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The 28 Most Dominating Emmy Winners of All Time

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | September 19, 2011 |

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | September 19, 2011 |


At last night’s Emmy Awards, we saw once again the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences do what they do best: Hand out awards to repeat winners. The Academy is notorious for finding favorites and sticking with them, although in many cases, it’s hard to argue. It might have been nice to see the award for Best Variety Show go to someone other than Jon Stewart, but I wouldn’t dare suggest that he didn’t deserve it. Likewise, “Mad Men” won for the fourth year in a row, and while my personal preference might have been “Friday Night Lights,” I can’t argue with “Mad Men,” either, which had what I thought was its best season. I am curious how things will shake out next year when “Mad Men” won’t be eligible: I think “Breaking Bad” will finally get its due in the category. The second win for “Modern Family” I find harder to explain: It might have deserved it in its first year (when it won), but against “Parks and Recreation,” it shouldn’t have had a chance with a weaker second season.

But, really, how often does the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hand out the same award to the same player? Three times is so common that, at a certain point, I decided not to include three-time winners on this list. But among those who have won four or more times, there were 28 in the major categories.

9 Wins

  • “The Daily Show”: Best Variety Show (2003 - 2011)

  • “The Amazing Race”: Best Reality Competition (2001-2009, 2011)

    6 Wins

  • “The Late Show with David Letterman”: Best Variety Show (1994, 1998-2002)

    5 Wins

  • “Frasier”: Best Comedy Winner (1994-1998)

  • Mary Tyler Moore: Best Actress (Comedy) for “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1964, 1966), “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1973 -1974, 1976)

  • Don Knotts: Best Supporting Actor on “The Andy Griffith Show” (1961-1963, 1966-1967)

  • Candice Bergen: Best Actress (Comedy) for “Murphy Brown” (1989-1990, 1992, 1994-1995)

  • Peter Falk: Best Actor (Drama) for “Colombo” (1972,1975-1976, 1990) and “The Dick Powell Theater” (1962)

    4 Wins

  • Michael J. Fox: Best Actor (Comedy) for “Family Ties” (1986-1988) and “Spin City” (2000)

  • Tyne Dailey: Best Actress (Comedy) for “Cagney and Lacy” (1983-1985, 1988)

  • Carol O’Connor: Best Actor (Comedy) for “All in the Family” (1972, 1977-1979)

  • John Larroquette: Best Supporting Actor (Comedy) for “Night Court” (1985-1988)

  • David Hyde Pierce: Best Supporting Actor (Comedy) for “Frasier” (1995, 1998 -1999, 2004)

  • “Mad Men”: Best Drama (2008-2011)

  • Lucille Ball: Best Actress (Comedy) for “Lucille Ball” (1953) and “I Love Lucy” (1956) and “The Lucy Show” (1967-1968)

  • Michael Learned: Best Actress (Drama) for “The Waltons” (1973 - 1974, 1976) and “Nurse” (1982)

  • Dennis Franz: Best Actor (Drama) for “NYPD Blue” (1994, 1996-1997, 1999)

  • Rhea Perlman: Best Supporting Actress (Comedy) for “Cheers” (1984,1986, 1989)

  • Doris Roberts: Best Supporting Actress (Comedy) for “Everybody Loves Raymond” (2001-2003, 2005)

  • “Hill Street Blues”: Best Drama (1981-1984)

  • “Playhouse 90”: Best Drama (1957-1960)

  • Nancy Marchand: Best Supporting Actress (Drama) for “Lou Grant” (1978, 1980-1982)

  • “West Wing”: Best Drama (2000 - 2003)

  • Kelsey Grammer: Best Actor (Comedy) for “Frasier” (1994 - 1995, 1998, 2004)

  • “The Dick Van Dyke Show”: Best Comedy Winner (1963 - 1966)

  • “All in the Family”: Best Comedy (1971-1973, 1978)

  • Jeff Probst: Best Reality Show Host for “Survivor” (2008-2011)

  • Helen Hunt: Best Actress (Comedy) for “Mad About You” (1996-1999)