Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical was an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was one of eight new acting awards first presented in 1975, when Drama Desk retired an earlier award that had made no distinction between work in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses, nor between lead performers and featured performers.

Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Actor
Awarded forOutstanding Actor in a Musical
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First awarded1975
Last awarded2022
Websitedramadesk.org (defunct)

After the 2022 ceremony, all eight acting categories introduced in 1975 were retired. The award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, along with Outstanding Actress in a Musical, were replaced in 2023 with the gender neutral category of Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical.

Winners and nominees

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1970s

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Year Actor Musical Character
1975
John Cullum Shenandoah Charlie Anderson
Tim Curry The Rocky Horror Show Dr. Frank N. Furter
Joel Grey Goodtime Charley Charley
Raúl Juliá Where's Charley? Charley Wykeham
1976
Ian Richardson My Fair Lady Henry Higgins
Raúl Juliá The Threepenny Opera Macheath
Jerry Orbach Chicago Billy Flynn
Nicol Williamson Rex Henry VIII, King of England
1977
Lenny Baker I Love My Wife Alvin
Barry Bostwick The Robber Bridegroom Jamie Lockhart
Yul Brynner The King and I The King of Siam
Robert Guillaume Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit
Reid Shelton Annie Oliver Warbucks
1978
Ken Page Ain't Misbehavin' Performer
Gary Bayer A History of the American Film Jimmy
Henderson Forsythe The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd
Richard Kiley Man of La Mancha Don Quixote / Cervantes
1979
Len Cariou Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd
Joel Grey The Grand Tour S. L. Jacobowsky
Charles Repole Whoopee! Henry Williams
Peter Walker My Old Friends Peter Schermann

1980s

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Year Actor Musical Character
1980
Jim Dale Barnum P. T. Barnum
Christopher Durang Das Lusitania Spongspiel Performer
Mandy Patinkin Evita Che
Mickey Rooney Sugar Babies Mickey
Giorgio Tozzi The Most Happy Fella Tony
Jerry Zaks Tintypes Performer
1981
Kevin Kline The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King
George Rose The Pirates of Penzance Major-General
Martin Vidnovic Brigadoon Tommy Albright
1982–83
1984
George Hearn La Cage aux Folles Albin
Gene Barry La Cage aux Folles Georges
Mandy Patinkin Sunday in the Park with George George
1985
Ron Richardson Big River Jim
David Carroll La bohème Rodolfo
Harry Groener Harrigan 'N Hart Edward Harrigan
Mark Hamill Harrigan 'N Hart Tony Hart
Daniel H. Jenkins Big River Huckleberry Finn
Gary Morris La bohème Rodolfo
1986
George Rose The Mystery of Edwin Drood Mayor Thomas Sapsea / William Cartwright
Cleavant Derricks Big Deal Charley
Howard McGillin The Mystery of Edwin Drood John Jasper / Mr. Clive Paget
1987
Robert Lindsay Me and My Girl Bill Snibson
Ed Dixon Shylock Shylock
Mandy Patinkin The Knife Peter
Colm Wilkinson Les Misérables Jean Valjean
1988
Michael Crawford The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera
David Carroll Chess Anatoly
Howard McGillin Anything Goes Billy Crocker
George Merritt Lost in the Stars Stephen Kumalo
1989
Jason Alexander Jerome Robbins' Broadway Various Characters
Bob Gunton Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd
Richard Muenz The Pajama Game Sid Sorokin
Scott Wise Jerome Robbins' Broadway Various Characters

1990s

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Year Actor Musical Character
1990
James Naughton City of Angels Stone
Mike Burstyn The Rothschilds Mayer
David Carroll Grand Hotel Felix Von Gaigern
1991
Jonathan Pryce Miss Saigon The Engineer
Keith Carradine The Will Rogers Follies Will Rogers
Paul Hipp Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Buddy Holly
Mandy Patinkin The Secret Garden Archibald Craven
1992
Gregory Hines Jelly's Last Jam Jelly Roll Morton
Nathan Lane Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit
Peter Gallagher Guys and Dolls Sky
Spiro Malas The Most Happy Fella Tony
1993
Brent Carver Kiss of the Spider Woman Luis Molina
Jason Graae Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! Barry Brockman
Con O'Neill Blood Brothers Mickey
Martin Short The Goodbye Girl Elliot Garfield
1994
Boyd Gaines She Loves Me Georg Nowack
Michael Hayden Carousel Billy Bigelow
Terrence Mann Beauty and the Beast The Beast
Jere Shea Passion Giorgio
1995
Vernel Bagneris Jelly Roll Jelly Roll Morton
Matthew Broderick How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch
Malcolm Gets Merrily We Roll Along Franklin Shepard
George Hearn Sunset Boulevard Max
J. K. Simmons Das Barbecü Various Characters
1996
Nathan Lane A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Pseudolus
David Garrison I Do! I Do! Michael
Savion Glover Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk 'da Beat / Lil' Dahlin'
Daniel H. Jenkins Big: the musical Josh Baskin
Adam Pascal Rent Roger Davis
Lou Diamond Phillips The King and I The King of Siam
1997
Robert Cuccioli Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde
Jim Dale Candide Dr. Pangloss
Jason Danieley Candide Candide
Daniel McDonald Steel Pier Bill Kelly
James Naughton Chicago Billy Flynn
1998
Alan Cumming Cabaret The Master of Ceremonies
Peter Friedman Ragtime Tateh
John Cameron Mitchell Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig
Douglas Sills The Scarlet Pimpernel Percy Blakeney
Brent Spiner 1776 Adams
Brian Stokes Mitchell Ragtime Coalhouse Walker, Jr.
1999
Brent Carver Parade Leo Frank
Martin Short Little Me Various Characters
Patrick Wilson Bright Lights, Big City Jamie
Tom Wopat Annie Get Your Gun Frank Butler

2000s

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Year Actor Musical Character
2000
Brian Stokes Mitchell Kiss Me, Kate Fred Graham / Petruchio
Craig Bierko The Music Man Harold Hill
Brian d'Arcy James The Wild Party Burrs
Boyd Gaines Contact Michael Wiley
Mandy Patinkin The Wild Party Burrs
2001
Nathan Lane The Producers Max Bialystock
Matthew Broderick The Producers Leo Bloom
Kevin Chamberlin Seussical Horton the Elephant
Tom Hewitt The Rocky Horror Show Dr. Frank N. Furter
Deven May Bat Boy: The Musical Bat Boy
Patrick Wilson The Full Monty Jerry Lukowski
2002[1]
John Lithgow Sweet Smell of Success J.J. Hunsecker
Norbert Leo Butz The Last Five Years Jamie
Brian d'Arcy James Sweet Smell of Success Sidney
Raúl Esparza Tick, Tick... Boom! Jon
Peter Gallagher Guys and Dolls Sky
Patrick Wilson Oklahoma! Curly
2003
Antonio Banderas Nine Guido Contini
Harvey Fierstein Hairspray Edna Turnblad
Malcolm Gets Amour Dusoleil
Jason Petty Hank Williams: Lost Highway Hank Williams
John Selya Movin' Out Eddie
Brian Stokes Mitchell Man of La Mancha Don Quixote / Cervantes
2004
Hugh Jackman The Boy from Oz Peter Allen
Hunter Foster Little Shop of Horrors Seymour
Tyrone Giordano Big River Huckleberry Finn
Michael McElroy Big River Jim
Alfred Molina Fiddler on the Roof Tevye
Euan Morton Taboo George
2005
Norbert Leo Butz Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Freddy Benson
Hank Azaria Monty Python's Spamalot Various Characters
Mike Burstyn On Second Avenue Performer
Matthew Morrison The Light in the Piazza Fabrizio Naccarelli
David Hyde Pierce Monty Python's Spamalot Sir Robin
Bill Thompson God Hates the Irish Johnny Kavanaugh
2006
John Lloyd Young Jersey Boys Frankie Valli
Michael Cerveris Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd
Harry Connick Jr. The Pajama Game Sid Sorokin
Marc Kudisch See What I Wanna See Morito / Husband / CPA
Stephen Lynch The Wedding Singer Robbie Hart
Bob Martin The Drowsy Chaperone Man in Chair
2007
Raúl Esparza Company Robert
Michael Cerveris LoveMusik Kurt Weill
John Gallagher Jr. Spring Awakening Moritz
Jonathan Groff Spring Awakening Melchior
David Hyde Pierce Curtains Lieutenant Frank Cioffi
Martin Short Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me Himself
2008
Paulo Szot South Pacific Emile de Becque
Daniel Breaker Passing Strange Youth
André De Shields Black Nativity Preacher / Narrator
Daniel Evans Sunday in the Park with George George
Cheyenne Jackson Xanadu Sonny Malone
Matthew Morrison 10 Million Miles Duane
2009
Brian d'Arcy James Shrek the Musical Shrek
James Barbour A Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton
Daniel Breaker Shrek the Musical Donkey
Josh Grisetti Enter Laughing David Kolowitz
Sahr Ngaujah Fela! Fela Kuti
Will Swenson Hair Berger

2010s

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Year Actor Musical Character
2010
Douglas Hodge La Cage aux Folles Albin
Brandon Victor Dixon The Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson
Cheyenne Jackson Finian's Rainbow Woody
Chad Kimball Memphis Huey Calhoun
Nathan Lane The Addams Family Gomez
Bobby Steggert Yank! Stu
2011
Norbert Leo Butz Catch Me If You Can Carl Hanratty
Colin Donnell Anything Goes Billy Crocker
Daniel Radcliffe How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J. Pierrepont Finch
Andrew Rannells The Book of Mormon Elder Price
Tony Sheldon Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Bernadette
Christopher Sieber The Kid Dan
2012
Danny Burstein Follies Buddy Plummer
Kevin Earley Death Takes a Holiday Death / Sirki
Raúl Esparza Leap of Faith Jonas Nightengale
Jeremy Jordan Newsies Jack Kelly
Norm Lewis Porgy and Bess Porgy
Ricky Martin Evita Che
2013
Billy Porter Kinky Boots Lola
Eric Anderson Soul Doctor Shlomo Carlebach
Brian d'Arcy James Giant Bick
Jim Norton The Mystery of Edwin Drood Mayor Thomas Sapsea / William Cartwright
Steve Rosen The Other Josh Cohen Josh Cohen
Ryan Silverman Passion Giorgio
Anthony Warlow Annie Oliver Warbucks
2014
Neil Patrick Harris Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig
Jefferson Mays A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder The D'Ysquith Family
Adam Jacobs Aladdin Aladdin
Andy Karl Rocky the Musical Rocky Balboa
Steven Pasquale The Bridges of Madison County Robert Kincaid
Bryce Pinkham A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Monty Navarro
2015
Robert Fairchild An American in Paris Jerry Mulligan
Brian d'Arcy James Something Rotten! Nick Bottom
Jeremy Kushnier Atomic Leo Szilard
Lin-Manuel Miranda Hamilton Alexander Hamilton
Matthew Morrison Finding Neverland J. M. Barrie
Ryan Silverman Side Show Terry Connor
2016
Danny Burstein Fiddler on the Roof Tevye
Robert Creighton Cagney James Cagney
Michael C. Hall Lazarus Thomas Newton
Zachary Levi She Loves Me Georg Nowack
Benjamin Walker American Psycho Patrick Bateman
2017
Andy Karl Groundhog Day Phil Connors
Nick Blaemire Tick, Tick... Boom! Jonathan
Jon Jon Briones Miss Saigon The Engineer
Nick Cordero A Bronx Tale Sonny
Jeremy Secomb Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd
2018
Ethan Slater SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants
Jelani Alladin Frozen Kristoff Bjorgman
Harry Hadden-Paton My Fair Lady Henry Higgins
Joshua Henry Carousel Billy Bigelow
Evan Ruggiero Bastard Jones Performer
2019
Santino Fontana Tootsie Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels
Brooks Ashmanskas The Prom Barry Glickman
Andrew R. Butler Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future Rags Parkland
Damon Daunno Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Curly McLain
Steven Skybell Fiddler on the Roof Tevye

2020s

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Year Actor Musical Character
2020
Larry Owens A Strange Loop Usher
David Aron Damane The Unsinkable Molly Brown JJ
Chris Dwan Enter Laughing David Kolowitz
Joshua Henry The Wrong Man Duran
Francis Jue Soft Power DHH
2021 No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City[2]
2022
Jaquel Spivey A Strange Loop Usher
Billy Crystal Mr. Saturday Night Buddy Young, Jr.
Myles Frost MJ MJ
Rob McClure Mrs. Doubtfire Daniel Hillard
Chip Zien Harmony: A New Musical Elder Rabbi

Multiple wins

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Baranauckas, Carla (2002-04-30). "12 Drama Desk Nominations for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-12-03. [note: citation provides nominations, does not confirm who winner was]
  2. ^ Evans, Greg (2021-05-05). "Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
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