Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor

Sathyan (born Cheruvilakathu Veetil Manuel Sathyanesan Nadar: 9 November 1912 – 15 June 1971) was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. Known for his own style and versatility in acting, Satyan is considered as one of the pioneers of realistic acting in Indian film industry. He is respectfully called Sathyan Master.

K. Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was a veteran Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Known for his elaborate method acting ,realistic and spontaneous appearances, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian Cinema of all time. He has won 3 National Film Awards and 11 Kerala State Film Awards. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 2009 for his contributions towards the arts. He died on 24 September 2012 at the age of 77. He holds the record of receiving Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor the highest number of times (6 times), till date.

P. J. Antony (1 January 1925 – 14 March 1979) was an Indian stage and film actor. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Nirmalyam in 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to receive the award. Antony was also a respected figure in the professional theatre field, working with communist cultural and art bodies like the K.P.A.C.

N. Sreedharan Nair (11 September 1922 – 19 October 1986), popularly known as Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair or just Kottarakkara, was an Indian film actor in Malayalam movies. He hailed from Kottarakkara in Kollam district of Kerala.

Fahadh Faasil (born Fahad Fazil; 8 August 1982) is an Indian actor and film producer, who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry. He has acted in more than 40 films and has received several awards, including a National Film Award, four Kerala State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South. Fahadh is the son of filmmaker Fazil. Fahadh began his film career at the age of 19 by starring in the leading role in his father Fazil's 2002 romantic film Kaiyethum Doorath, which was a critical and commercial failure. After a gap of 7 years, Fahadh made his comeback with the anthology film Kerala Cafe (2009), in the short film Mrityunjayam. He attained public attention for his role as Arjun in the thriller film Chaappa Kurishu (2011). Fahad won his first Kerala State Film Award, the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance in Chaappa Kurishu along with his performance in Akam. He achieved critical acclaim and recognition for his roles as Cyril in 22 Female Kottayam (2012) and Dr Arun Kumar in Diamond Necklace (2012). He won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his role in 22 Female Kottayam.

M. P. Michael (born 2 December 1958), better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian actor, screenwriter, film director, producer and distributor who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. He has also appeared in Tamil films and in a few Telugu films. Lal has a Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam (2008), one National Film Award – Special Mention for acting (2012) and two Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (2008 and 2013).

The Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor is an award, begun in 1969, presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to an actor for best performance in a Malayalam film. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Government of Kerala. Since 1998, the awards have been constituted by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, an autonomous, non-profit institution functioning under the Department of Cultural Affairs. The awardees are decided by a jury constituted every year. They are announced by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the Chief Minister.

Sudev Nair is an Indian film actor and model best known for his performance in the Malayalam film My Life Partner, for which he was awarded the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in 2014.. He also starred in the 2019 Hindi film India's Most Wanted in the title role opposite Arjun Kapoor.

Sudheer was an Indian actor in Malayalam movies. He was a lead actor during the 1970s. He acted in more than 100 movies. His role in the movie Chembarathy in 1972 was well noted. He won a Kerala State Film Award in 1975 for his performance in the movie Sathyathinte Nizhalil.

Dulquer Salmaan (born 28 July 1986) is an Indian film actor, playback singer and film producer who predominantly works in Malayalam language films. He has also worked in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi language films. The son of actor Mammootty, Salmaan graduated with a bachelor's degree in business management from Purdue University, and worked as a business manager before pursuing a career in acting. He is the winner of four Filmfare Awards South and one Kerala State Film Award.