Media dynasty drama Succession and feel-good comedy Ted Lasso took the top honours at the Emmy awards in Hollywood, and a Squid Game actor landed a major acting trophy.

Succession was named best drama series, an award the HBO show had won in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted its production schedule.

The show, which secured four trophies overall, tells the story of the wealthy and back-stabbing Roy family as members jockey for power.

Succession was a big winner on the night winning four trophies overall

Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso also was a repeat winner, claiming best comedy for the second straight year for its tale of an American football coach leading a British soccer team.

Its stars Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein were second-time winners of best comedy actor and supporting actor.

The cast and crew of Ted Lasso claimed best comedy for the second straight year

Likewise, voters honoured Euphoria star Zendaya for best drama actress and Jean Smart of Hacks for best comedy actress. It was the second win for each in those categories.

Zendaya took home the Lead Actress, Drama award for her role in Euphoria

One newcomer to break through was Lee Jung-jae, who was named best drama actor for his role in South Korean thriller Squid Game.

The dystopian story about cash-strapped contestants risking their lives for wealth became a global sensation after its release on Netflix a year ago.

Lee Jung-jae accepts the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award for Squid Game

The actor thanked the team behind Squid Game for "making realistic problems we all have to face come to life so creatively on the screen."

The most-lauded show of the night was HBO's The White Lotus. It won 10 awards including best limited series and acting trophies for Jennifer Coolidge and Murray Bartlett.

The White Lotus triumphed at the awards ceremony

Host and Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson kept a celebratory tone throughout the show, saying it was a time to appreciate one of the world's favorite pastimes.

"What would we do without television, read books?" he joked, before joining dance numbers to theme songs ranging from classic sitcom Friends to current best drama nominee Stranger Things.

Singer Lizzo earned an Emmy award for the competition series for Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.

The musician said that as a little girl she had always wanted television to feature "someone fat like me, black like me, beautiful like me."

"I'm going to go back and tell a little Lizzo something ...you're going to be that person," she said.

Lizzo won an Emmy award for Watch Out for the Big Grrrls

Sheryl Lee Ralph appeared shocked when her name was called as the winner of best supporting actress in a comedy on Abbott Elementary,"a show about a predominantly black school in Philadelphia.

The actress began her acceptance speech by singing a rousing, acapella excerpt of the song Endangered Species.

"I am a woman, I am an artist, and I know where my voice belongs," she sang, prompting a standing ovation.

Sheryl Lee Ralph with her award for best Supporting Actress, Comedy

Among other winners, Michael Keaton was named lead actor in a limited series for playing a small-town doctor who becomes addicted to painkillers in Dopesick.

Michael Keaton succeeded in the Lead Actor Limited Series or Movie category for his role in Dopesick

Here is a list of the winners in key categories for the 74th Emmy Awards:

Outstanding Drama Series: Succession

Outstanding Comedy Series: Ted Lasso

Lead Actor, Drama: Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game

Lead Actress, Drama: Zendaya, Euphoria

Lead Actor, Comedy: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Lead Actress, Comedy: Jean Smart, Hacks

Supporting Actor, Drama: Matthew Macfadyen, Succession

Supporting Actress, Drama: Julia Garner, Ozark

Supporting Actor, Comedy: Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso

Supporting Actress, Comedy: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: The White Lotus

Lead Actor Limited Series or Movie: Michael Keaton, Dopesick

Lead Actress Limited Series or Movie: Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout

Supporting Actor, Limited Series: Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus

Supporting Actress, Limited Series: Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus

In pictures: check out all of the Primetime Emmys 2022 winners here