From 1980 to 1983, only Canadian actors were eligible for the award; non-Canadian actors appearing in Canadian films were instead considered for the separate Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actor. After 1983, the latter award was discontinued, and both Canadian and foreign actors were eligible for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
| Year |
Winner |
Nominated |
| 1980 |
Christopher Plummer, Murder by Decree |
|
| 1981 |
Thomas Peacocke, The Hounds of Notre Dame |
|
| 1982 |
Nick Mancuso, Ticket to Heaven |
|
| 1983 |
Donald Sutherland, Threshold |
|
| 1984 |
Eric Fryer, The Terry Fox Story |
|
| 1985 |
Gabriel Arcand, Le Crime d'Ovide Plouffe |
|
| 1986 |
John Wildman, My American Cousin |
|
| 1987 |
Gordon Pinsent, John and the Missus |
|
| 1988 |
Roger Lebel, Un zoo la nuit (Night Zoo) |
|
| 1989 |
Jeremy Irons, Dead Ringers |
|
| 1990 |
Lothaire Bluteau, Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal) |
|
| 1991 |
Rémy Girard, Amoureux fou |
|
| 1992 |
Tony Nardi, La Sarrasine |
|
| 1993 |
Tom McCamus, I Love a Man in Uniform |
|
| 1994 |
Maury Chaykin, Whale Music |
|
| Jan. 1996 |
David La Haye, L'Enfant d'eau |
|
| Nov. 1996 |
William Hutt, Long Day's Journey into Night |
|
| 1997 |
Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter |
|
| 1999 |
Roshan Seth, Such a Long Journey |
|
| 2000 |
Bob Hoskins, Felicia's Journey |
|
| 2001 |
Tony Nardi, My Father's Angel |
|
| 2002 |
Brendan Fletcher, The Law of Enclosures |
|
| 2003 |
Luc Picard, Savage Messiah |
|
| 2004 |
Rémy Girard, Les Invasions barbares (The Barbarian Invasions) |
|
| 2005 |
Roy Dupuis, Mémoires affectives (Looking for Alexander) |
|
| 2006 |
Michel Côté, C.R.A.Z.Y. |
|
| 2007 |
Roy Dupuis, The Rocket |
|
| 2008 |
Gordon Pinsent, Away From Her |
|
| 2009 |
Natar Ungalaaq, Ce qu'il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life) |
|
| 2010 |
Joshua Jackson, One Week |
|
| 2011 |
Paul Giamatti, Barney's Version |
|
| 2012 |
Mohamed Fellag, Monsieur Lazhar |
|