Three years ago, the Primetime Emmy awards were handily dominated on the comedy side by Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” The freshman program was named Best Comedy Series and won seven other awards, including two for the acting work of leading lady Rachel Brosnahan and supporting player Alex Borstein. One year later, the series earned eight more prizes, one of which again went to Borstein.
Borstein’s second victory came for the episode “Vote for Kennedy, Vote for Kennedy,” in which her character, the titular Maisel’s manager, staunchly defends her client during an ongoing conflict with a rival comedienne (played by Best Comedy Guest Actress winner Jane Lynch). The 48-year-old became the 10th oldest victor in her category after her previous win put her at 12th place, directly behind Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace,” 2006) and Cloris Leachman (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” 1974).
Since 1954, a total of 43 actresses have won Emmys for their supporting roles on continuing comedy programs, beginning with Vivian Vance (“I Love Lucy”). Including Borstein, 14 of the winners have prevailed on more than one occasion.
Check out our photo gallery to find out who ranks ahead of Borstein on the list of 10 oldest Best Comedy Supporting Actress 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. Alex Borstein (‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ 2019)
Image Credit: Amazon Age: 48
Role: Susie Myerson
After her pair of wins, Borstein received two further nominations for this role.
Other nominees:
Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”)
Sian Clifford (“Fleabag”)
Olivia Colman (“Fleabag”)
Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)
Sarah Goldberg (“Barry”)
Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”) -
9. Eileen Brennan (‘Private Benjamin,’ 1981)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 49
Role: Doreen Lewis
Months after earning an Oscar nomination for playing Captain Lewis, Brennan reprised the role on this TV adaptation and pulled off a win. She was also nominated that year for her guest appearance on “Taxi.”
Other nominees:
Loni Anderson (“WKRP in Cincinnati”)
Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”)
Anne Meara (“Archie Bunker’s Place”)
Loretta Swit (“M*A*S*H”) -
8. Jane Lynch (‘Glee,’ 2010)
Image Credit: Fox Age: 50
Role: Sue Sylvester
This was Lynch’s first of three bids for playing this irascible cheerleading coach. She was a double nominee in 2010, having also been recognized for her guest appearance on “Two and a Half Men.”
Other nominees:
Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”)
Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock”)
Holland Taylor (“Two and a Half Men”)
Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”)
Kristen Wiig (“Saturday Night Live”) -
7. Betty White (‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ 1976)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 54
Role: Sue Ann Nivens
White’s back-to-back wins finished off a six-year streak during which “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” dominated this category. Valerie Harper collected three trophies for her work on the series between 1971 and 1973, while Cloris Leachman prevailed in 1974.
Other nominees:
Georgia Engel (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”)
Julie Kavner (“Rhoda”)
Loretta Swit (“M*A*S*H”)
Nancy Walker (“Rhoda”) -
6. Allison Janney (‘Mom,’ 2015)
Image Credit: Robert Ascroft/CBS Age: 55
Role: Bonnie Plunkett
Janney won two consecutive awards here over a decade after accomplishing the same feat in the corresponding drama category with her performance on “The West Wing.”
Other nominees:
Mayim Bialik (“The Big Bang Theory”)
Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”)
Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”)
Gaby Hoffmann (“Transparent”)
Jane Krakowski (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Niecy Nash (“Getting On”) -
5. Jean Smart (‘Samantha Who?,’ 2008)
Image Credit: ABC Age: 57
Role: Regina Newly
Smart has a dozen acting bids to her name and has won two other trophies for “Frasier” (guest) and one for “Hacks” (lead).
Other nominees:
Kristin Chenoweth (“Pushing Daisies”)
Amy Poehler (“Saturday Night Live”)
Holland Taylor (“Two and a Half Men”)
Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”) -
4. Frances Bavier (‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ 1967)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 64
Role: Aunt Bee Taylor
Bavier’s decade-long portrayal of this character on “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Mayberry R.F.D.” resulted in one nomination and win for her work on the former show’s penultimate season.
Other nominees:
Nancy Kulp (“The Beverly Hillbillies”)
Marion Lorne (“Bewitched”) -
3. Estelle Getty (‘The Golden Girls,’ 1988)
Image Credit: NBC Age: 65
Role: Sophia Petrillo
Under a white wig and a significant amount of makeup, Getty began playing this octogenarian at age 62 and earned recognition for her portrayal seven years in a row.
Other nominees:
Julia Duffy (“Newhart”)
Jackée Harry (“227”)
Katherine Helmond (“Who’s the Boss?”)
Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”) -
2. Doris Roberts (‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ 2005)
Image Credit: CBS Age: 79
Role: Marie Barone
Roberts garnered seven nominations and four wins for this series, the first three of which came consecutively between 2001 and 2003.
Other nominees:
Conchata Ferrell (“Two and a Half Men”)
Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”)
Holland Taylor (“Two and a Half Men”)
Jessica Walter (“Arrested Development”) -
1. Marion Lorne (‘Bewitched,’ 1968)
Image Credit: ABC Age: 84
Role: Aunt Clara
Lorne garnered two nominations for this series after earning three others in this category for “Mister Peepers” and “Sally.” Her win was a posthumous one, since the 1968 ceremony took place just 10 days after her death.
Other nominees:
Agnes Moorehead (“Bewitched”)
Marge Redmond (“The Flying Nun”)
Nita Talbot (“Hogan’s Heroes”)
