| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Recipient
!Work
!Ref |
| 1935 | Katherine Cornell | Romeo and Juliet | [{{cite encyclopedia |title=Delia Austrian Medal |encyclopedia=Winners: The Blue Ribbon Encyclopedia of Awards | editor = Walter, Claire | year=1982 | location=New York | publisher=Facts on File, Inc. | url=https://archive.org/details/winnersblueribbo0000walt/ | via=The Internet Archive | access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 1936 | Helen Hayes | Victoria Regina | [{{cite news |title=Drama League Bestows Medal on Helen Hayes |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19360522&id=D-UxAAAAIBAJ&pg=2679,4777505 |newspaper=Associated Press|via=Reading Eagle |date=May 22, 1936 |access-date=December 13, 2013 }}] |
| 1937 | Maurice Evans | King Richard II | [{{cite news |title=Evans Gets Medal Of Drama League. English Actor Is Honored for 'Richard II' in Presentation by Daniel Frohman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/05/12/archives/evans-gets-medal-of-drama-league-english-actor-is-honored-for.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date= May 12, 1937 |access-date=December 12, 2013 }}] |
| 1938 | Cedric Hardwicke | Shadow and Substance | |
| 1939 | Raymond Massey | Abe Lincoln in Illinois | [{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/10/archives/massey-honored-by-drama-league-lincoln-portrayer-wins-the-delia.html|title=Massey Honored by Drama League; Lincoln Portrayer Wins the Delia Austrian Medal for Distinguished Acting|publisher=The New York Times|date=May 10, 1939|access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 1940 | Paul Muni | Key Largo | |
| 1941 | Paul Lukas | Watch on the Rhine | [{{cite news |title=Paul Lukas Gets Drama Group Prize. Star of Watch on the Rhine Receives the Delia Austrian Medal for His Acting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1941/05/10/archives/paul-lukas-gets-drama-group-prize-star-of-watch-on-the-rhine.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 10, 1941 |access-date=December 12, 2013 }}] |
| 1942 | Judith Evelyn | Angel Street | |
| 1943 | Alfred Lunt
Lynn Fontanne | The Pirate | [{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1943/05/19/archives/drama-league-prize-given-to-the-lunts-their-work-in-behrman-play.html|title=Drama League Prize Given to the Lunts; Their Work in Behrman Play, 'The Pirate,' Is Rewarded|work=The New York Times|date=May 19, 1943|access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 1944 | Elisabeth Bergner{{efn|The Drama League website does not list Bergner as the recipient in 1944, instead listing Lynn Fontanne, who is listed in other sources as co-recipient with Alfred Lunt in 1943.}} | The Two Mrs. Carrolls | [{{cite news |title=Elisabeth Bergner Gets Drama Award; Receives Delia Austrian Medal for Distinguished Acting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/05/10/archives/elisabeth-bergner-gets-drama-award-receives-delia-austrian-medal.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 10, 1944 |access-date=December 12, 2013 }}] |
| 1945 | Mady Christians | I Remember Mama | |
| 1946 | Louis Calhern | The Magnificent Yankee | |
| 1947 | Ingrid Bergman | Joan of Lorraine | |
| 1948 | Judith Anderson | Medea | |
| 1949 | Robert Morley | Edward, My Son | |
| 1950 | Grace George | The Velvet Glove | |
| 1951 | Claude Rains | Darkness at Noon | |
| 1952 | Julie Harris | I Am a Camera | |
| 1953 | Shirley Booth | The Time of the Cuckoo | |
| 1954 | Josephine Hull | The Solid Gold Cadillac | |
| 1955 | Viveca Lindfors | Anastasia | |
| 1956 | David Wayne | The Ponder Heart | |
| 1957 | Eli Wallach | Major Barbara | |
| 1958 | Ralph Bellamy | Sunrise at Campobello | |
| 1959 | Cyril Ritchard | The Pleasure of His Company | |
| 1960 | Jessica Tandy | Five Finger Exercise | |
| 1961 | Hume Cronyn | Big Fish, Little Fish | |
| 1962 | Paul Scofield | A Man for All Seasons | |
| 1963 | Charles Boyer | Lord Pengo | |
| 1964 | Alec Guinness | Dylan | [{{cite web |url=http://www.corbis.co.in/stock-photo/rights-managed/42-31129874/alec-guinness |title=Alec Guinness |access-date=December 13, 2013 |publisher=Corbis }}] |
| 1965 | John Gielgud | Tiny Alice | |
| 1966 | Richard Kiley | Man of La Mancha | |
| 1967 | Rosemary Harris | The Wild Duck | |
| 1968 | Zoe Caldwell | The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie | |
| 1969 | Alec McCowen | Hadrian the Seventh | |
| 1970 | James Stewart | Harvey | |
| 1971 | Anthony Quayle | Sleuth | |
| 1972 | Eileen Atkins
Claire Bloom | Vivat! Vivat Regina! | |
| 1973 | Alan Bates | Butley | |
| 1974 | Christopher Plummer | The Good Doctor | |
| 1975 | John Wood | Sherlock Holmes | |
| 1976 | Eva Le Gallienne | The Royal Family | |
| 1977 | Tom Courtenay | Otherwise Engaged | |
| 1978 | Frank Langella | Dracula | |
| 1979 | Frances Sternhagen | On Golden Pond | |
| 1980 | Roy Scheider | Betrayal | |
| 1981 | Ian McKellen | Amadeus | [{{cite news |title='Cage Aux Folles' Due As Musical Comedy Set In New Orleans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/08/theater/broadway-cage-aux-folles-due-as-musical-comedy-set-in-new-orleans.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 8, 1981 |access-date=December 12, 2013 }}] |
| 1982 | Milo O'Shea | Mass Appeal | [{{Cite web |date=2013-04-10 |title=In memoriam - Irish acting legend Milo O’Shea passes away after battle with Alzheimers |url=http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/in-memoriam-irish-acting-legend-milo-oshea-passes-away-after-battle-with-alzheimers-202357371-237580061.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=IrishCentral.com |language=en}}] |
| 1983 | Kate Nelligan
Edward Herrmann | Plenty | [{{Cite web |date=2015-03-26 |title=Edward Herrmann: Character actor on screen whose air of Ivy League |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/edward-herrmann-character-actor-on-screen-whose-air-of-ivy-league-solidity-and-intelligence-made-him-an-ideal-leading-man-on-stage-10134083.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Independent |language=en}}] |
| 1984 | Jeremy Irons | The Real Thing | [{{Cite web |date=2017-10-19 |title=75th Annual Drama League Awards: Drama League Awards announces the recipients of its 2009 Special Recognitions |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/drama-league-announces-the-recipients-of-its-2009-special-recognitions-awards |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=New York Theatre Guide |language=en}}] |
| 1985 | Derek Jacobi | Cyrano de Bergerac and Much Ado About Nothing | [{{Cite web |title=Derek Jacobi theatre profile |url=https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/306258-derek-jacobi |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=www.abouttheartists.com}}] |
| 1986 | Bernadette Peters | Song and Dance | [{{Cite web |title=Bernadette Peters {{!}} Kennedy Center |url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/p/pa-pn/bernadette-peters/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Kennedy Center |language=en}}] |
| 1987 | James Earl Jones | Fences | [{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=James Earl Jones Theatre – theaterlife |url=https://theaterlife.com/james-earl-jones-theatre/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |language=en-US}}] |
| 1988 | John Lithgow | M. Butterfly | [{{Cite web |title=Get Inside the Starry 2019 Drama League Awards with These Exclusive Portraits |url=https://www.broadway.com/photos/gallery/839/get-inside-the-starry-2019-drama-league-awards-with-these-exclusive-portraits/109174/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}}] |
| 1989 | Pauline Collins | Shirley Valentine | [{{Cite news |date=2001-06-15 |title=Pauline Collins: Stage and screen doyenne |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1390846.stm |access-date=2024-05-01 |language=en-GB}}] |
| 1990 | Robert Morse | Tru | [{{Cite web |title=A Look at How Many Drama League Distinguished Performance Award Winners Went on to Win Tony Awards {{!}} The Daily Scoop |url=https://www.broadwaybox.com/daily-scoop/how-many-drama-league-winners-went-on-to-win-tony-awards/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.broadwaybox.com}}] |
| 1991 | Stockard Channing | Six Degrees of Separation | |
| 1992 | Glenn Close | Death and the Maiden | |
| 1993 | Stephen Rea | Someone Who'll Watch Over Me | |
| 1994 | Sam Waterston | Abe Lincoln in Illinois | |
| 1995 | Cherry Jones | The Heiress | [{{Cite web |title=Keeping Up With the Jones Girl |url=https://playbill.com/article/keeping-up-with-the-jones-girl-com-101077 |website=Playbill}}] |
| 1996 | Uta Hagen | Mrs. Klein | [{{Cite web |title=Rent, Guitars Win Drama League Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/rent-guitars-win-drama-league-awards-com-328884}}] |
| 1997 | Charles Durning
Bebe Neuwirth | The Gin Game
Chicago | [{{Cite web |title=Neuwirth and Durning Tie for Drama League Award |url=https://playbill.com/article/neuwirth-and-durning-tie-for-drama-league-award-com-70310}}] |
| 1998 | Brian Stokes Mitchell | Ragtime | [{{Cite web |title=Ragtime, Beauty Queen, Cabaret Win Drama League Awards May 8 |url=https://playbill.com/article/ragtime-beauty-queen-cabaret-win-drama-league-awards-may-8-com-75241}}] |
| 1999 | Kathleen Chalfant | Wit | [{{Cite web |title=Fosse, Salesman & Wit Win Drama League Awards, May 7 |url=https://playbill.com/article/fosse-salesman-wit-win-drama-league-awards-may-7-com-81765}}] |
| 2000 | Eileen Heckart | The Waverly Gallery | [{{Cite web |title=Contact, Copenhagen, Kate Win Drama League Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/contact-copenhagen-kate-win-drama-league-awards-com-89017}}] |
| 2001 | Mary-Louise Parker
Gary Sinise | Proof
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | [{{Cite web |title='Pro-' Choice: Drama League Awards Announced, May 11 |url=https://playbill.com/article/pro-choice-drama-league-awards-announced-may-11-com-96559}}] |
| 2002 | Liam Neeson | The Crucible | [{{Cite web |title=Urinetown, Crucible and Metamorphoses Win the Drama League Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/urinetown-crucible-and-metamorphoses-win-the-drama-league-awards-com-105667}}] |
| 2003 | Harvey Fierstein | Hairspray | [{{Cite web |title=Hairspray, Take Me Out, Joe Egg, Fierstein Win 2003 Drama League Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/hairspray-take-me-out-joe-egg-fierstein-win-2003-drama-league-awards-com-113115}}] |
| 2004 | Hugh Jackman | The Boy from Oz | [{{Cite web |date=2004-05-14 |title=Drama League Award Winners Announced - TheaterMania.com |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/drama-league-award-winners-announced_4727/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |language=en-US}}] |
| 2005 | Norbert Leo Butz | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | [{{Cite web |date=2005-05-13 |title=2005 Drama League Award Winners Announced - TheaterMania.com |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/2005-drama-league-award-winners-announced_6026/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |language=en-US}}] |
| 2006 | Christine Ebersole | Grey Gardens | [{{Cite web |date=2017-10-19 |title=Drama League Awards 2006 announced |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/drama-league-2006-awards |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=New York Theatre Guide |language=en}}] |
| 2007 | Liev Schreiber | Talk Radio and Macbeth | [{{Cite web |date=2007-05-11 |title=2007 Drama League Award Winners Announced - TheaterMania.com |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/2007-drama-league-award-winners-announced_10744/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |language=en-US}}] |
| 2008 | Patti LuPone | Gypsy | [{{Cite web |title=2008 Drama League Awards Announced; LuPone Wins Top Acting Accolade |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/97363/2008-drama-league-awards-announced-lupone-wins-top-acting-accolade/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}}] |
| 2009 | Geoffrey Rush | Exit the King | [{{Cite web |title=Billy Elliot, Carnage and Geoffrey Rush Take Top Drama League Honors |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/98527/billy-elliot-carnage-and-geoffrey-rush-take-top-drama-league-honors/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}}] |
| 2010 | Alfred Molina | Red | [{{Cite web |title=Sondheim, Red, Bridge, La Cage and Molina Win Drama League Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/sondheim-red-bridge-la-cage-and-molina-win-drama-league-awards-com-168631}}] |
| 2011 | Mark Rylance | Jerusalem and La Bête | [{{Cite web |date=2017-10-19 |title=Drama League 2011 nominations |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/drama-league-2011-award-winners |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=New York Theatre Guide |language=en}}] |
| 2012 | Audra McDonald | Porgy and Bess | [{{Cite web |title=Other Desert Cities, Salesman, Follies, Once, Audra McDonald Are Drama League Winners |url=https://playbill.com/article/other-desert-cities-salesman-follies-once-audra-mcdonald-are-drama-league-winners-com-193730}}] |
| 2013 | Nathan Lane | The Nance | [{{Cite web |title=Kinky Boots, Pippin, Vanya and Sonia, Virginia Woolf? and Nathan Lane Win Drama League Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/kinky-boots-pippin-vanya-and-sonia-virginia-woolf-and-nathan-lane-win-drama-league-awards-com-205531}}] |
| 2014 | Neil Patrick Harris | Hedwig and the Angry Inch | [{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2014/05/16/awards-for-neil-patrick-harris-all-the-way/9182951/|title=Awards for Neil Patrick Harris, 'All the Way'|last=Gardner|first=Elysa|work=USA Today|date=May 16, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 2015 | Chita Rivera | The Visit | [{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/2015-drama-league-awards-and-the-winners-are|title=2015 Drama League Awards: And the Winners are...|website=New York Theatre Guide|date=October 19, 2017|access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 2016 | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Hamilton | |
| 2017 | Ben Platt | Dear Evan Hansen | |
| 2018 | Glenda Jackson | Three Tall Women | |
| 2019 | Bryan Cranston | Network | [{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/networks-bryan-cranston-hadestown-among-2019-drama-league-award-winners|title=Network{{'}}s Bryan Cranston, Hadestown Among 2019 Drama League Award Winners|last=McPhee|first=Ryan|website=Playbill|date=May 17, 2019|access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 2020 | Danny Burstein | Moulin Rouge! | [{{cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2020-06-22/reporters-notebook-ucsd-grad-danny-burstein-wins-major-drama-league-award|title=Reporter’s Notebook: UCSD grad Danny Burstein wins major Drama League award|last=Kragen|first=Pam|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=June 22, 2020|access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 2021 | No award presented | | |
| 2022 | Sutton Foster | The Music Man | [{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/the-lehman-trilogy-a-strange-loop-sutton-foster-more-are-winners-of-88th-annual-drama-league-awards|title=The Lehman Trilogy, A Strange Loop, Sutton Foster, More Are Winners of 88th Annual Drama League Awards|last=Gans|first=Andrew|website=Playbill|date=May 20, 2022|access-date=February 17, 2024}}] |
| 2023 | Annaleigh Ashford | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | |
| 2024 | Sarah Paulson | Appropriate | [{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/sarah-paulson-ihells-kitchen-i-win-drama-league-awards_1740776/|title=Sarah Paulson, Hell’s Kitchen Win Drama League Awards|website=theatermania.com|language=en|access-date=2024-05-17}}] |