The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956. Winners and nominees 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Award records Multiple wins 2 Wins Norbert Leo Butz John Cullum Richard Kiley Nathan Lane Zero Mostel James Naughton Robert Preston George Rose Phil Silvers Multiple nominations 4 Nominations John Cullum Raul Julia 3 Nominations Len Cariou Michael Cerveris Alfred Drake Joel Grey George Hearn Gregory Hines Richard Kiley Nathan Lane Brian Stokes Mitchell Robert Morse Robert Preston George Rose Phil Silvers 2 Nominations Herschel Bernardi Ray Bolger Barry Bostwick Alex Brightman Matthew Broderick Danny Burstein Norbert Leo Butz David Carroll Brent Carver Jack Cassidy Gavin Creel Tim Curry Jim Dale Santino Fontana Victor Garber Joshua Henry Hugh Jackman Brian d'Arcy James Andy Karl John Lithgow Terrence Mann Rob McClure John McMartin Lin-Manuel Miranda Zero Mostel James Naughton Jerry Orbach Mandy Patinkin David Hyde Pierce Martin Short Robert Weede Patrick Wilson Tom Wopat Multiple character wins 3 Wins Pseudolus from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 2 Wins Albin from La Cage aux Folles Emile de Becque from South Pacific J. Pierrepont Finch from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Multiple character nominations 5 Nominations Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof 3 Nominations Albin from La Cage aux Folles Noble Eggleston / Val du Val / Fred Poitrine from Little Me * Harold Hill from The Music Man Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady Pseudolus from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd 2 Nominations Billy Flynn from Chicago Bobby from Company Charley Wykeham from Where's Charley? Chuck Baxter from Promises, Promises Curly McLain from Oklahoma! Don Quixote / Cervantes from Man of La Mancha Dr. Pangloss from Candide Emile de Becque from South Pacific Fagin from Oliver! Georg Nowack from She Loves Me George from La Cage aux Folles Georges from Sunday in the Park with George Guido Contini from Nine Horace Vandergelder from Hello, Dolly! J. Pierrepont Finch from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Jean Valjean from Les Misérables The King of