.

Idris Elba – The Wire

Role: Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell

Created by: David Simon

Years showed aired: 2002-2008

Number of episodes appeared: 37

The second-in-command to kingpin Avon Barksdale, Russell Bell’s journey throughout the crime series is riveting as invests in real estate and becomes a crime lord. This is due to Idris Elba’s striking good-looks and commanding presence.

All of Elba’s ticks and beats add nuance to the role, all leading to the climatic moment with Omar Little and Brother Mouzone in the third season.

Lena Dunham – Girls

Role: Hannah Horvath

Created by: Lena Dunham

Years showed aired: 2012-2017

Number of episodes appeared: 62

There’s no denying that Lena Dunham is a polarizing figure in the biz, but her commitment to female empowerment with “Girls” is an indisputable blessing to the generation that discovered it at the time. Her aspiring writer who struggles to support herself grapples with OCD and eventually gets pregnant from a brief fling that was perhaps too real for some to digest. She nabbed a total of eight Emmy noms across the length of the series, most impressively picking up four noms for comedy series as a producer, directing, writing and lead actress, becoming the first woman to achieve all four in the same year.

Tony Hale – Veep

Role: Gary Walsh

Created by: Armando Inannucci

Years showed aired: 2012-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 65

I had a dream…one that Gary Walsh, the personal aide and loyal confidant of VP (and eventual POTUS) Selina Meyer was cloned and sprinkled into every business and household in America. They all have the undying love, and lack of security clearance needed to be actually effective, but still there to bring joy and humor to everyday life. In conclusion, a world full of “Tony Hales” is my goal and I would like it to happen. Thank you for working on this science.

Love,

Everybody.

Anthony Carrigan – Barry

Role: NoHo Hank

Created by: Alec Berg, Bill Hader

Years showed aired: 2018-2023

Number of episodes appeared: 32

There will always be a place in our hearts for NoHo Hank, the lovable and naïve member of the Chechen mafia. That’s due to Anthony Carrigan’s versatility and charisma, which puts forth a chilling man that should be feared and then executes a stark contrast that brings the show’s biggest laughs with flawless timing. The actor’s work will be remember as one of the great scene-stealers in the comedic canon.

Sarah Jessica Parker – Sex and the City

Role: Carrie Bradshaw

Created by: Darren Star

Years showed aired: 1998-2004

Number of episodes appeared: 94

The cultural impact of HBO’s “Sex and the City” is immeasurable. Not only for women (and for the men that secretly watched it and pretended not to enjoy it) but for the legacy of Sarah Jessica Parker. As Carrie Bradshaw, the columnist for the fictitious New York Star, she narrates her musings about fashion, love and her memorable scenes with her BFF Stanford Blatch (played by the late Willie Garson). It’s made her a bonafide legend, as well as a two-time Emmy winner for lead actress comedy for the show’s final season, and as an executive producer when it picked up the top category in 2001.

Matthew Macfadyen – Succession

Role: Tom Wambsgans

Created by: Jesse Armstrong

Years showed aired: 2018-2023

Number of episodes appeared: 39 episodes

Tom won in more ways than one.

Matthew Macfadyen, who won the supporting drama actor Emmy for the show’s third season, played the sly and weasel husband to Shiv with fearless control. Aside from being deprived of a truly loving moment between Tom and his “one true love” Cousin Greg (played by Nicholas Braun), everything about Tom’s arc and promise soars thanks to Macfadyen, who finds the subtlety and knows where the limits of his character are. The siblings of “Succession” can’t hit their emotional notes without Tom’s key moves that put everything that leads to its riveting finale into motion.

Riz Ahmed – The Night Of

Role: Nasir “Naz” Khan

Created by: Richard Price, Steven Zaillian

Years showed aired: 2016

Number of episodes appeared: 8

London-born actor Riz Ahmed was coming off his breakout role in Dan Gilroy’s “Nightcrawler” alongside Jake Gyllenhaal when he landed the role of Naz Khan, a man who after a night of partying with a woman, wakes up and finds her stabbed to death and charged with her murder. For eight episodes, the audience is gripped and at the edge of their seats, wondering if he could have committed such a crime. In addition, we witness the loss of his innocence in the prison system. Ahmed’s performance hits even deeper, as the story comes off the suicide of Kalief Browder, an innocent Black man who was held on Rikers Island for three years without a trial, enduring unspeakable abuse and atrocities. Ahmed won an Emmy for lead actor in a limited series. He was only the second Asian, and first Muslim to win an acting Emmy.

Michael Imperioli – The Sopranos

Role: Christopher Moltisanti

Created by: David Chase

Years showed aired: 1999-2007

Number of episodes appeared: 83

Tony Soprano’s protégé Christopher resonates profoundly throughout the series, particularly with interactions with the mobster and his tumultuous exchanges with his girlfriend Adriana La Cerva (played brilliantly by Emmy winner Drea de Matteo). Imperioli won himself an Emmy for supporting actor drama for his efforts.

Kim Cattrall – Sex and the City

Role: Samantha Jones

Created by: Darren Star

Years showed aired: 1998-2004

Number of episodes appeared: 94

While many today focus on the “feud” between Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker, the actor’s portrayal as the outspoken independent businesswoman Samantha Jones was the scene-stealing sensation that we couldn’t get enough of in the 90s and early aughts. Through her seductions of a young waiter, and her sexual escapades, her most tender acting moments come when Samantha is diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoes chemotherapy in the final season. It allowed the vulnerability of the character to show, and Cattrall rose to the occasion.

By series-end, her work resulted in five consecutive Emmy nominations for supporting actress comedy, but sadly never a trip to the stage. Samantha may be gone, but never forgotten.

Adam Driver – Girls

Role: Adam Sackler

Created by: Lena Dunham

Years showed aired: 2012-2017

Number of episodes appeared: 49

The Lena Dunham-created comedy may have its vocal detractors but it’s undeniable to recognize that we don’t have Adam Driver as we see him today without getting his work as the aspiring actor Adam Sackler, the aloof and casual fling-turned-boyfriend of Hannah. Managing two pick up two Emmy noms in the early days of the series, Driver went on to become one of the show’s greatest successes, eventually bringing him into the world of “Star Wars” and picking up two Oscar noms for “BlacKkKlansman” (2018) and “Marriage Story” (2019).

I guess Adam did make it in the end, eh?

Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Deuce

Role: Eileen ‘Candy Renee’ Merrell

Created by: George Pelecanos, David Simon

Years showed aired: 2017-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 25

Like Thanos snapping his fingers in “Avengers: Infinity War,” the period drama from George Pelecanos and David Simon was a “blip” in the HBO repertoire, running quietly for three seasons. Despite its low profile, critics praised the ambitious take on New York City sex scene during the 70s and 80s. In particular, the performance of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s riveting portrayal of sex worker Candy Renee, who sees the opportunity to become a director in the emerging pornography industry, was beloved by many. The character is loosely based on adult film actress and director Candida Royalle.

Only able to muster a single Golden Globe nom for lead actress in a tv series (drama), the pocket of followers will always remember our time with Candy.

Nelsan Ellis – True Blood

Role: Lafayette Reynolds

Created by: Alan Ball

Years showed aired: 2008-2014

Number of episodes appeared: 81

Passion and fire, Nelan Ellis’ Lafayette Reynolds, Merlotte’s cook, and Tara’s (Rutina Wesley) cousin doesn’t take any shit from anyone. He stands his ground, giving people the dose of reality they need to hear (or feel), and eventually explores Wicca, which later leads to the discovery that he is a medium, like his Mamie. Ellis showed restraint in times we expected boisterous responses, which pointed to his smart instincts as an artist.

We lost Nelsan Ellis far too young at the age of 39, and the extraordinary promise he had already shown and could have achieved remains one of life’s bleak mysteries.

Frances Conroy – Six Feet Under

Role: Ruth Fisher

Created by: Alan Ball

Years showed aired: 2001-2005

Number of episodes appeared: 63

Before she walked into the land of “American Horror Story,” the blue-eyed sensation Frances Conroy was the matriarch of the Fisher family in Alan Ball’s acclaimed drama series. Picking up Emmy noms across the multiple seasons, she showed courage and vulnerability in key moments such as her trip to the self-help ground during season two or shooting all of her ex-lovers in a killer dream sequence.

Laura Dern – Enlightened

Role: Amy Jellicoe

Created by: Laura Dern, Mike White

Years showed aired: 2011-2013

Number of episodes appeared: 18

Pick a Dern, any Dern, and you’d be right.

Laura Dern has been fabulous in many HBO series and movies including Jay Roach’s “Recount” (2008) and Jennifer Fox’s “The Tale” (2018). The short time spent with her Amy Jellicoe on “Enlightened,” which she co-created with “The White Lotus” writer and director Mike White (who also co-stars), is daring and unassuming with her take on a self-destructive woman who creates havoc after a spiritual awakening.

Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much is True

Role: Dominick Birdsey / Thomas Birdsey

Created by: Derek Cianfrance, Anya Epstein (based on the novel by Wally Lamb)

Years showed aired: 2020

Number of episodes appeared: 6

Mark Ruffalo won his first Emmy award for best actor limited during the pandemic for his double duty as identical twin brothers Dominick and Thomas. Taking place in the early 1990s, this admittedly heavy drama may not be the easiest of watches, especially dealing with mental illness, but Ruffalo’s remarkable dedication to the characters makes the endeavor more than worth it.

John Kassir – Tales from the Crypt

Role: The Cryptkeeper

Created by: Steven Dodd

Years showed aired: 1989-1996

Number of episodes appeared: 93

You don’t need to see their face to understand the brilliance of an actor.

The Cryptkeeper, voiced by John Kassir, wasn’t only terrifying, but charmingly witty throughout the multiple seasons of the anthology series. Venturing off to create great spin-off movies, the Maryland-born voice artist is something the Television Academy should award one of its Honorary statuettes in the near future.

J.K. Simmons – Oz

Role: Vern Schillinger

Created by: Tom Fontana

Years showed aired: 1997-2003

Number of episodes appeared: 56

One of television’s most revered villains is none other than Vernon, the inmate of Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary. Alongside a fantastic cast that includes Ernie Hudson and Harold Perrineau, the tyrannical high-ranking member of the Brotherhood controls his prey with trickery and deception, all incredibly used components used from Simmons’ toolbelt of acting methods.

Michael C. Hall – Six Feet Under

Role: David Fisher

Created by: Alan Ball

Years showed aired: 2001-2005

Number of episodes appeared: 63

Before he was Dexter Morgan, Michael C. Hall was David, the uptight middle child of the Fisher family, who is coming to terms with his sexuality in the Alan Ball drama classic. So convincing in the role, he was able to pick up an Emmy nom for lead actor drama (unfortunately only once) during his tenure. A popular and beloved figure from the show, Hall’s work is a standout.

Bill Hader – Barry

Role: Barry Berkman

Created by: Alec Berg, Bill Hader

Years showed aired: 2018-2023

Number of episodes appeared: 32

The dark “comedy” about a hitman who falls in love with the craft of acting was a perfect fit for comedian Bill Hader, who got a rousing start on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” However, Hader’s extraordinary shifts from Barry’s dual identities of a cold, calculated killer to a vulnerable, passionate actor are among his most memorable moments. He infuses the subtle nuances that help the viewer through Barry’s tortured journey, which deservedly brought Hader two Emmys for the first two seasons.

Jeremy Strong – Succession

Role: Kendall Roy

Created by: Jesse Armstrong

Years showed aired: 2018-2023

Number of episodes appeared: 39 episodes

Kendall Roy may love rap music, but Jeremy Strong loves acting more. A dedicated actor, the powerhouse performer fully immerses himself in the role of the eldest Roy son (according to Kendall, even though his brother Connor is very much alive), arguably the most bloodthirsty for the throne. His meticulous attention to detail embraces Kendall’s tormenting complexities, producing a lasting impact on one of television’s most urgent drama series.

Justin Theroux – The Leftovers

Role: Kevin Garvey

Created by: Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

Years showed aired: 2014-2017

Number of episodes appeared: 28

Hindsight is always 20/20, and the love that has befallen “The Leftovers” following its short three-year stint is the perfect example. Justin Theroux’s work as Kevin Garvey, a father and chief of police who desperately tries to bring normalcy and reasoning to his town after 2% of the world’s population disappears, is astounding. Similar to the late support that followed Matthew Rhys in “The Americans,” fans found solace in the moments that make you cry (like him walking back into the house in the season two finale “You’re home”) and all the magic created with his co-star Carrie Coon.

Julianne Nicholson – Mare of Easttown

Role: Lori Ross

Created by: Brad Ingelsby

Years showed aired: 2021

Number of episodes appeared: 7

However great you think actress Julianne Nicholson is, know you’re wrong. She’s better than that. When millions of viewers watched the finale of the HBO limited series, we witnessed the full arsenal Nicholson has been equipped with for decades. In a pivotal scene where Lori spills into her friend Mare’s arms (played by her Emmy-winning co-star Kate Winslet) or when she whales her motherly anguish after the emotional reveal of the murder, “It’s Ryan! My Ryan!” Only the most skilled thespians can convey such fragility. It’s why she walked away with the Emmy for her towering performance.

Regina King – Watchmen

Role: Angela Abar / Sister Night

Created by: Damon Lindelof

Years showed aired: 2019

Number of episodes appeared: 9

You couldn’t have convinced me that Regina King would one day win an Emmy for a superhero series, but alas, there’s nothing she can’t do. In the Damon Lindelof limited series, she commands the screen alongside a killer ensemble, as a different interpretation of the comic book series. A true delight.

Cynthia Nixon – Sex and the City

Role: Miranda Hobbes

Created by: Darren Star

Years showed aired: 1998-2004

Number of episodes appeared: 94

The bones of a great actor are made on the stage, and that’s proven by Cynthia Nixon’s take on Miranda Hobbes, the cynical lawyer and Carrie’s voice of reason. In a quartet of strong women where Carrie needs a lot of hand-holding, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is too positive for some of us and Samantha is relentlessly herself, Miranda really is the best character, and that’s thanks to Nixon’s warm and direct deliveries.

Her third Emmy nom was the charm, finally winning her statuette for the dramedy’s final season in 2004, which made many rejoice.

Jeffrey Wright – Angels in America

Role: Mr. Lies / Norman “Belize” Arriaga / Homeless man / The Angel Europa

Created by: Tony Kushner (based on his 1991 play)

Years showed aired: 2003

Number of episodes appeared: 6

The adaptation of Tony Kushner’s stage play is a masterpiece and among the top five best endeavors of HBO’s history. You could make an argument for almost every actor making a play for a spot on this list but Jeffrey Wright’s Emmy-winning turn stands as his finest acting moment yet. Listen again to his speech about “love being ambivalent” for all the proof you need.

Issa Rae – Insecure

Role: Issa Dee

Created by: Issa Rae, Larry Wilmore

Years showed aired: 2016-2021

Number of episodes appeared: 44

This will be our first television season without Issa Dee in it, and honestly, I’m not looking forward to it. Issa Rae’s creation and expansion of her web series are lovely in almost every way, as she captures comedy and life in a way we couldn’t imagine. Multiple Emmy noms couldn’t bring a win but we don’t need it to say with certainty, she’s one of the best ones that HBO has offered.

Sarah Snook – Succession

Role: Siobhan “Shiv” Roy

Created by: Jesse Armstrong

Years showed aired: 2018-2023

Number of episodes appeared: 39 episodes

Intriguing, intelligent and utterly unpredictable, Sarah Snook’s captivating work as the political fixer and only daughter of Logan Roy packs a punch. Snook expertly conveys the evolving relationship with her beau Tom and the exploration of the gender dynamics, possessing a sharp wit and assuredness as an actor and authority figure — likely to be debated for all-time (especially given the show’s finale).

Long live Shiv!

Lorraine Bracco – The Sopranos

Role: Dr. Jennifer Melfi

Created by: David Chase

Years showed aired: 1999-2007

Number of episodes appeared: 71

Therapy works, especially if Lorraine Bracco is your doctor.

Always great at playing women caught up in the lives of mobsters, shown by her Oscar-nominated work in “Goodfellas” (1990), her work as Tony Soprano’s psychiatrist had her extend herself far beyond where we thought she could stretch as an actor. With memorable scenes, nothing takes better conveys her power than her rejection of Tony in which she yells, “Fuck you You’re a fucking cunt!”

Bracco’s Emmy runs for the character were complicated with three noms in lead, and one in supporting for the final season (alongside Aida Turturro) which she shockingly lost to Katherine Heigl for “Grey’s Anatomy” in the most shocking Emmy upset in recent memory.

Meryl Streep – Angels in America

Role: Hannah Pitt / Ethel Rosenberg / The Rabbi / The Angel Australia

Created by: Tony Kushner (based on his 1991 play)

Years showed aired: 2003

Number of episodes appeared: 6

It’s Meryl Streep. Seeing her on any list that reflects on “the best of…” is almost always a given. Her transformations throughout Mike Nichols’ masterpiece is otherworldly. In one of the best sequences when Street delivers the eulogy as The Rabbi, you see why she’s one of the best actors in history.

Ian McShane – Deadwood

Role: Al Swearengen

Created by: David Milch

Years showed aired: 2004-2006

Number of episodes appeared: 36

You can never count out a good western, and with it, a performance such as Ian McShane’s Al Swearengen in the classic “Deadwood,” that has built a legion of followers since its time. That love even led to a movie (that wasn’t well-received) but shows how much people wanted to see McShane back in the saddle.

Lena Headey – Game of Thrones

Role: Cersei Lannister

Created by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Years showed aired: 2011-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 62

Cersei becomes so many things in “Game of Thrones.”

She’s a widow, a grieving mother, an incestuous monster and a blood-thirsty monarch. All of this was generated through precision and design by the incredible Lena Headey. From the meticulous and hard-formed exterior, she shines in the moments that would have been throwaways in any other actor’s hands, such as the now everlasting meme: “I choose violence.”

Five Emmy nominations came her way, but unfortunately, with not any invitation to the stage. Maybe in the next life.

Edie Falco – The Sopranos

Role: Carmela Soprano

Created by: David Chase

Years showed aired: 1999-2007

Number of episodes appeared: 85

The struggling and suffering wife role takes on new meaning under the guidance of Edie Falco in the classic crime series. One of the high points of the series is the Season 4, Episode 13 piece “Whitecaps,” which has her unleashing all her fury upon Tony about cheating and other transgressions.

Six Emmy noms across the show, with three wins, Falco is the co-founder of bad-ass women on TV.

Kieran Culkin – Succession

Role: Roman Roy

Created by: Jesse Armstrong

Years showed aired: 2018-2023

Number of episodes appeared: 39 episodes

An integral piece of one of HBO’s most engrossing cast ensembles, Kieran Culkin crafts a multi-dimensional Roman Roy, full of moral complexity and rich development thanks to creator Jesse Armstrong’s brilliant writing. His masterful delivery and precise timing of Roman’s signature one-liners created one of the finest character arcs of the beloved series. Culkin’s range, which adeptly captures his wide spectrum of emotions (i.e., talking to his dying Dad or delivering the eulogy), will remain engraved in television history.

Bill Paxton – Big Love

Role: Bill Henrickson

Created by: Mark V. Olsen, Will Scheffer

Years showed aired: 2006-2011

Number of episodes appeared: 53

Before the reality show “Sister Wives,” HBO had us gripped with “Big Love” led by the star power of the vivacious Bill Paxton alongside a troupe of powerhouse women including Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin. His Bill Henrickson, steeped in religion and blinded by his own needs, is terrifically executed.

I’d give anything to get another Paxton performance these days.

Garry Shandling – The Larry Sanders Show

Role: Larry Sanders

Created by: Garry Shandling, Dennis Klein

Years showed aired: 1992-1998

Number of episodes appeared: 89

The fictional late-night talk show host Larry Sanders put HBO on the map in pop culture in the early 90s. That’s thanks to Garry Shandling’s hilarious and fearless portrayal brings this satirical look to new heights. With funny bits with Artie (Rip Torn) and Hank (Jeffrey Tambor), his warm-up routines and biting monologues are tattooed on the artistic skin of every late night show, real or fake, that exists today.

Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback

Role: Valerie Cherish

Created by: Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow

Years showed aired: 2005-2014

Number of episodes appeared: 21

Lisa Kudrow is, and will always be Phoebe Buffay. However, Valerie Cherish is the alter-ego and one we cannot deny. One of the rare instances of a series that were so amazing, that HBO didn’t know what to do with it, its short two-season stint made a profound impact and Kudrow’s portrayal landed a coveted Emmy nomination for lead actress comedy.

A revival would be welcomed if HBO felt compelled to do so. Just saying…

Brian Cox – Succession

Role: Logan Roy

Created by: Jesse Armstrong

Years showed aired: 2018-2023

Number of episodes appeared: 39 episodes

As the central figure on which the entire premise rests upon the choices, Scottish veteran Brian Cox chooses to push the wealthy Roy patriarch. And he pushes him to the limit. Always dependable for a reliable “fuck off” line, it’s Cox’s intricate nuances that reveal the Waystar Royco CEO’s flaws, vulnerabilities and motivations across the four dramatic seasons. With renowned and biting dialogue, Cox created a symphony of cohesive storytelling tied to his talented cast of actors.

Nicole Kidman – Big Little Lies

Role: Celeste Wright

Created by: David E. Kelley

Years showed aired: 2017-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 14

With Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern in tow, Nicole Kidman’s career took on new heights when she played the abused Celeste Wright in David E. Kelley’s limited series (later turned drama series when it returned for a second season). Sweeping the TV prizes, Kidman’s delectable turn and scene exchanges with Alexander Skarsgård, are among the most compelling moments for her as an actor.

Matthew McConaughey – True Detective

Role: Rustin “Rust” Cohle

Created by: Nic Pizzolatto

Years showed aired: 2014 (season one anthology story)

Number of episodes appeared: 8

It’s believed in the awards pundit world that part of Matthew McConaughey’s Oscar win for “Dallas Buyers Club” was for what he brings to “True Detective” opposite Woody Harrelson. A transformative performance that stands cleanly as the finest acting work of his career. If only the anthology series could capture that magic once again in future seasons.

Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You

Role: Arabella

Created by: Michaela Coel

Years showed aired: 2020

Number of episodes appeared: 12

A recent selection but one that is deserved as Michaela Coel’s work as a writer, director, producer and actress on the limited series “I May Destroy You” is brave as it unravels the emotional complexities of sexual assault and survival. Infusing humor in serious subject matter, Coel’s Arabella is a showcase for Black women in a business that often is ignored. She won an Emmy for writing, but also picked up noms for outstanding limited series, lead actress and directing, the first Black woman to achieve this feat.

Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones

Role: Tyrion Lannister

Created by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Years showed aired: 2011-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 67

The most awarded actor ever in the best supporting actor drama category at the Emmys, Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion Lannister brings the audience on a resounding journey in the fantastical HBO series. With his interactions with his older siblings Cersei (Lena Headey) and Jamie (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), his wit and charm to overcome the prejudices of the world that only sees him as a dwarf, he becomes an eventual emotional pillar of the show.

If only we could get that Season 8 redo, and have Tyrion become king, we could right a terrible wrong (no offense Bran).

Michael K. Williams – The Wire

Role: Omar Little

Created by: David Simon

Years showed aired: 2002-2008

Number of episodes appeared: 51

Michael K. Williams could have been on this list two other times with “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Night Of,” but his turn as Omar Little, the stick-up man with a strict moral code in “The Wire,” stands as his brightest in a sea of luminous performances. It’s strange that none of the actor’s five Emmy noms were for the David Simon series, but considering that the show only was able to nab two writing noms across its entire tenure, it’s not too surprising.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

Role: Selina Meyer

Created by: Armando Iannucci

Years showed aired: 2012-2019

Number of episodes appeared: 65

It was almost a clean sweep for Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the Emmys, winning six consecutive lead actress comedy statuettes for her work as the fictional vice president of the United States. Almost painstakingly ahead of its time, we had no idea how it would mirror our current political climate, and if we’re being honest, I’d take the world by Iannucci compared to what we currently have going on in America. Nonetheless, Dreyfus’ soaring timing, larger-than-life persona and expert acting techniques showcase why she’s cemented as the first lady of comedy TV.

Carrie Coon – The Leftovers

Role: Nora Durst

Created by: Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

Years showed aired: 2014-2017

Number of episodes appeared: 28

When you look at the history of HBO’s loudest, and most bombastic performances, at first glance, Carrie Coon’s Nora Durst, the wife and mother who lost her entire family in the Sudden Departure. And the reader may not understand why Coon’s work is listed so high, especially above notable Emmy-winning turns from other actors. I can only assume you didn’t watch the entirety of “The Leftovers,” which builds for three seasons and culminates on an eight-minute monologue in the series finale where Nora reveals to Kevin what she’s been doing in the decade since their hotel room fight. Eight minutes of precision, articulation and artistic glory exist in the eyes of Coon, with no flashbacks. We’re only left with ambiguity yet satisfaction in what may or may not have been.

The biggest crime? Not a single Emmy nom for Coon across the multiple seasons. In fact, only one for the entire series – a deserving one for Ann Dowd in guest actress drama.

James Gandolfini – The Sopranos

Role: Tony Soprano

Created by: David Chase

Years showed aired: 1999-2007

Number of episodes appeared: 86

You could have easily placed the entire cast of “The Sopranos” on this list, all giving their own qualities and contributions that would eventually lead to James Gandolfini’s New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano. You don’t get the psychological understanding without Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), the love without Carmela (Edie Falco), the God-like presence without Christopher (Michael Imperioli), the loyalty without Silvio (Steven Van Zandt) or the reality of his consequences and betrayal without Adriana (Drea de Matteo).

The late actor’s legacy is pronounced and known. Before “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men,” the HBO crime series revolutionized television, with Gandolfini’s interpretation of mental health and impulsive nature that could have one episode looking like it’s going one way, before rapidly going elsewhere. There is no HBO without “The Sopranos” and there is no “Sopranos” without Gandolfini.

Three Emmy wins later, they were all deserved.