In the late 1990s, ABC’s “The Practice” followed in the path of other legal dramas like “The Defenders” and “L.A. Law” by winning the Emmy for Best Drama Series two years in a row. Its second victory in 1999 came with three acting wins as well, for Edward Herrmann (Guest Actor), Michael Badalucco (Supporting Actor), and Holland Taylor (Supporting Actress). Ultimately, 22 different performers would earn 27 bids for their work on the series, placing it behind “ER” as having the second-highest number of individual acting nominees.
In winning her category, Taylor defeated two of her castmates: Lara Flynn Boyle and 1998 champion Camryn Manheim. Her episode submission, “End Games,” included a storyline devoted to her character, a lascivious judge, dealing with a personal sexual harassment lawsuit from a former clerk. At the time, Taylor was the third oldest victor in her category, but has since moved to 10th place.
Since 1959, a total of 38 actresses have won for their supporting roles on continuing drama programs, beginning with Barbara Hale (“Perry Mason”). 10 of these winners have prevailed two or more times.
Check out our photo gallery to find out who ranks ahead of Taylor on the list of 10 oldest Best Drama Supporting Actress Emmy winners.
-
10. Holland Taylor (‘The Practice,’ 1999)
Image Credit: MGM Studios Age: 56
Role: Judge Roberta Kittleson
Taylor appeared in just six of the 23 episodes of this show’s third season, but was classified as a full-fledged supporting player rather than a guest performer. She was part of each subsequent season and received an additional bid for the fourth.
Other nominees:
Lara Flynn Boyle (“The Practice”)
Kim Delaney (“NYPD Blue”)
Camryn Manheim (“The Practice”)
Nancy Marchand (“The Sopranos”) -
9. Tyne Daly (‘Judging Amy,’ 2003)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 57
Role: Maxine Gray
Daly garnered six consecutive nominations for this role and triumphed on her fourth outing. She previously won in this category for “Christy” in 1996.
Other nominees:
Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under”)
Stockard Channing (“The West Wing”)
Rachel Griffiths (“Six Feet Under”)
Lena Olin (“Alias”) -
8. Bonnie Bartlett (‘St. Elsewhere,’ 1987)
Image Credit: NBC Age: 58
Role: Ellen Craig
This was Bartlett’s second win in a row for this role. She picked up an additonal nomination one year later.
Other nominees:
Allyce Beasley (“Moonlighting”)
Christina Pickles (“St. Elsewhere”)
Susan Ruttan (“L.A. Law”)
Betty Thomas (“Hill Street Blues”) -
7. Stockard Channing (‘The West Wing,’ 2002)
Image Credit: NBC Age: 58
Role: Abbey Bartlet
Channing’s portrayal of this fictional first lady brought her a half dozen bids. She reaped a second prize in 2002 for her supporting turn in the TV movie “The Matthew Shepard Story.”
Other nominees:
Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under”)
Tyne Daly (“Judging Amy”)
Janel Moloney (“The West Wing”)
Mary-Louise Parker (“The West Wing”) -
6. Margo Martindale (‘Justified,’ 2011)
Image Credit: FX Age: 60
Role: Mags Bennett
This was Martindale’s first Emmy nomination and win. She has amassed a total of six bids and three trophies.
Other nominees:
Christine Baranski (“The Good Wife”)
Michelle Forbes (“The Killing”)
Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”)
Kelly Macdonald (“Boardwalk Empire”)
Archie Panjabi (“The Good Wife”) -
5. Dianne Wiest (‘In Treatment,’ 2008)
Image Credit: HBO Age: 60
Role: Dr. Gina Toll
This was Wiest’s second Emmy win and first in this category. Her first victory came for her guest appearance on “Road to Avonlea” (1997).
Other nominees:
Candice Bergen (“Boston Legal”)
Rachel Griffiths (“Brothers & Sisters”)
Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”)
Chandra Wilson (“Grey’s Anatomy”) -
4. Ann Dowd (‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ 2017)
Image Credit: Hulu Age: 61
Role: Aunt Lydia
Dowd has earned a trio of nominations for her work on this series. She was a double nominee in 2017, having also been recognized as a guest performer on “The Leftovers.”
Other nominees:
Uzo Aduba (“Orange is the New Black”)
Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”)
Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”)
Thandiwe Newton (“Westworld”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) -
3. Blythe Danner (‘Huff,’ 2006)
Image Credit: James Dittiger/Showtime Age: 63
Role: Izzy Huffstodt
Danner won back-to-back awards for this two-season series. She also competed in the Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category both times for her work on “Will & Grace.”
Other nominees:
Candice Bergen (“Boston Legal”)
Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”)
Jean Smart (“24”)
Chandra Wilson (“Grey’s Anatomy”) -
2. Ellen Corby (‘The Waltons,’ 1976)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 64
Role: Esther Walton
Corby’s six consecutive nominations for this role resulted in three wins, the first of which came in 1973 and 1975.
Other nominees:
Angela Baddeley (“Upstairs, Downstairs”)
Susan Howard (“Petrocelli”)
Dorothy McGuire (“Rich Man, Poor Man”)
Sada Thompson (“Sandburg’s Lincoln”) -
1. Maggie Smith (‘Downton Abbey,’ 2016)
Image Credit: PBS Age: 81
Role: Violet Crawley
This was Smith’s third win for this role and second in this category. Her first came in 2011 when “Downton Abbey” was classified as a limited series.
Other nominees:
Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”)
Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”)
Maura Tierney (“The Affair”)
Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”)
Constance Zimmer (“UnREAL”)
