Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance
Awarded forOutstanding continuing or single voice-over performance in a series or special
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Television Arts & Sciences
First award1992
Final award2013
Websiteemmys.com

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance was a Creative Arts Emmy Award given out by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. It was awarded to a performer for an outstanding "continuing or single voice-over performance in a series or a special."[1] Prior to 1992, voice actors could be nominated for their performance in the live-action acting categories.[2] The award was first given in 1992 when six voice actors from The Simpsons shared the award. From 1992 to 2008, it was a juried award, so there were no nominations and there would be multiple or no recipients in one year. In 2009, the rules were changed to a category award, with five nominees.

Usually, winners would be voice actors from animated shows, but some narrators of live-action shows won such as Keith David in 2005 and 2008. No winner was named in 1996 or 2007.[3]

Nine voice actors from The Simpsons won a combined 14 Emmys in the category. Of those, Dan Castellaneta won four and Hank Azaria won three. Ja'net Dubois won two for The PJs, Keith David won two for his narration of various documentaries, and Maurice LaMarche won two for Futurama. Voice actors from shows on Fox won 17 of the 27 awards presented.

In 2014, the category was separated into two categories – Outstanding Narrator and Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. This split acknowledged and accommodated a general industry uptrend in the distinctly different achievements that are voice-over narration and voice-over character performance.[4]

Rules

While most of the Primetime Emmy Awards choose winners from a group of nominees, the award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance was juried from 1992 to 2008. Each entrant was screened by a panel of Academy of Television Arts & Sciences members from the Animation branch as well as members of the Acting branch with voice-over credits. Potential nominees had to submit a DVD that contained an edited version of a single episode and a picture of the character(s) that were voiced. Submissions that were less than 30 minutes had to be edited to be shorter than five minutes; entries longer than 30 minutes were edited to be less than ten.[1] Prior to 2007, the maximum edited lengths were ten and fifteen minutes respectively.[5] Each entrant with majority approval went on to a second panel. Emmy winners had to be unanimous choices of this second panel, except that for every 12 persons or fraction thereof on the panel, one "no" vote was allowed, except from the head of the panel.[1]

In 2009, the Academy changed the award from a "juried" award to a "category", with six nominees and one winner.[6]

Winners (1992–2008)

Year Winner Character(s) Series or special Network Ref.
1992 Nancy Cartwright Bart Simpson The Simpsons: "Separate Vocations" Fox [7]
Dan Castellaneta Homer Simpson The Simpsons: "Lisa's Pony" Fox [7]
Julie Kavner Marge Simpson The Simpsons: "I Married Marge" Fox [7]
Jackie Mason Rabbi Krustofski The Simpsons: "Like Father, Like Clown" Fox [7]
Yeardley Smith Lisa Simpson The Simpsons: "Lisa the Greek" Fox [7]
Marcia Wallace Edna Krabappel The Simpsons: "Bart the Lover" Fox [7]
1993 Dan Castellaneta Homer Simpson, Barney Gumble, Abraham Simpson and other characters The Simpsons: "Mr. Plow" Fox [8]
1994 Christopher Plummer Narrator Madeline Family [9]
1995 Jonathan Katz Dr. Katz Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Comedy Central [10]
1996 No Emmy awarded in this category
1997 Jeremy Irons Siegfried Sassoon The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century: "War Without End" PBS [11]
Rik Mayall Mr. Toad The Wind in the Willows Family [11]
1998 Hank Azaria Apu Nahasapeemapetilon The Simpsons Fox [12]
1999 Ja'net Dubois Mrs. Florence Avery The PJs Fox [13]
2000 Seth MacFarlane Stewie Griffin Family Guy Fox [14]
Julie Harris Susan B. Anthony Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony PBS [14]
2001 Hank Azaria Comic Book Guy, Apu, Carl Carlson, Lou, Chief Wiggum and Moe Szyslak The Simpsons: "Worst Episode Ever" Fox [15]
Ja'net Dubois Mrs. Florence Avery The PJs: "Let's Get Ready To Rumba" The WB [15]
2002 Peter Macon Narrator Animated Tales of the World: "John Henry, the Steel Driving Man" HBO [16]
Pamela Adlon Bobby Hill, Clark Peters and Chane Wassanasong King of the Hill: "Bobby Goes Nuts" Fox [16]
2003 Hank Azaria Moe Szyslak, Carl Carlson, Chief Wiggum, Apu, Johnny Tightlips, Bumblebee Man and Cletus The Simpsons: "Moe Baby Blues" Fox [17]
2004 Dan Castellaneta Krusty the Clown, Homer Simpson, Abraham Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie, Sideshow Mel, Barney and Itchy The Simpsons: "Today I Am A Clown" Fox [18]
2005 Keith David Narrator Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson PBS [19]
2006 Kelsey Grammer Sideshow Bob The Simpsons: "The Italian Bob" Fox [20]
2007 No Emmy awarded in this category
2008 Keith David Narrator The War: "A Necessary War" PBS [21]

Winners and nominations (2009–2013)

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).

Year Nominee Character(s) Series or Special Episode Network
2009
(61st)
[22][23] 		Dan Castellaneta‡ Homer Simpson The Simpsons "Father Knows Worst" Fox
Ron Rifkin Narrator American Masters "Jerome Robbins: Something To Dance About" PBS
Seth Green Various Robot Chicken "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II" Cartoon Network
Seth MacFarlane Peter Griffin Family Guy "I Dream of Jesus" Fox
Harry Shearer Mr. Burns, Smithers, Kent Brockman and Lenny The Simpsons "The Burns and the Bees"
Hank Azaria Moe Szyslak "Eeny Teeny Maya Moe"
2010
(62nd)
[24][25] 		Anne Hathaway‡ Princess Penelope The Simpsons "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" Fox
H. Jon Benjamin Sterling Archer Archer "Mole Hunt" FX
Dave Foley Wayne Prep & Landing ABC
Seth Green Cobra Commander, Movie Narrator and Robot Chicken Nerd Robot Chicken "Cannot Be Erased, So Sorry" Cartoon Network
Hank Azaria Apu and Moe Szyslak The Simpsons "Moe Letter Blues" Fox
Dan Castellaneta Grampa Simpson and Homer Simpson "Thursdays with Abie"
2011
(63rd)
[26][27] 		Maurice LaMarche‡ Lrrr, Orson Welles Futurama "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences" Comedy Central
Bob Bergen Porky Pig The Looney Tunes Show "Jailbird And Jailbunny" Cartoon Network
Dan Castellaneta Homer Simpson, Krusty the Clown, Barney Gumble, Louie The Simpsons "Donnie Fatso" Fox
Seth Green Batman, Cobra Commander, Judge, Light Cycle Driver, Newscaster, Robot Chicken Nerd, Teenager, Venger Robot Chicken "Catch Me If You Kangaroo Jack" Cartoon Network
Christopher Plummer Narrator Moguls and Movie Stars "The Birth of Hollywood" TCM
Brenda Strong Mary Alice Young Desperate Housewives "Come on Over for Dinner" ABC
2012
(64th)
[28] 		Maurice LaMarche‡ Clamps, Donbot, Hyperchicken, Calculon, Hedonismbot, Morbo Futurama "The Silence of the Clamps" Comedy Central
Hank Azaria Moe Szyslak, Duffman, Mexican Duffman, Carl, Comic Book Guy, Chief Wiggum The Simpsons "Moe Goes from Rags to Riches" Fox
Dan Povenmire Doctor Doofenshmirtz Disney Phineas And Ferb: Across The 2nd Dimension Disney
Rob Riggle Noel Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice ABC
Brenda Strong Mary Alice Young Desperate Housewives "Give Me the Blame" / "Finishing the Hat"
Kristen Wiig Lola The Looney Tunes Show "Double Date" Cartoon Network
2013
(65th)
[29] 		Lily Tomlin‡ Narrator An Apology to Elephants HBO
Seth MacFarlane Brian Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Peter Griffin Family Guy "Brian's Play" Fox
Alex Borstein Lois Griffin and Tricia Takanawa "Lois Comes Out Of Her Shell"
Seth Green Abin Sur, Aquaman, Batman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Nerd and Robin Robot Chicken "Robot Chicken DC Comics Special" Cartoon Network
Sam Elliott Narrator "Hurtled From A Helicopter Into A Speeding Train"
Bob Bergen Porky Pig The Looney Tunes Show "We’re In Big Truffle"

Multiple wins

Wins include Outstanding Narrator and Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

4 wins

3 wins

2 wins

References

  1. "60th Primetime Emmy Awards 2007–2008 Rules and Procedures" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2008.
  2. "Simpsons' Can't Compete For Emmy as Top Comedy". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. 1990-08-02. p. L44.
  3. "Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Emmy Award Winners in costumes for a variety or music program and individual achievement in animation". Emmys.org. 2007-08-21.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (February 20, 2014). "EMMYS: TV Academy Splits Best Miniseries & TV Movie, Reality Program & Voice-Over Categories, Expands Combined Longform Fields To 6 Nominees, Sets Possibility For 7 Best Drama & Comedy Series Nominees". Deadline Hollywood.
  5. "58th Primetime Emmy Awards 2005–2006 Rules and Procedures" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2007.
  6. "61st Primetime Emmy Awards 2008–2009 Rules & Procedures" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
  7. "Briefing–'Simpsons' score big in Prime-Time Emmys". Daily News of Los Angeles. 1992-08-03. p. L20.
  8. "The Emmy Awards: The Complete List of Winners". The Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. 1993-09-21. p. 3D.
  9. "Who Won at the Emmy Awards". The Plain Dealer. Associated Press. 1994-09-12. p. 10E.
  10. "'ER' tops list of Emmy winners David Hyde Pierce was named best supporting actor in a comedy series for his work on "Frasier."". The San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. 1995-09-12. p. 10E.
  11. Brian Lowry (1997-09-09). "NBC Takes Home 15 Emmys in Early Award Presentations". Los Angeles Times.
  12. "Emmy Prime-Time Award Winners". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. 1998-09-14. p. E3.
  13. "'The PJs,' 'Animated Epics' win Emmys". CNN. 1999-08-06. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006.
  14. Brian Lowry (2000-08-28). "NBC Leads Tally of Early Emmys, Boosted by 'West Wing'". Los Angeles Times.
  15. Elaine Dutka (2001-08-14). "Morning Report". Los Angeles Times.
  16. "Academy of television arts and sciences – 54th annual primetime Emmy Awards" (PDF). Emmys.org. 2002-09-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2008.
  17. "Early Bird Emmys: Voice-Over, Animation". Emmys.org. 2003-07-17. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007.
  18. Denise Martin and Justin Chang (2004-09-12). "HBO takes Emmys big haul". Variety.
  19. Justin Chang (2005-08-17). "Cartoon Net draws Emmys". Variety.
  20. "58th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners (Outstanding Voice-Over Performance - 2006)". Emmys.
  21. "Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Emmy Award Winners in Outstanding Costumes For A Variety Or Music Program, Outstanding Voice Over and Outstanding Individual Achievement In Animation". Emmys.org. 2008-08-18.
  22. Goodman, Dean (2009-09-13). "Tina Fey wins Emmy award for Sarah Palin spoof". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2012-04-11.
  23. "The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards and 2009 Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are..." Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2009-07-16. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009.
  24. "Betty White lands 5th Emmy". CBC News. 2010-08-23.
  25. "2010 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2011.
  26. "Boardwalk Empire' rules Creative Arts Emmys". L.A. Times. 2011-09-10.
  27. "Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for 2011 - Outstanding Voice-Over Performance". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
  28. "Emmys Press Release" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2012-07-19.
  29. "Key Dates Announced for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. December 1, 2012.