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The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a guest starring role on a television comedy series for the primetime network season.

The award was first presented at the 27th Primetime Emmy Awards on May 19, 1975 to Zohra Lampert for her performance on Kojak and Cloris Leachman for her role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It has undergone several name changes, originally honoring single leading and supporting appearances in drama and comedy series through 1978. The award was reintroduced at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards under the name Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series, honoring actors and actresses in guest starring roles on television comedy series. In 1989, the category was split into categories for each gender, resulting in the name change to its current title.

Since its inception, the award has been given to 35 actresses. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are the current recipients of the award for their performances on Saturday Night Live. Colleen Dewhurst, Fey, Kathryn Joosten, Cloris Leachman, Jean Smart, Tracey Ullman and Betty White have won the most awards in this category with two each. Leachman has been nominated for the award on eight occasions, the most within the category.

Winners and nominees
Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees.