As Primetime Emmy anomalies go, the 1982 Best Drama Supporting Actor lineup stands out as one of the most noteworthy. For the first and only time in any category, every nominee was a cast member on the same program, namely the police procedural “Hill Street Blues.” The five contenders – Taurean Blaque, Michael Conrad, Charles Haid, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz – ranged in age from 36 to 56, with their characters varying in rank from officer to sergeant. Conrad, the eldest, was ultimately chosen as the victor for the second year in a row.
“Hill Street Blues” also achieved its second of four consecutive Best Drama Series victories in 1982, along with wins for Best Actor (Daniel J. Travanti) and Best Writing. Conrad, who was originally the third oldest man to prevail in his category, has since been surpassed by seven others, five of whom were over 70.
Since 1959, a total of 39 actors have won for their supporting roles on continuing drama programs, beginning with Dennis Weaver (“Gunsmoke”). Five winners besides Conrad have pulled off multiple victories.
Check out our photo gallery to find out who ranks ahead of Conrad on the list of 10 oldest Best Drama Supporting Actor Emmy winners.
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10. Michael Conrad (‘Hill Street Blues,’ 1982)
Image Credit: NBC Age: 56
Role: Phil Esterhaus
Conrad earned two subsequent nominations for this role, including a posthumous one in 1984.
Other nominees:
Taurean Blaque (“Hill Street Blues”)
Charles Haid (“Hill Street Blues”)
Michael Warren (“Hill Street Blues”)
Bruce Weitz (“Hill Street Blues”) -
9. Hector Elizondo (‘Chicago Hope,’ 1997)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 60
Role: Dr. Phillip Watters
This was Elizondo’s third of four nominations for this role, and the only time he directly competed against a costar (Adam Arkin).
Other nominees:
Adam Arkin (“Chicago Hope”)
Eriq La Salle (“ER”)
Nicholas Turturro (“NYPD Blue”)
Noah Wyle (“ER”) -
8. Richard Dysart (‘L.A. Law,’ 1992)
Image Credit: NBC Age: 63
Role: Leland McKenzie
Dysart picked up four consecutive bids for this role and prevailed on his final try. He lost to a costar twice: Larry Drake in 1989 and Jimmy Smits in 1990.
Other nominees:
Ed Asner (“The Trials of Rosie O’Neill”)
John Corbett (“Northern Exposure”)
Richard Kiley (“The Ray Bradbury Theater”)
Jimmy Smits (“L.A. Law”)
Dean Stockwell (“Quantum Leap”) -
7. Milburn Stone (‘Gunsmoke,’ 1968)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 63
Role: Doc Adams
During his two-decade tenure on this series, Stone earned just this single notice for his work on Season 13.
Other nominees:
Joseph Camapanella (“Mannix”)
Lawrence Dobkin (“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”)
Leonard Nimoy (“Star Trek”) -
6. Alan Alda (“The West Wing,” 2006)
Image Credit: NBC Age: 70
Role: Senator Arnold Vinick
24 years after winning his fourth Emmy for his lead role on the comedy series “M*A*S*H,” Alda conquered a new category. His two-season stint as this presidential candidate brought him as many nominations.
Other nominees:
Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos”)
Gregory Itzin (“24”)
Oliver Platt (“Huff”)
William Shatner (“Boston Legal”) -
5. John Lithgow (‘The Crown,’ 2017)
Image Credit: Netflix Age: 71
Role: Winston Churchill
Lithgow’s first bid in this category led to his sixth victory. He was the third actor to win an Emmy for playing Churchill, after Albert Finney (“The Gathering Storm,” 2002) and Brendan Gleeson (“Into the Storm,” 2009).
Other nominees:
Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”)
David Harbour (“Stranger Things”)
Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”)
Michael Kelly (“House of Cards”)
Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”)
Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”) -
4. Fyvush Finkel (‘Picket Fences,’ 1994)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 71
Role: Douglas Wambaugh
After making his TV acting debut at 65, Finkel earned two bids for this four-season series.
Other nominees:
Gordon Clapp (“NYPD Blue”)
Barry Corbin (“Northern Exposure”)
Nicholas Turturro (“NYPD Blue”)
Ray Walston (“Picket Fences”) -
3. Will Geer (‘The Waltons,’ 1975)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 73
Role: Zebulon Walton
This role brought Geer six consecutive nominations, the last of which came after his death in 1978. He was also recognized posthumously for his guest appearances on “The Love Boat” and “Eight is Enough.”
Other nominees:
J.D. Cannon (“McCloud”)
Michael Douglas (“The Streets of San Francisco”) -
2. William Shatner (‘Boston Legal,’ 2005)
Image Credit: ABC Age: 74
Role: Denny Crane
One year after his guest performance as Crane on “The Practice” earned him his first Emmy, Shatner bagged a second trophy for playing the character on this sequel series. He went on to reap four subsequent nominations.
Other nominees:
Alan Alda (“The West Wing”)
Naveen Andrews (“Lost”)
Terry O’Quinn (“Lost”)
Oliver Platt (“Huff”) -
1. Ray Walston (‘Picket Fences,’ 1996)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 81
Role: Judge Henry Bone
After 40 years in the business, TV veteran Walston finally earned Emmy recognition for his portrayal of Bone. This was his second victory in a row.
Other nominees:
Hector Elizondo (“Chicago Hope”)
James McDaniel (“NYPD Blue”)
Stanley Tucci (“Murder One”)
Noah Wyle (“ER”)
