Peter Dinklage could go out with a double bang — not on “Game of Thrones,” but at the Emmys. The three-time Best Drama Supporting Actor champ could set not one, but two Emmy records this year as the most nominated performer and the most awarded performer in the category.
Dinklage already holds the record for the former, having earned it last year upon his seventh nomination for “Game of Thrones.” He was previously tied with fellow six-time nominees Will Geer (“The Waltons”), Bruce Weitz (“Hill Street Blues”), Ed Begley Jr. (“St. Elsewhere”) and Jimmy Smits (“L.A. Law”); only Begley never won. So one last bid for the eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones” will — yes, will; this nomination is not in question — extend his own record and make Dinklage the only “Game of Thrones” star to have been nominated for every season of the show. He’s also the only “Game of Thrones” performer to have won, prevailing in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
His victory last year tied him with Aaron Paul for the most wins in the category. Paul won his trio of Emmys for “Breaking Bad” in 2010, 2012 and 2014, beating Dinklage twice. The two of them have won six of the nine drama supporting actor Emmys since 2010, with only Bobby Cannavale (“Boardwalk Empire,” 2013), Ben Mendelsohn (“Bloodline,” 2016) and John Lithgow (“The Crown,” 2017) able to break through the stranglehold.
Cannavale, who’s back in contention this year with “Homecoming,” is the only one to have defeated Dinklage and Paul. “Breaking Bad” was over by the time Mendelsohn won, beating Dinklage among his rivals, and Lithgow did not have to face Dinklage at all since “Game of Thrones” missed that cycle.
With 69/20 odds, Dinklage is the runaway favorite to grab that record-breaking fourth win. It is difficult to see who can take him down, given his track record, the expanded voting pool, the final season hype, and the fact that he’s the only “Game of Thrones” actor voters care to recognize. Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”) is in second place, followed by Dinklage’s co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Cannavale, Kieran Culkin (“Succession”) and Michael Kelly (“House of Cards”).
PREDICT the Emmy nominees now; change them until July 16
In the near future, you can check out how our experts rank this year’s Emmy contenders. Then take a look at the most up-to-date combined odds before you make your own 2019 Emmy predictions. Don’t be afraid to jump in now since you can keep changing your predictions until just before nominations are announced on July 16.
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