Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming facts for kids

The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming was a special prize given to actors and performers who did amazing work in TV shows made for kids. For many years, this award celebrated the best acting in children's television.

In the 1970s and 1980s, actors appearing in special TV shows and regular series competed for the same award. Later, in 1989, the awards were split into two groups: one for performances in children's TV series and another for performances in children's TV specials. These separate awards continued until 2007.

Some very young talents were recognized by this award. Jodelle Ferland was the youngest person ever nominated for an Emmy in this category in 2001. She was only six years old! The youngest winner was Bindi Irwin, who won in 2008 when she was nine.

In 2021, the organization that gives out the Emmy Awards decided to create a brand new event just for children's and family shows. This new event, called the Children's & Family Emmy Awards, started in 2022. This means the old "Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming" award is no longer given out.

Winners and Nominees

Here are some of the talented performers who won or were nominated for this special award. Winners are shown in bold.

Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming

This category included performers from both series and specials.

1982

• Robert Keeshan - Captain Kangaroo (CBS)
• Mike Farrell - The Body Human ("Becoming a Man") (CBS)
• Cicely Tyson - The Body Human ("Becoming a Woman") (CBS)

1983

• Cloris Leachman - ABC Afterschool Special ("The Woman Who Willed a Miracle") (ABC)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)

1984

• Dick Van Dyke - CBS Library ("The Wrong Way Kid") (CBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)

1985

• John Carradine - Young People's Specials ("Umbrella Jack") (SYN)
• Richard Pryor - Pryor's Place (CBS)
• Lily Tomlin - Pryor's Place (CBS)

1986

• Pearl Bailey - ABC Afterschool Special ("Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale") (ABC)
• Drew Barrymore - ABC Weekend Specials ("The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn") (ABC)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1987

• Madeline Kahn - ABC Afterschool Special ("Wanted: The Perfect Guy") (ABC)
• Paul Reubens - Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1988

• Philip Bosco - ABC Afterschool Special ("Read Between The Lines") (ABC)
• James Earl Jones - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Soldier Boys") (CBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• Paul Reubens - Pee-wee's Playhouse (CBS)

Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special

This award was for actors in one-time TV specials for kids.

1989

• Dana Barron - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("No Means No") (CBS)
• Whoopi Goldberg - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("My Past Is My Own") (CBS)

1990

• Greg Spottiswood - Looking for Miracles (Disney Channel)

1991

• Joanne Vannicola - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Maggie's Secret") (CBS)

1992

• Josh Hamilton - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Abby, My Love") (CBS)

1993

• Dina Waters - Lifestories: Families in Crisis ("Public Law 106: The Becky Bell Story") (HBO)

1994

• Justin Whalin - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Other Mothers") (CBS)

1995

• Hal Linden - CBS Schoolbreak Special ("The Writing on The Wall") (CBS)
• Ben Affleck - Lifestories: Families in Crisis ("A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story") (HBO)

1996

• Kate Burton - ABC Afterschool Specials ("Notes for My Daughter") (ABC)

1997

• Donna Murphy - Lifestories: Families in Crisis ("Someone Had to be Benny") (HBO)

1998

• Robert Ri'chard - In His Father's Shoes (Showtime)

1999

• Jordan Kiziuk - The Island on Bird Street (Showtime)

2000

• James Earl Jones - Summer's End (Showtime)

2001

• Ossie Davis - Finding Buck McHenry (Showtime)
• Jodelle Ferland - Mermaid (Showtime)

2002

• Kelsey Keel - My Louisiana Sky (Showtime)

2003

• Ben Foster - Bang Bang You're Dead (Showtime)

Outstanding Performer in a Children/Youth/Family Special

This category was a slightly updated version for specials.

2004

• Gena Rowlands - The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie (Showtime)

2005

• Stockard Channing - Jack (Showtime)

2006

• James McDaniel - Edge of America (Showtime)

2007

• Eion Bailey - Life of the Party (Lifetime)

Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series (1989-2014)

This award was for actors in ongoing children's TV shows.

1989

• Jim Varney - Hey Vern, It's Ernest! (CBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)

1990

• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)

1991

• Tim Curry - Peter Pan & the Pirates (FOX)
• Whoopi Goldberg - Captain Planet and the Planeteers (TBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1992

• Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1993

• Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1994

• Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1995

• Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1996

• Shari Lewis - Lamb Chop's Play-Along (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1997

• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• Bill Nye - Bill Nye the Science Guy (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

1998

• Bill Nye - Bill Nye the Science Guy (PBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

1999

• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• Bill Nye - Bill Nye the Science Guy (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2000

• Shari Lewis - The Charlie Horse Music Pizza (PBS)
• Bill Nye - Bill Nye the Science Guy (SYN)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2001

• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)
• Steve Burns - Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2002

• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)
• Fred Rogers - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2003

• Shia LaBeouf - Even Stevens (Disney Channel)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2004

• Jeff Corwin - Jeff Corwin Unleashed (NBC)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2005

• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)
• Donovan Patton - Blue's Clues (Nickelodeon)
• Jeff Corwin - Jeff Corwin Unleashed (Discovery Kids)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

2006

• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2007

• Caroll Spinney - Sesame Street (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)
• LeVar Burton - Reading Rainbow (PBS)

2008

• Bindi Irwin - Bindi the Jungle Girl (Discovery Kids)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2009

• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)
• Bindi Irwin - Bindi the Jungle Girl (Discovery Kids)

2010

• Joey Mazzarino - Sesame Street (PBS)
• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2011

• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2012

• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2013

• Kevin Clash - Sesame Street (PBS)

2014

• Jessica Honor Carleton - Green Screen Adventures (MeTV)

Outstanding Performer in a Children's or Pre-School Children's Series (2015-2016)

This category focused on performers in shows for younger kids.

2015

• Margot Kidder - The Haunting Hour: The Series ("Mrs. Worthington") (Discovery Family)

2016

• Jessica Lundy - The Inspectors (CBS)

Outstanding Performer in a Children's, Pre-School Children's or Family Viewing Program

This category broadened to include family-friendly programs.

2017

• Isaac Kragten - Odd Squad (PBS)

Outstanding Performer in a Children's, Preschool Children's or Educational and Informational Program

This category highlighted educational and informative shows.

2018

• Dove Cameron - Liv and Maddie: Cali Style (Disney Channel)
• Ed Asner - A StoryBots Christmas (Netflix)
• Raven Symone - Raven's Home (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Performer in a Children's, Family Viewing or Special Class Program

This category was for a wider range of children's and family shows.

2019

• Michela Luci - Dino Dana (Amazon)
• Edward Norton - Ask the StoryBots (Netflix)

Outstanding Principal Performance in Daytime Program

This category was for main actors in daytime shows, including children's programs.

2020

• Ryan Dillon - Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration (HBO)

Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program

This category was for actors with smaller, but important, roles in daytime shows.

2020

• Bill Cobbs - Dino Dana: Dino Flyer (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Limited Performance in a Children’s Program

This category was for actors with limited appearances in children's shows.

2021

• Lupita Nyong'o - Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices: Lupita Nyong'o Reads Sulwe (Netflix)
• Alicia Silverstone - The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix)

Outstanding Principal Performance in a Children’s Program

This category was for the main actors in children's shows.

2021

• Jace Chapman - The Healing Powers of Dude (Netflix)
• Ryan Dillon - Sesame Street (HBO)

Outstanding Younger Performer in a Children’s Program

This category was specifically for younger actors in children's shows.

2021

• Sophie Grace - The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix)
• Issac Ryan Brown - Raven's Home (Disney Channel)
• Sky Katz - Raven's Home (Disney Channel)

Programs with Multiple Awards

Some TV shows won this award many times!

• Sesame Street: 16 awards
• Lamb Chop's Play-Along: 5 awards
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: 3 awards
• Dino Dana: 2 awards

Performers with Multiple Wins

Some actors won this award more than once!

• Kevin Clash: 9 wins
• Shari Lewis: 6 wins
• Caroll Spinney: 5 wins
• Fred Rogers: 3 wins
• LeVar Burton: 2 wins