15 Youngest Emmy Winners in History
Young performers have been making Emmy history for decades, and the numbers still tell a surprising story. This list gathers the youngest Primetime Emmy winners and sorts them from the oldest entry here to the very youngest by the age they were on the night they won.
Ages are based on the date of each ceremony. Each entry notes the year, the exact category, the winning work written in single quotes, and the network or platform tied to the award so you can place each milestone in context.
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox was 25 when he won in 1986 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘Family Ties’ on NBC. The award marked the first Primetime Emmy of his career and recognized his season as Alex P. Keaton.
He later added more Primetime Emmys for both comedy and guest performances. His 1986 trophy placed a young network comedy lead among the year’s headline winners.
Julia Garner
Julia Garner was 25 when she won in 2019 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for ‘Ozark’ on Netflix. The award came during a season that expanded her character’s role in the show’s criminal enterprise storyline.
She went on to win the same category again for later seasons of the series. The 2019 win put her among the youngest supporting drama winners of the modern era.
Zendaya
Zendaya was 24 when she won in 2020 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for ‘Euphoria’ on HBO. The recognition made her the youngest winner of that category at the time.
She won the same category again in 2022 for the same role. The pair of lead trophies established a new age mark for a two time acting winner.
America Ferrera
America Ferrera was 23 when she won in 2007 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for ‘Ugly Betty’ on ABC. The award recognized her performance as Betty Suarez during the show’s breakout season.
Her win also marked a milestone as the first Latina to take that lead comedy actress category. The series drew multiple nominations across acting and craft fields in the same year.
Karen Valentine
Karen Valentine was 23 when she won in 1970 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for ‘Room 222’ on ABC. She played teacher Alice Johnson and received the award during the show’s early run.
She followed the win with continued recognition tied to the same role. The performance kept the series present in comedy acting conversations throughout its network tenure.
Patty Duke
Patty Duke was 23 when she won in 1970 for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for ‘My Sweet Charlie’ on NBC. The television film placed her in a lead dramatic setting for a one night broadcast.
She later added more Primetime Emmys for different projects. The 1970 trophy is the entry that connects her to the youngest bracket of lead television winners.
Susan Saint James
Susan Saint James was 22 when she won in 1969 for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series for ‘The Name of the Game’ on NBC. She portrayed Peggy Maxwell in the show’s rotating lead structure.
Her Emmy history includes additional nominations for other series. The 1969 award placed a young supporting actress in the winner’s circle during a formative period for network drama.
Barbara Anderson
Barbara Anderson was 22 when she won in 1968 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for ‘Ironside’ on NBC. She played Eve Whitfield and received the award during the program’s early seasons.
She returned to the category with later nominations for the same role. The series remained a steady presence across Primetime drama categories during its run.
Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas was 21 when he won in 1973 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for ‘The Waltons’ on CBS. He accepted the award after a season that cemented the show as both a ratings and awards contender.
The series collected nominations in multiple areas including writing and directing. His age placed a young lead actor at the center of a major network drama win.
Jharrel Jerome
Jharrel Jerome was 21 when he won in 2019 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for ‘When They See Us’ on Netflix. He portrayed Korey Wise and received the award at the Microsoft Theater.
It was his first Primetime Emmy nomination and win. The limited series also earned recognition in casting and writing categories at the same ceremony.
Anthony Murphy
Anthony Murphy was 17 when he won in 1973 for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for ‘Tom Brown’s Schooldays’ on PBS. The Masterpiece presentation brought a period adaptation to American television audiences.
His victory remains one of the rare teenage wins for a lead dramatic performance. The production also collected top honors among limited and anthology entries that year.
Scott Jacoby
Scott Jacoby was 16 when he won in 1973 for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama for ‘That Certain Summer’ on ABC. The television film is frequently cited for its place in broadcast history.
His category win stands as an early example of a teen actor recognized by the Academy in a major performance race. The broadcast drew attention across several nominations in the same cycle.
Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol was 15 when she won in 1977 for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for ‘Family’ on ABC. She portrayed Letitia Buddy Lawrence and accepted the award on the night of her fifteenth birthday.
She won the same category again in 1979 for the series. The pair of trophies made her one of the very few performers with two Primetime wins before turning eighteen.
Owen Cooper
Owen Cooper was 15 when he won in 2025 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix. He played Jamie, a teenager at the center of a homicide case, in a production known for single take episodes.
The win made him the youngest male acting winner in Primetime Emmy history. It arrived during a ceremony where the series collected additional honors including top limited series recognition.
Roxana Zal
Roxana Zal was 14 when she won in 1984 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for ‘Something About Amelia’ on ABC. She received the award at the 36th Primetime Emmys.
Her record remains the benchmark for the youngest Primetime acting winner. The television film earned multiple honors that year across performance and craft categories.
Tell us which young Emmy wins surprised you most and share any other picks you think belong on the list in the comments.