Until “Saturday Night Live” surpassed it in 2020, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” stood above all other TV programs in that it boasted the most Primetime Emmy wins for acting. A total of 15 trophies were handed out to six of its cast members, with the 1973 and 1976 Best Comedy Supporting Actor awards going to Ted Knight for his portrayal of dim-witted news anchor Ted Baxter.
Knight earned his second win for the penultimate season episode “Ted’s Wedding,” in which Baxter is strong-armed into finally tying the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Georgette (Best Comedy Supporting Actress nominee Georgia Engel). At the time, the 52-year-old was the oldest man to ever triumph in his category, beating out 49-year-old Art Carney (“The Jackie Gleason Show,” 1968). Nine older men have since outpaced Knight, including five in their 60s and one in his 70s.
Since 1954, a total of 44 actors have won Emmys for their supporting roles on continuing comedy programs, beginning with Carney. Including Carney and Knight, 18 of the winners have prevailed on more than one occasion.
Check out our photo gallery to find out who ranks ahead of Knight on the list of 10 oldest Best Comedy Supporting Actor Emmy winners. This list also factors in winners of the now-retired variety performance awards, since regular cast members on continuing variety series now compete here.
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10. Ted Knight (‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ 1976)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 52
Role: Ted Baxter
Knight’s performance as Baxter brought him a total of six consecutive nominations.
Other nominees:
Ed Asner (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”)
Gary Burghoff (“M*A*S*H”)
Harry Morgan (“M*A*S*H”)
Abe Vigoda (“Barney Miller”) -
9. Alex Rocco (‘The Famous Teddy Z,’ 1990)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 54
Role: Al Floss
Rocco earned his only Emmy nomination and win for this one-season series, which was inspired by the true story of a mailroom clerk who became Marlon Brando‘s agent.
Other nominees:
Kelsey Grammer (“Cheers”)
Woody Harrelson (“Cheers”)
Charles Kimbrough (“Murphy Brown”)
Jerry Van Dyke (“Coach”) -
8. Pat Harrington Jr. (‘One Day at a Time,’ 1984)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 55
Role: Dwayne Schneider
Harrington played building superintendent Schneider for all nine of this series’ seasons and was finally rewarded for his work on its last.
Other nominees:
René Auberjonois (“Benson”)
Nicholas Colasanto (“Cheers”)
Tom Poston (“Newhart”)
George Wendt (“Cheers”) -
7. Alec Baldwin (‘Saturday Night Live,’ 2017)
Image Credit: NBC Age: 59
Role: Donald Trump
After 16 hosting gigs between 1990 and 2011, Baldwin took on the task of playing candidate and eventual president Donald Trump in a recurring role. By appearing on 17 of Season 42’s 21 episodes, Baldwin was classified as a full-fledged supporting player rather than a guest performer.
Other nominees:
Louie Anderson (“Baskets”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”)
Tony Hale (“Veep”)
Matt Walsh (“Veep”) -
6. Louie Anderson (‘Baskets,’ 2016)
Image Credit: FX Age: 63
Role: Christine Baskets
Anderson’s portrayal of this long-suffering mother resulted in his first Emmy nomination and win, as well as two more consecutive bids.
Other nominees:
Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”)
Tony Hale (“Veep”)
Keegan-Michael Key (“Key & Peele”)
Matt Walsh (“Veep”) -
5. Harry Morgan (‘M*A*S*H,’ 1980)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 65
Role: Sherman Potter
Morgan joined this series in its fourth season and went on to accumulate nine acting nominations. His single victory was accompanied by a directing bid for an eighth season episode.
Other nominees:
Mike Farrell (“M*A*S*H”)
Max Gail (“Barney Miller”)
Howard Hesseman (“WKRP in Cincinnati”)
Steve Landesberg (“Barney Miller”) -
4. Rip Torn (‘The Larry Sanders Show,’ 1996)
Image Credit: Dimension Films Age: 65
Role: Artie
Torn garnered a total of six bids for this role. He was a double nominee in 1996, having also been recognized for his guest spot on the drama series “Chicago Hope.”
Other nominees:
Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”)
David Hyde Pierce (“Frasier”)
Michael Richards (“Seinfeld”)
Jeffrey Tambor (“The Larry Sanders Show”) -
3. Jonathan Winters (‘Davis Rules,’ 1991)
Image Credit: ABC Age: 65
Role: Gunny Davis
Winters earned his first Emmy nomination and only win for his work on this two-season series. His subsequent reunion with castmate Bonnie Hunt on “Life with Bonnie” brought him a guest acting bid in 2003.
Other nominees:
Charles Durning (“Evening Shade”)
Woody Harrelson (“Cheers”)
Michael Jeter (“Evening Shade”)
Jerry Van Dyke (“Coach”) -
2. Tony Shalhoub (‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ 2019)
Image Credit: Sarah Shatz/Amazon Studios Age: 65
Role: Abe Weissman
Shalhoub has been recognized for this performance a total of four times. He previously brought home three trophies for his lead role on “Monk” between 2003 and 2006.
Other nominees:
Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)
Anthony Carrigan (“Barry”)
Tony Hale (“Veep”)
Stephen Root (“Barry”)
Henry Winkler (“Barry”) -
1. Henry Winkler (‘Barry,’ 2018)
Image Credit: HBO Age: 72
Role: Gene Cousineau
Four decades after earning a trio of lead nominations for his iconic portrayal of Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli on “Happy Days,” Winkler finally received an acting honor for this secondary role.
Other nominees:
Louie Anderson (“Baskets”)
Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta”)
Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
