As the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards draw near, we look back at the careers of the lead acting nominees.

After stints on daytime soap The Doctors and the short-lived series Cutter to Houston, Baldwin got his big break in 1984 on Knots Landing, playing Joshua Rush, Lilimae's abandoned son. Baldwin left the prime-time soap two years later when Joshua died after falling off a roof.

1988 proved to be a big year for Baldwin. He made his film debut in She's Having a Baby, appeared in Working Girl and became a leading man in Beetlejuice, in which he co-starred with Geena Davis and Michael Keaton.

Baldwin brought Jack Ryan to life in this 1990 blockbuster based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name.

Always be closing! Baldwin delivered a memorable and profanity-laden speech as slick real-estate strategist Blake in this 1992 film adaption of David Mamet's play of the same name. Mamet created Blake specifically for Baldwin.

Baldwin won a handful of critics awards and snagged his first Oscar nomination for his turn as casino boss Shelly Kaplow in this 2003 gambling drama.

Baldwin played Juan Trippe, the former real-life chairman of Pan American Airlines in this 2004 Howard Hughes biopic.

Baldwin was on the right side of the law in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning drama, playing police captain George Ellerby.

Baldwin has won two Emmys, three Golden Globes and four SAG awards for his turn as the scrupulous and suave Jack Donaghy. 30 Rock has also won three straight Emmys for best comedy series.

Baldwin is tied with Steve Martin — his It's Complicated co-star and 2010 Oscars co-host — for the most SNL hosting appearances at 15.