The Youngest And Oldest Emmy Winners Ever

by Archynetys Entertainment Desk July 19, 2025

July 19, 2025

Table of Contents

So, Owen Cooper recently became one of the youngest nominees for an Emmy Award at 15 years old for Adolescence.
He received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie for portraying 13-year-old Jamie Miller in the hit Netflix series about a troubled teen. The nomination made him the youngest nominee in the history of the category.
With that being said, here’s all the youngest and oldest actors to ever win an Emmy in the history of the awards show:
1.
Roxana Zal was only 14 years old when she won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special for Something About Amelia in 1984. Roxana remains, to this day, the youngest Emmy winner ever.
2.
Kristy McNichol had just celebrated her 15th birthday when she took home a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Family in 1977.
Kristy portrayed Buddy Lawrence in the TV series, which earned her two Emmys. She won her second Emmy in 1979.
3.
Scott Jacoby was 16 when he won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama for That Certain Summer in 1973.
Scott portrayed Nick Salter in the 1972 TV film alongside Hal Holbrook, Martin Sheenand Hope Lange.
4.
Anthony Murphy was 17 years old when he earned a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in Tom Brown’s Schooldays Masterpiece Theater in 1973.
Anthony portrayed Tom Brown in the British television serial, which also won Best Miniseries after airing on PBS.
5.
Jharrel Jerome was 21 years old when he won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for When They See Us in 2019. Jharrel is currently the youngest to win in this category.
Jharrel portrayed Korey Wise in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix miniseries.
6.
Richard Thomas was 23 years old when he claimed Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for The Waltons in 1973.
Richard portrayed John-Boy Walton in the CBS drama series from 1972 to 1978, and appeared in several TV specials with his TV family.
7.
Michael J. Fox was 25 years old when he won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Family Ties in 1986.
Michael portrayed Alex P. Keaton in the TV sitcom from 1982 to 1989.
8.
Jodie Comer was 26 years old when she won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Killing Eve in 2019, becoming the youngest up to that point.
Jodie portrayed the assassin Villanelle in the BBC America thriller, which earned her a handful of other awards, including a BAFTA.
9.
The following year, Zendaya won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria in 2020, making history as the youngest ever in that category.
Zendaya played Rue Bennett in the HBO series, which earned her first Emmy. She won again for Euphoria in 2022 when she was 26.
10.
While not a Primetime Emmy, Kristos Andrews won 11 Daytime Emmy awards for The Bay before he turned 31. He won five awards for lead actor, another five as executive producer, and one for directing.
Kristos played Pete Garrett in the crime-drama series, which has earned 64 nominations total.
11.
Eugene Levy was 73 years old when he won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Sheep’s Creek in 2020. Eugene is currently the oldest winner in the category.
Eugene played Johnny Rose alongside his son Dan (who played David Rose) in the TV sitcom from 2015 to 2020.
12.
Richard Kiley was 66 years old when he won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in Drama Series for A Year in the Life in 1988.
Richard played Joe Gardner in the TV series, which was originally a three-part miniseries in the ’80s.
13.
Cloris Leachman was 80 years old when she won her eighth Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Malcolm in the Middle in 2006.
Cloris portrayed Grandma Ida in several episodes of Malcolm in the Middle, winning two awards in 2002 and 2006.
14.
Elaine Stritch was 82 years old when she won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for 30 Rock in 2007.
Elaine portrayed Jack Donaghy’s (Alec Baldwin) mother, Colleen Donaghy, and won the award for the Season 1 finale, “Hiatus.”
15.
Betty White was 88 years old when she won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for hosting Saturday Night Live in 2010. The win made her one of the oldest guest actor winners ever.
Betty hosted Season 35, Episode 21 with special musical guest Jay-Z in 2010.
16.
Carol Burnett was 91 years old when she accepted an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special as the executive producer of 90 Years of Laughter + Love in 2024.
The NBC special included tributes from other famous celebrities, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tina Fey, Julie Andrews, Oprah, former president Joe Biden, and first lady Jill Biden, Cher, Laura Dern, Ellen DeGeneres, and musical performances from Katy Perry, Bernadette Peters, and more.
17.
Sir David Attenborough was 94 years old when he won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Narrator for Seven Worlds, One Planet – Antarctica.
Sir Attenborough has won three Emmy Awards in total and became one of the oldest winners ever in 2018 for the narration of Blue Planet II – One Ocean.
18.
In 2020, Norman Lear was 98 years old when he won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) as executive producer of Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family & Good Times.
Norman won the same award the previous year as executive producer of Live In Front Of A Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s “All In The Family” And “The Jeffersons.”
19.
Lastly, Dick Van Dyke was 98 years old when he won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series for Days of Our Lives in 2024. The win made him the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever.
Dick portrayed John Doe, aka Timothy Robicheaux, in several episodes of the soap opera.
Do you have a favorite performance from these incredible actors mentioned? Share in the comments!

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Archynetys Entertainment Desk

The Archynetys Entertainment Desk reports on film, television, music, streaming, celebrity culture, and the business of entertainment. Coverage is designed to be timely, readable, and contextualized, with an emphasis on what is shaping culture rather than simple recap publishing.