AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

This is the fifth category of the 7th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2012-2013 seasons. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Peter Dinklage, Martin Donovan, Giancarlo Esposito, Neal McDonough, Mandy Patinkin

Emmy nominees: Bobby Cannavale, Jonathan Banks, Jim Carter, Peter Dinklage, Mandy Patinkin, Aaron Paul

Semi-finalists: Ryan Cartwright (Alphas), Troy Garity (Boss), Jeff Hephner (Boss), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), John Hannah (Damages), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), Josh Charles (The Good Wife), Chris Noth (The Good Wife), Christopher Heyerdahl (Hell on Wheels), Michael Kelly (House of Cards), Corey Stoll (House of Cards), Walton Goggins (Justified), Jacob Pitts (Justified), Charles Esten (Nashville), Dev Patel (The Newsroom), Thomas Sadoski (The Newsroom), Michael Emerson (Person of Interest), Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead), Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead)

Finalists: Jonathan Groff (Boss) was stoic and obedient in his role as a ladder-climbing wunderkind, which made his descent into panic all the more watchable. Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) gave the Lannister family name good press as two typically arrogant brothers redefined by courageous and noble acts. John Gallagher Jr. (The Newsroom) was charmingly geeky and fiercely committed to true journalism, while Sam Waterston (The Newsroom) grounded his show’s youthful cast with an experienced wisdom.

The nominees:

Ulrich Thomsen (Banshee) portrayed a clear villain with such layered motivations and made him the show’s most magnetic character on a series filled with colorful personalities. Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire) chewed scenery and uttered Italian expressions with excellent conviction and a penchant for dramatic flair that suited his show and his role perfectly. Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) and Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad) were both seasoned veterans operating with younger loose cannons, and their guidance, which not always followed, was extremely worthwhile.

The winner:

David Morrisey (The Walking Dead) started with a fascinating character and transformed him into something infinitely more fearsome, capable of winning over a crowd with a joke and committing an act of pure evil the next moment.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series