This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Prior to 1988 the category was not gender specific, thus was called Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. These awards, like the other "Guest" awards, are not presented at the Primetime Emmy Award ceremony, but rather at the Creative Arts Emmy Award ceremony.
Beginning with the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, performers are no longer eligible in guest acting categories if they were previously nominated for a lead or supporting award for playing the same character role in the same series.
Nathan Lane has received the most nominations in this category with 7, winning once for the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building in 2022. Mel Brooks has received the most wins in this category for his role in the NBC comedy series Mad About You in 1997, 1998, and 1999.
Winners and nominations
1970s Year Actor Program Role Submitted episode(s) Network Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series 1975 Patrick McGoohan Columbo Col. Lyle C. Rumford "By Dawn's Early Light" NBC Lew Ayres Kung Fu Beaumont "The Vanishing Image" ABC Harold Gould Police Story Andrea Basic "Fathers and Sons" NBC Harry Morgan M*A*S*H Maj. Gen. Bartford Hamilton Steele "The General Flipped at Dawn" CBS 1976 Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series Ed Asner Rich Man, Poor Man Axel Jordache "Parts I" ABC Bill Bixby The Streets of San Francisco Eric Doyle "The Police Buff" ABC Tony Musante Medical Story Dr. Paul Brandon "The Quality of Mercy" NBC Robert Reed Medical Center Dr. Pat Caddison "John Quincy Adams, Diplomat" CBS Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series Gordon Jackson Upstairs, Downstairs Hudson "The Beastly Hun" PBS Bill Bixby Rich Man, Poor Man Willie Abbott "Part VI" ABC Roscoe Lee Browne Barney Miller Charlie Jeffers "The Escape Artist" Norman Fell Rich Man, Poor Man Smitty "Part V" Van Johnson Marsh Goodwin "Parts VII" 1977 Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series Louis Gossett Jr. Roots Fiddler "Part IV" ABC John Amos Roots Toby "Part V" ABC LeVar Burton Kunta Kinte "Part I" Ben Vereen "Chicken" George Moore "Part VI" Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series Ed Asner Roots Capt. Davies "Part 1" ABC Charles Durning Captains and the Kings Billy Rice "Chapter 2" NBC Moses Gunn Roots Kintango "Part I" ABC Robert Reed Dr. William Reynolds "Part V" Ralph Waite Third mate Slater "Part I" 1978 Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series Barnard Hughes Lou Grant Judge Felix Rushman "Judge" CBS David Cassidy Police Story Officer Dan Shay "A Chance to Live" NBC Will Geer The Love Boat Franklyn Bootherstone "The Old Man and the Runaway" ABC Judd Hirsch Rhoda Mike Andretti "Rhoda Likes Mike" CBS John Rubinstein Family Jeff Maitland "And Baby Makes Three" ABC Keenan Wynn Police Woman Ben Fletcher "Good Old Uncle Ben" NBC Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series Ricardo Montalbán How the West Was Won Satangkai "Part I" ABC Will Geer Eight is Enough Santa Claus "Yes, Nicholas... There is a Santa Claus" ABC Larry Gelman Barney Miller Edward Sellers "Goodbye, Mr. Fish" Harold Gould Rhoda Martin Morgenstern "Happy Anniversary" CBS Abe Vigoda Barney Miller Det. Phil Fish "Goodbye, Mr. Fish" ABC
1980s Year Actor/Actress Program Role Network Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series 1986(38th) Roscoe Lee Browne The Cosby Show Dr. Barnabus Foster NBC Earle HymanThe Cosby Show Russell HuxtableNBC Danny Kaye Dr. Burns Clarice Taylor Anna Huxtable Stevie Wonder Himself 1987(39th) John Cleese Cheers Dr. Simon Finch-Royce NBC Art Carney The Cavanaughs James "Weasel" Cavanaugh CBS Herb EdelmanThe Golden Girls Stan ZbornakNBC Lois Nettleton Jean Nancy Walker Angela 1988(40th) Beah Richards Frank's Place Mrs. Varden CBS Herb EdelmanThe Golden Girls Stan ZbornakNBC Geraldine Fitzgerald Anna Eileen Heckart The Cosby Show Mrs. Hickson Gilda Radner It's Garry Shandling's Show Herself Showtime Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 1989(41st) Cleavon Little Dear John Tony Larkin NBC Sammy Davis Jr. The Cosby Show Ray PalominoNBC Jack Gilford The Golden Girls Max Weinstock Leslie Nielsen Day by Day Jack Harper Robert Picardo The Wonder Years Mr. Cutlip ABC
1990s Year Actor Program Role Network 1990(42nd) Jay Thomas Murphy Brown Jerry Gold CBS David Huddleston The Wonder Years Grandpa Arnold ABC Darren McGavin Murphy Brown Bill Brown CBS Jerry OrbachThe Golden Girls Glenn O'BrienNBC Dick Van Dyke Ken Whittingham 1991(43rd) Jay Thomas Murphy Brown Jerry Gold CBS Sheldon Leonard Cheers Sid Nelson NBC Alan Oppenheimer Murphy Brown Eugene Kinsella CBS Tom Poston Coach Art Hibke ABC Danny Thomas (posthumous) Empty Nest Dr. Leo BrewsterNBC 1992(44th) Harvey Fierstein Cheers Mark Newberger Kelsey Grammer Wings Dr. Frasier Crane Jay Thomas Murphy Brown Jerry Gold CBS 1993(45th) David Clennon Dream On Peter Brewer HBO Tom Berenger Cheers Don Santry NBC Dana Carvey The Larry Sanders Show Himself HBO Bill Erwin Seinfeld Sid Fields NBC Joel Grey Brooklyn Bridge Jacob Pressman CBS 1994(46th) Martin Sheen Murphy Brown Nick Brody CBS Jason AlexanderDream On Randall TownsendHBO Paul Dooley Mickey Tupper John Glover Frasier Ned MillerNBC Judge Reinhold Seinfeld Aaron 1995(47th) Carl Reiner Mad About You Alan Brady NBC Sid Caesar Love & War Stein CBS Nathan Lane Frasier Phil NBC Robert PastorelliMurphy Brown Eldin BerneckyCBS Paul Reubens Andrew J. Lansing III 1996(48th) Tim Conway Coach Kenny Montague ABC Griffin Dunne Frasier Bob NBC Mandy Patinkin The Larry Sanders Show Himself HBO Larry Thomas Seinfeld The Soup Nazi NBC Harris Yulin Frasier Jerome Belasco NBC 1997(49th) Mel Brooks Mad About You Uncle Phil NBC Sid Caesar Mad About You Uncle Harold NBC David Duchovny The Larry Sanders Show Himself HBO James Earl Jones Frasier Norman NBC Jerry Stiller Seinfeld Frank Costanza 1998(50th) Mel Brooks Mad About You Uncle Phil NBC Hank Azaria Mad About You NatNBC Lloyd Bridges (posthumous) Seinfeld Izzy Mandelbaum John Cleese 3rd Rock from the Sun Dr. Liam Neesam Nathan Lane Mad About You Nathan Twilley 1999(51st) Mel Brooks Mad About You Uncle Phil NBC Woody Harrelson Frasier Woody Boyd NBC Charles Nelson Reilly The Drew Carey Show Mr. Hathaway ABC John Ritter Ally McBeal George Madison Fox William Shatner 3rd Rock from the Sun: Dick's Big Giant Headache Big Giant Head NBC
2000s Year Actor Program Role Network 2000(52nd) Bruce Willis Friends Paul Stevens NBC Anthony LaPaglia Frasier Simon Moon NBC William H. MacyIn 2000, Henry Winkler was nominated for the canceled NBC sitcom Battery Park. After the Television Academy learned that his episode aired in June — after the May 31 cut-off — Winkler was ruled ineligible and sixth place finisher William H. Macy received the nomination in his place. Sports Night Sam Donovan ABC Carl Reiner Beggars and Choosers Sid Barry Showtime Tom Selleck Friends Dr. Richard Burke NBC 2001(53rd) Derek Jacobi Frasier Jackson Hedley NBC Victor Garber Frasier Ferguson NBC Robert Loggia Malcolm in the Middle Grandpa Victor Fox Gary Oldman Friends Richard Crosby NBC Michael York The Lot Colin Rhome AMC 2002(54th) Anthony LaPaglia Frasier Simon Moon NBC Adam ArkinFrasier TomNBC Brian Cox Harry Moon Michael Douglas Will & Grace Det. Gavin Hatch Brad Pitt Friends Will Colbert 2003(55th) Gene Wilder Will & Grace Mr. Stein NBC Hank Azaria Friends David NBC David Duchovny Life with Bonnie Johnny Volcano ABC Fred Willard Everybody Loves Raymond Hank MacDougall CBS Jonathan Winters Life with Bonnie Q.T. Marlens ABC 2004(56th) John Turturro Monk Ambrose Monk USA John Cleese Will & Grace Lyle FinsterNBC Danny DeVito Friends Roy Goodbody Anthony LaPaglia Frasier Simon Moon Fred Willard Everybody Loves Raymond Hank MacDougall CBS 2005(57th) Bobby Cannavale Will & Grace Vince D'Angelo NBC Alec BaldwinWill & Grace MalcolmNBC Victor Garber Peter Bovington Jeff Goldblum Scott Woolley Fred Willard Everybody Loves Raymond Hank MacDougall CBS 2006(58th) Leslie Jordan Will & Grace Beverley Leslie NBC Alec Baldwin Will & Grace Malcolm NBC Martin Sheen Two and a Half Men Harvey CBS Patrick StewartExtrasHimselfHBO Ben Stiller 2007(59th) Stanley Tucci Monk David Ruskin USA Beau Bridges My Name Is Earl Carl Hickey NBC Martin Landau Entourage Bob RyanHBO Ian McKellen Extras Himself Giovanni Ribisi My Name Is Earl Ralph Mariano NBC 2008(60th) Tim Conway 30 Rock Bucky Bright NBC Will Arnett 30 Rock Devon Banks NBC Shelley Berman Curb Your Enthusiasm Nat David HBO Steve Buscemi30 Rock Lenny WosniakNBC Rip Torn Don Geiss 2009(61st) Justin Timberlake Saturday Night Live Various characters NBC Alan Alda 30 Rock Milton Greene NBC Beau Bridges Desperate Housewives Eli Scruggs ABC Jon Hamm30 Rock Dr. Drew BairdNBC Steve Martin Gavin Volure
2010s