# Actors/Actresses playing characters with the same profession on multiple TV shows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485 "2010-12-27T03:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/21 "2010-12-27T15:45:46Z")
David Caruso a cop on CSI and NYPD Blue ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/22 "2010-12-27T18:37:24Z")
Robert Urich played a feckless private eye on **Vegas!** and a genuine badass (though not as badass as his not!partner) on _Spenser: For Hire_. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/23 "2010-12-27T19:09:51Z")
Jenny Wade played a flesh eating demon from Hell on Reaper. She’s now playing a lawyer on The Good Guys. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/24 "2010-12-27T19:17:36Z")
Richard Biggs played a doctor on _Days of Our Lives_ before branching out into science fiction, specifically _Babylon 5_, where he played a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/25 "2010-12-27T20:22:58Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Wasn’t George Clooney a Doctor on E/R before he was a doctor on ER? Nope. His character on E/R was not a doctor. A medical technician if I’m reading things right. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/26 "2010-12-27T20:30:37Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Richard Biggs played a doctor on _Days of Our Lives_ before branching out into science fiction, specifically _Babylon 5_, where he played a doctor. And the role he was in at the time of his death: a doctor, on _Strong Medicine_. Marion Ross was a homemaker on _Happy Days_ and again on _Brooklyn Bridge_. If we tried hard enough we could probably list a number of actresses whose roles were mainly homemakers. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/27 "2010-12-27T21:14:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Dennis Franz played cops on both Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue. In fact, he played two different recurring characters on _Hill Street Blues_; Det. Sal Benedetto for 5 episodes, and Lt. Norman Buntz for 34 (according to IMDb), then the Buntz character was spun off into _Beverly Hills Buntz_. And of course he was also head of the airport police in _Die Hard 2_. Come to think of it, does Dennis Franz ever _not_ play a cop? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/28 "2010-12-27T22:35:12Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > …Marion Ross was a homemaker on _Happy Days_ and again on _Brooklyn Bridge_. If we tried hard enough we could probably list a number of actresses whose roles were mainly homemakers. Lucille Ball played a secretary named Lucy Carmichael on **The Lucy Show** , her boss was played by Gale Gordon. On **Here’s Lucy** she played a secretary named Lucy Carter, her boss was again played by Gale Gordon. For the first season & a half of The Lucy Show she was a (widowed) housewife; she of course played a housewife on **I Love Lucy**. Vivian Vance’s characters (Ethel Mertz, Vivian Bagley, and Vivian Jones) on those shows were all housewives (the later 2 divorced). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/29 "2010-12-27T23:24:59Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > It’s not exactly a profession, but Susan Sullivan has a tendency to place upper class socialites. Jon Schneider arguably counts, working the family farm as Bo Duke and Jon Kent. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/30 "2010-12-28T00:50:04Z")
[Don S. Davis](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0204493/) plays military officers in quite a few TV shows. Here are some highlights: **Stargate SG-1** General George Hammond **Wyvern** Col. Travis Sherman **NCIS** MTAC Control Officer **Atomic Train** Gen. Harlan Ford **Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.** Colonel Zapf **The X-Files** Capt. William Scully (Dana Scully’s dad) **M.A.N.T.I.S.** Admiral Farallon **Twin Peaks** Maj. Garland Briggs (He also plays a lot of doctors, police sergeants and congressmen, but put this guy in an army officer’s uniform and he cooks!} [Janos Prohaska](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0698512/) appeared in lots of bear and gorilla outfits, usually on shows starring Andy Willliams or Lucille Ball. He played the Horta (and similar apelike aliens) on **Star Trek**. [Jack Cassidy](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144197/) played a lot of “Gentleman of Leisure” types, usually in a double-breasted navy blazer, white pants and an ascot. I always wanted that lifestyle… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/31 "2010-12-28T04:39:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Come to think of it, does Dennis Franz ever _not_ play a cop? In **Bay City Blues** , he played a minor league baseball coach. Burt Mustin played weird old men in hundreds of TV shows in the 50s and 60. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/32 "2010-12-28T04:42:24Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > [Don S. Davis](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0204493/) plays military officers in quite a few TV shows. Here are some highlights: > > **Stargate SG-1** General George Hammond > **Wyvern** Col. Travis Sherman > **NCIS** MTAC Control Officer > **Atomic Train** Gen. Harlan Ford > **Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.** Colonel Zapf > **The X-Files** Capt. William Scully (Dana Scully’s dad) > **M.A.N.T.I.S.** Admiral Farallon > **Twin Peaks** Maj. Garland Briggs > (He also plays a lot of doctors, police sergeants and congressmen, but put this guy in an army officer’s uniform and he cooks!} > > [Janos Prohaska](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0698512/) appeared in lots of bear and gorilla outfits, usually on shows starring Andy Willliams or Lucille Ball. He played the Horta (and similar apelike aliens) on **Star Trek**. > > [Jack Cassidy](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144197/) played a lot of “Gentleman of Leisure” types, usually in a double-breasted navy blazer, white pants and an ascot. I always wanted that lifestyle… NCIS doesn’t belong in the above list. He’s not playing a military officer; he’s playing a civilian working in an civilian agency associated with the military. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/33 "2010-12-28T06:53:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > NCIS doesn’t belong in the above list. He’s not playing a military officer; he’s playing a civilian working in an civilian agency associated with the military. Fair enough. He was also on **Stargate: Atlantis** and whatever other spinoffs that show had; Even if he’d only appeared on **Twin Peaks** and **X-Files** , I’d have mentioned him. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/34 "2010-12-28T11:01:23Z")
The great Dame Judi Dench has appeared as a Queen a dozen or more times. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/35 "2010-12-28T11:25:27Z")
Patrick McGoohan always insisted that John Drake on DANGER MAN was a different secret agent than Number Six on THE PRISONER. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/36 "2010-12-28T13:09:06Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The great Dame Judi Dench has appeared as a Queen a dozen or more times. And the great queen Quentin Crisp has appeared as a dame quite often, as well… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/37 "2010-12-28T14:57:21Z")
Phylicia Rashad played Bill Cosby’s wife on The Cosby Show and Cosby. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/38 "2010-12-28T15:02:24Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Phylicia Rashad played Bill Cosby’s wife on The Cosby Show and Cosby. I find that unfortunate, though. _Cosby_ was a pale, thin shadow of _The Cosby Show_. The best thing about it was Madeline Kahn. Of course, Madeline Kahn was often the best thing in quite a few of the projects that included her. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/39 "2010-12-28T15:31:45Z")
Originally, another actress played the wife on _Cosby_, but Bill Cosby brought in Phylicia Rashad because he and she worked well together. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485/40 "2010-12-28T15:54:41Z")
Timely thread, as I just discovered one of these over the weekend: [Anastasia Griffith](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1473013/) played a paramedic with an M.D. on _Trauma_, and currently plays a doctor on _Royal Pains_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-playing-characters-with-the-same-profession-on-multiple-tv-shows/565485.md?page=3)