Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
(Redirected from Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical)
Template:Short description Template:Infobox award The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is an honor presented at the Tony Awards, a ceremony established in 1947 as the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, to actors for quality leading roles in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival. The awards are named after Antoinette Perry, an American actress who died in 1946.
Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, to "honor the best performances and stage productions of the previous year."[1]
The award was originally called the Tony Award for Actors—Musical. It was first presented to Paul Hartman at the 2nd Tony Awards for his portrayal of various characters in Angel in the Wings. Before 1956, nominees' names were not made public;[2] the change was made by the awards committee to "have a greater impact on theatregoers".[3]
Nine actors hold the record for having the most wins in this category, with a total of two. John Cullum, Brian d'Arcy James and Raul Julia are tied with the most nominations, with a total of four. Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is the character to take the award the most times, winning three times. Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof is the most nominated character in this category, with five nominations.
Winners and nominees
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1940s
| Year | Actor | Role(s) | Project | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 (1st)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Not awarded | |||
| 1948 (2nd)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Paul Hartman | Angel in the Wings | Various Characters | ||
| 1949 (3rd)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Ray Bolger | Where's Charley? | Charley Wykeham | ||
1950s
| Year | Actor | Role(s) | Project | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 (4th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Ezio Pinza | South Pacific | Emile De Beque | ||
| 1951 (5th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Robert Alda | Guys and Dolls | Sky Masterson | ||
| 1952 (6th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Phil Silvers | Top Banana | Jerry Biffle | ||
| 1953 (7th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Thomas Mitchell | Hazel Flagg | Dr. Downer | ||
| 1954 (8th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Alfred Drake | Kismet | Hajj | ||
| 1955 (9th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Walter Slezak | Fanny | Panisse | ||
| 1956 (10th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Ray Walston | Damn Yankees | Mr. Applegate | [4] | |
| Stephen Douglass | Damn Yankees | Joe Hardy | ||
| William Johnson | Pipe Dream | Doc | ||
| 1957 (11th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Rex Harrison | My Fair Lady | Henry Higgins | [5] | |
| Fernando Lamas | Happy Hunting | Duke of Granada | ||
| Robert Weede | The Most Happy Fella | Tony | ||
| 1958 (12th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Robert Preston | The Music Man | Harold Hill | [6] | |
| Eddie Foy Jr. | Rumple | Rumple | ||
| Ricardo Montalbán | Jamaica | Koli | ||
| Tony Randall | Oh, Captain! | Captain Henry St. James | ||
| 1959 (13th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Richard Kiley | Redhead | Tom Baxter | [7] | |
| Larry Blyden | Flower Drum Song | Sammy Fong |
1960s
1970s
| Year | Actor | Role(s) | Project | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 (24th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Cleavon Little | Purlie | Purlie | [18] | |
| Len Cariou | Applause | Bill Sampson | ||
| Robert Weede | Cry for Us All | Edward Quinn | ||
| 1971 (25th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Hal Linden | The Rothschilds | Mayer Rothschild | [19] | |
| David Burns | Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen | Col. Wainwright Purdy III | ||
| Larry Kert | Company | Bobby | ||
| Bobby Van | No, No, Nanette | Billy Early | ||
| 1972 (26th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Phil Silvers | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Pseudolus | [20] | |
| Barry Bostwick | Grease | Danny Zuko | ||
| Clifton Davis | Two Gentlemen of Verona | Valentine | ||
| Raul Julia | Proteus | |||
| 1973 (27th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Ben Vereen | Pippin | The Leading Player | [21] | |
| Len Cariou | A Little Night Music | Frederick Egerman | ||
| Robert Morse | Sugar | Jerry | ||
| Brock Peters | Lost in the Stars | Stephen Kumalo | ||
| 1974 (28th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Christopher Plummer | Cyrano | Cyrano de Bergerac | [22] | |
| Alfred Drake | Gigi | Honore Lachailles | ||
| Joe Morton | Raisin | Walter Lee Younger | ||
| Lewis J. Stadlen | Candide | Various Characters | ||
| 1975 (29th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| John Cullum | Shenandoah | Charlie Anderson | [23] | |
| Joel Grey | Goodtime Charley | Charley | ||
| Raul Julia | Where's Charley? | Charley Wykeham | ||
| Eddie Mekka | The Lieutenant | Lieutenant | ||
| Robert Preston | Mack & Mabel | Mack Sennett | ||
| 1976 (30th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| George Rose | My Fair Lady | Alfred P. Doolittle | [24] | |
| Mako | Pacific Overtures | Various Characters | ||
| Jerry Orbach | Chicago | Billy Flynn | ||
| Ian Richardson | My Fair Lady | Henry Higgins | ||
| 1977 (31st)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Barry Bostwick | The Robber Bridegroom | Jamie Lockhart | [25] | |
| Robert Guillaume | Guys and Dolls | Nathan Detroit | ||
| Raul Julia | The Threepenny Opera | Macheath | ||
| Reid Shelton | Annie | Oliver Warbucks | ||
| 1978 (32nd)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| John Cullum | On the Twentieth Century | Oscar Jaffee | [26] | |
| Eddie Bracken | Hello, Dolly! | Horace Vandergelder | ||
| Barry Nelson | The Act | Dan Conners | ||
| Gilbert Price | Timbuktu! | The Mansa of Mali | ||
| 1979 (33rd)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Len Cariou | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Sweeney Todd | [27] | |
| Vincent Gardenia | Ballroom | Alfred Rossi | ||
| Joel Grey | The Grand Tour | S. L. Jacobowsky | ||
| Robert Klein | They're Playing Our Song | Vernon Gersch |
1980s
| Year | Actor | Role(s) | Project | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 (34th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Jim Dale | Barnum | P. T. Barnum | [28] | |
| Gregory Hines | Comin' Uptown | Scrooge | ||
| Mickey Rooney | Sugar Babies | Mickey | ||
| Giorgio Tozzi | The Most Happy Fella | Tony | ||
| 1981 (35th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Kevin Kline | The Pirates of Penzance | The Pirate King | [29] | |
| Gregory Hines | Sophisticated Ladies | Performer | ||
| George Rose | The Pirates of Penzance | Major-General | ||
| Martin Vidnovic | Brigadoon | Tommy Albright | ||
| 1982 (36th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Ben Harney | Dreamgirls | Curtis Taylor Jr. | [30] | |
| Herschel Bernardi | Fiddler on the Roof | Tevye | ||
| Victor Garber | Little Me | Various Characters | ||
| Raul Julia | Nine | Guido Contini | ||
| 1983 (37th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Tommy Tune | My One and Only | Captain Billy Buck Chandler | [31] | |
| Al Green | Your Arms Too Short to Box with God | Performer | ||
| George Hearn | A Doll's Life | Various Characters | ||
| Michael V. Smartt | Porgy and Bess | Porgy | ||
| 1984 (38th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| George Hearn | La Cage aux Folles | Albin | [32] | |
| Gene Barry | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | ||
| Ron Moody | Oliver! | Fagin | ||
| Mandy Patinkin | Sunday in the Park with George | Georges Seurat / George | ||
| 1985 (39th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Not awarded[note 1] | [33] | ||
| 1986 (40th)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| George Rose | The Mystery of Edwin Drood | Mayor Thomas Sapsea / William Cartwright | [34] | |
| Don Correia | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood | ||
| Cleavant Derricks | Big Deal | Charley | ||
| Maurice Hines | Uptown... It's Hot! | Performer | ||
| 1987 (41st)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Robert Lindsay | Me and My Girl | Bill Snibson | [35] | |
| Roderick Cook | Oh, Coward! | Performer | ||
| Terrence Mann | Les Misérables | Javert | ||
| Colm Wilkinson | Jean Valjean | |||
| 1988 (42nd)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Michael Crawford | The Phantom of the Opera | The Phantom of the Opera | [36] | |
| Scott Bakula | Romance/Romance | Alfred Von Wilmers / Sam | ||
| David Carroll | Chess | Anatoly Sergievsky | ||
| Howard McGillin | Anything Goes | Billy Crocker | ||
| 1989 (43rd)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | ||||
| Jason Alexander | Jerome Robbins' Broadway | Various Characters | [37] | |
| Gabriel Barre | Starmites | Trinkulus | ||
| Robert La Fosse | Jerome Robbins' Broadway | Various Characters | ||
| Brian Lane Green | Starmites | Spacepunk | ||
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Notes
Statistics
Most wins
- 2 wins
Most nominations
Character win total
- 3 wins
- Pseudolus from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
- 2 wins
- Albin from La Cage aux Folles
- Emile de Becque from South Pacific
- J. Pierrepont Finch from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Character nomination total
† – Most of the leading male characters in Little Me are played by the same actor, but the actual roles vary. In the original 1962 Broadway production and the 1998 revival, Sid Caesar and Martin Short (respectively) played Noble Eggleston, Amos Pinchley, Val du Val, Fred Poitrine, Otto Schnitzler, and Prince Cherney. Caesar also played Noble Junior. In the 1981 revival, the lead roles were split among James Coco and Victor Garber with Garber playing Noble Eggleston, Val du Val, Fred Poitrine, and Noble Junior.
Productions with multiple nominations
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Multiple awards and nominations
- Actors who have been nominated multiple times in any acting categories
Facts
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- The lead role of Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has earned the Tony Award for the three different actors who have performed the character:
- 1963 – Zero Mostel
- 1972 – Phil Silvers
- 1996 – Nathan Lane
- In 1989, Jason Alexander won the award for portraying several characters in Jerome Robbins' Broadway, amongst them, the role of Pseudolus.
- Three other male roles have produced multiple Tony Award winners: J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying:
- 1962 – Robert Morse
- 1995 – Matthew Broderick
- Emile de Beque in South Pacific:
- 1950 – Ezio Pinza
- 2008 – Paulo Szot
- and Albin in La Cage Aux Folles:
- 1984 – George Hearn
- 2010 – Douglas Hodge
- Gary Beach, who played Albin in the 2005 revival, was nominated but lost the award to Norbert Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
- Two actors have won for their performances in My Fair Lady, each for a different character:
- 1957 – Rex Harrison, playing Henry Higgins
- 1976 – George Rose, playing Alfred P. Doolitle
- Ian Richardson and Harry Hadden-Paton, who played Henry Higgins in 1976 and 2018, respectively, were also nominated.
- The lead role with most nominations is Tevye, in Fiddler on the Roof. Five actors have been nominated for their portrayals, with one win:
- 1965 – Zero Mostel (winner)
- 1982 – Herschel Bernardi
- 1991 – Chaim Topol
- 2004 – Alfred Molina
- 2016 – Danny Burstein
- In 1989, Jason Alexander won the award for portraying several characters in Jerome Robbins' Broadway, amongst them, the role of Tevye.
- Take Me Along is the only production to receive three nominations for the award – Jackie Gleason (winner), Robert Morse and Walter Pidgeon.
- The lead role of Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has received 4 nominations, though only Len Cariou has won the award for playing the role, which he originated.
- Actors have won Tonys for both Best Actor in a Play and "Best Actor in a Musical" for playing Cyrano de Bergerac: Jose Ferrer in Cyrano de Bergerac and Christopher Plummer in Cyrano.
- Four roles have been nominated in this category that have also been classified in the category Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. George Rose won the 1976 Best Actor Award for playing Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady whereas Stanley Holloway and Norbert Leo Butz were nominated in the featured category for playing the part in 1956 and 2018, respectively. Similarly, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ken Watanabe were nominated for Best Actor for playing the King of Siam in The King and I in 1996 and 2015, respectively, while Yul Brynner won the Best Featured Actor Tony for the same role in 1951. Alan Cumming won and Eddie Redmayne was nominated in Best Actor for playing the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret in 1998 and 2024, respectively, while Joel Grey won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for the role in 1966. Also, Jack Gilford was nominated for Best Actor for playing Herr Schultz in Cabaret, a role for which four actors have subsequently been nominated for Best Featured Actor.
- Harvey Fierstein was the first actor to win the award for portraying a female character, for his 2003 performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Neil Patrick Harris won in 2014 for his performance as Hedwig, a genderqueer woman in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
- There have never been consecutive victories, and only five actors have managed, over the decades, to score consecutive nominations: Gregory Hines (1980/1981), George Hearn (1983/1984), Patrick Wilson (2001/2002), Michael Cerveris (2006/2007), and Jonathan Groff (2024/2025).
- In 2009, David Álvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish were jointly nominated for the award for their performances in Billy Elliot the Musical as the titular character. They won the award, marking the first time three actors have received it.
- The oldest performer to win in this category is Bert Lahr who was 68 when he won for Foxy in 1964. The youngest winner is Trent Kowalik who won for Billy Elliot at age 14. He shared the award with David Álvarez and Kiril Kulish – both 15 at the time.
- The role of The Leading Player in Pippin holds the distinction of winning in both Best Leading Actor and Leading Actress categories. Ben Vereen won in 1972, while Patina Miller won in the leading actress category for the 2013 revival.
- Darren Criss became the first Asian American actor to win in this category for his performance as Oliver in Maybe Happy Ending in 2025.
See also
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- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical
- List of Tony Award-nominated productions
References
External links
Template:TonyAward MusicalLeadActor Template:TonyAwardsbyYear
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