Some of TV’s best performers never got their Emmy moment. 23 stars who have never won an Emmy — but should have Some of TV’s best performers never got their Emmy moment. By Kevin Jacobsen and Brianna Zigler September 14, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/carriecoonjasonalexanderangelalansbury0911265ef68fef53344ee0a273bc7d2e52b613.jpg) Carrie Coon on ‘The Leftovers;’ Jason Alexander on ‘Seinfeld;’ Angela Lansbury on ‘Murder, She Wrote’.

Some of TV’s best performers never got their Emmy moment.

23 stars who have never won an Emmy — but should have

Some of TV’s best performers never got their Emmy moment.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Brianna Zigler

September 14, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Carrie Coon on ‘The Leftovers;’ Jason Alexander on ‘Seinfeld;’ Angela Lansbury on ‘Murder, She Wrote’. Credit:

Van Redin/HBO; Jan Sonnenmair/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty; CBS via Getty

The Emmys are notorious for rewarding the same shows and actors over and over again — remember when it seemed like *Modern Family* was the only comedy that even existed? — which also means some actors have had the misfortune of *losing* over and over again. That is, if they’re lucky enough to be nominated in the first place.

The list of stars who have somehow never won an Emmy grows every year, but we’ve narrowed it down to 27 of the most egregious Emmy snubs — from perennial nominees who never took home the prize, like Angela Lansbury, to acclaimed performers who have never even been nominated, like Lauren Graham.

Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander as George Costanza on ‘Seinfeld’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** George Costanza, *Seinfeld*

Jason Alexander was nominated seven consecutive times in the 1990s for his pathetic “Lord of the Idiots,” but fans of the show were forced to choose between him and Michael Richards‘ wacky Kramer. Final score: Richards, 3; Alexander, 0.

Gracie Allen

Gracie Allen on ‘The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Host of *The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show*

Gracie Allen can take pride in clobbering Burns in nominations during the run of their hit show: 6–zip. (He was finally honored for a TV special in 1990.) But she could always say goodnight early on Emmy night, losing to the likes of Lucille Ball and Dinah Shore.

Steve Allen, host of ‘The Steve Allen Show’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Host of *The Steve Allen Show*

As the pioneer of the original *Tonight* Show on NBC, Steve Allen helped invent a format, and his primetime variety show, for which he was nominated twice, showcased the likes of Elvis Presley and a young Johnny Carson.

Connie Britton

Connie Britton (center) as Tami Taylor on ‘Friday Night Lights’. Bill Records/NBC/Getty Images

**Emmy-worthy role:** Tami Taylor, *Friday Night Lights*

Connie Britton has racked up five Emmy nominations over the years, including for *Nashville*, *American Horror Story*, and *The White Lotus*, but the biggest oversight was Britton not taking home the trophy for her turn as Tami Taylor on *Friday Night Lights* despite her two nominations. (Britton’s onscreen husband, Kyle Chandler, landed an Emmy for the show’s series finale.)

Steve Carell

Steve Carell as Michael Scott on ‘The Office’. Byron Cohen/NBC

**Emmy-worthy role:** Michael Scott, *The Office*

Steve Carell never took home the Emmy despite being nominated for six straight years. But if voters penalized him because he was simultaneously a box-office star, they failed to properly credit a man who ably filled the unfillable shoes of Ricky Gervais.

George Clooney

George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross on ‘ER’. Sven Arnstein/NBC

**Emmy-worthy role:** Dr. Doug Ross, *ER*

Although George Clooney would win the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2010 Emmys, he never took home a statue for his dashing turn as a heroic pediatrician Doug Ross, despite two nominations.

Carrie Coon as Nora Durst on ‘The Leftovers’.

**Emmy-worthy role: **Nora Durst, *The Leftovers*

In its review of the series finale, EW called Carrie Coon’s performance on *The Leftovers* a “give-her-all-the-Emmys-now performance.” Yet despite becoming a four-time Emmy nominee, Coon was never once nominated for her exceptional work on HBO’s dystopian drama series, arguably her best television performance to date.

As Nora Durst, Coon delivered a raw, emotionally complex performance that bristled against preconceived notions of what grief looks like. Though she’s a standout in just about everything she appears in, whatever she appears in, we can’t help but side-eye the Television Academy for this one particularly egregious oversight.

Courteney Cox

Courteney Cox as Monica Gellar in a promotional shot for ‘Friends’. Jon Ragel/NBC

**Emmy-worthy role:** Monica Geller, *Friends*

A quick list of all *Friends*‘ Emmy nominees: Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, Christina Applegate, Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Susan Sarandon, Tom Selleck, Gary Oldman, Marlo Thomas, Hank Azaria, Danny DeVito. And nothing for Courteney Cox.

Calista Flockhart

Calista Flockhart as Ally McBeal on ‘Ally McBeal’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Ally McBeal, *Ally McBeal*

Was the show a drama or a comedy? Maybe disagreement over the answer is why Calista Flockhart came up short, despite three nominations for her role as a pre-millennial Mary Tyler Moore. McBeal didn’t quite fit the quippy sitcom gal that Emmy preferred at the time, but she carried a great dramedy for five solid seasons.

9 stars who swore off awards shows — and why

2026 Emmy winner predictions: Our final picks in drama, comedy, limited series, and acting categories

Jackie Gleason

Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden on ‘The Honeymooners’. CBS

**Emmy-worthy role:** Ralph Kramden, *The Honeymooners*

The Great One was nominated for five Emmys, three of which were for *The Jackie Gleason Show*, where he originated the character of New York’s loudest bus driver. Costar Art Carney, who won five Emmys for the role of Ralph’s sidekick Ed Norton, soon learned to hide his trophies whenever his pal visited.

Lauren Graham

Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore on ‘Gilmore Girls’. Saeed Adyani/Netflix/Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Lorelai Gilmore, *Gilmore Girls*

For seven seasons (and a reboot), Lauren Graham handled some of TV’s fastest dialogue with grace (and lots of coffee) as Stars Hollow’s Lorelai Gilmore. And yet, the actress never landed so much as a nomination.

Andy Griffith

Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Sheriff Andy Taylor, *The Andy Griffith Show*

To be fair, official Best Actor in a Comedy Emmys weren’t presented for the first half of Andy Griffith’s run in Mayberry, but these are the facts: He was nominated only once, and it was for a 1981 TV miniseries. Yet Don Knotts won five statuettes while on *The Andy Griffith Show*. Where’s the justice?

Larry Hagman

Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing on ‘Dallas’. CBS

**Emmy-worthy role:** J.R. Ewing, *Dallas*

Primetime soaps are typically second-class citizens on Emmy night, but, when *Dallas* was TV’s biggest show in the early-‘80s, Larry Hagman claimed the throne of TV’s most notorious villains and got invited to the ball twice.

Michael C. Hall

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan on ‘Dexter’. Randy Tepper/Showtime

**Emmy-worthy role:** Dexter Morgan, *Dexter*

A six-time nominee for acting — one for *Six Feet Under* and five for *Dexter* (with a seventh career Emmy nomination for producing *Dexter*) — Michael C. Hall never won for his turn as the serial killer. (Although he did land a Golden Globe.)

Michael Landon

Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls on ‘Little House on the Prairie’. NBC

**Emmy-worthy role:** Charles Ingalls, *Little House on the Prairie*

Answer: 426, 187, 111, 0. Question: What is the number of episodes Michael Landon starred in of *Bonanza*, *Little House on the Prairie*, and *Highway to Heaven*, respectively, followed by the number of his career Emmy nominations? That’s just cruel, Emmy.

Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher on ‘Murder, She Wrote’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Jessica Fletcher, *Murder, She Wrote*

How Angela Lansbury was overlooked for an Emmy on 18 occasions — including 12 times as your grandparents’ favorite sleuth — is a mystery. Was the show too square? Was Lansbury too Broadway? (She won five Tonys.) At least the Golden Globes had a clue, crowning her four times in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama category.

Hugh Laurie as Gregory House on ‘House’. Ray Mickshaw/Fox

**Emmy-worthy role:** Gregory House, *House*

Did you notice how House grew more irritable every year? It’s perhaps understandable when you remember that Emmy voters failed to call Hugh Laurie‘s name each of the six years that he was nominated, a shame because Laurie would’ve surely delivered the evening’s most memorable speech. The actor was overlooked despite a 2016 nomination for Supporting Actor in *The Night Manager* and a 2017 nomination for Guest Actor on *Veep*.

Elizabeth Montgomery

Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens on ‘Bewitched’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Samantha Stephens, *Bewitched*

Elizabeth Montgomery earned nine Emmy nominations, including five in a row for her role as TV’s favorite undercover witch. She was so solid that no one seemed to mind when the show even recast her husband mid-series.

Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad as Claire Huxtable on ‘The Cosby Show’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Claire Huxtable, *The Cosby Show*

Phylicia Rashad earned two nominations as Bill Cosby’s better, smarter, stronger half — and another for 2008’s *A Raisin in the Sun* — but, as Desi Arnaz learned, being the responsible grown-up opposite a comedian is hardly Emmy bait. Sadly, her name went uncalled once again for her three nominations in the Guest Actress category for her work on *This Is Us.*

Keri Russell

Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings on ‘The Americans’. Patrick Harbron/FX

**Emmy-worthy role:** Elizabeth Jennings, *The Americans*

Despite three nominations, Keri Russell never won for her work as Elizabeth Jennings on *The Americans*. (And shockingly, she was never even nominated for *Felicity*.) She earned another nomination for *The Diplomat* in 2023, but went home empty-handed once again.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Cybill Shepherd

Cybill Shepherd as Maddie Hayes on ‘Moonlighting’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Maddie Hayes, *Moonlighting*

Cybill Shepherd later earned three more nominations for her show *Cybill*, but it was her one nod for *Moonlighting* that reestablished her as a star. Before the show’s romance overheated, she and Bruce Willis (who would ultimately win) were both recognized in the drama category but would the show have had better luck categorized as a comedy?

Nancy Walker

Nancy Walker as Ida Morgenstern on ‘Rhoda’. Everett Collection

**Emmy-worthy role:** Ida Morgenstern, *Rhoda*

After three semi-dramatic nominations for costarring in *McMillan & Wife*, Nancy Walker landed four more nods playing Valerie Harper’s wisecracking, overbearing Jewish mother in this *Mary Tyler Moore* spinoff. It was the role she was born to play, but Emmy never came through.

Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig as the Target Lady on ‘Saturday Night Live’.

Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

**Emmy-worthy role:** Various, *Saturday Night Live*

Kristen Wiig has become something of a Susan Lucci of the Primetime Emmys. The comic actress was one of *SNL*’s star players, earning four consecutive Emmy nominations from 2009 to 2012 without winning. She’s also earned four guest-actress nods for returning to the variety series as host — and has come up short each time.

Beyond her eight *SNL* nominations, Wiig was been recognized for her voice work on *The Looney Tunes Show* in 2012, her committed turn in the miniseries *The Spoils of Babylon* in 2014, and her work as both star and executive producer *Palm Royale* in 2024. She picked up her 13th nomination in 2025 for cowriting the song “Harper and Will go West” for *Will & Harper*. Still, she remains a bridesmaid (get it?).

- Awards Shows & Events

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Emmys"

Read More

---

Source: Emmys

Published: September 15, 2026 at 12:57AM on Source: PRIME TIME

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle