# Actors/Actresses Who Wear Wigs/Toupees in TV Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110 "2008-09-05T02:28:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KRSOradio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/0ea827/32.png) [@KRSOradio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRSOradio)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/1 "2008-09-05T02:28:21Z")
I was reading a website about _Room 222_ and it indicated how ridiculous Denise Nicholas wigs looked and it was asked, “Why’d she always wear them since she had nice hair of her own” This got me to thinking which TV actors/actresses have CONSISTANTLY used hair pieces. I don’t mean just a one or two episode thing, but throughout the series. I also don’t mean people like Vicki Lawrence or Estelle Ghetty who used wigs because they played significantly older people, than they were in real life. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/2 "2008-09-05T02:34:01Z")
Ted Danson in _Cheers_ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/3 "2008-09-05T02:39:08Z")
The actresses playing Beverly Crusher and Deanna Troi in **ST:TNG** always wore wigs, I read. Now, I never read that Jonathan Frakes wore a piece, but it sure looks like it to me. ---
**Author:** ![Yeeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/96bed5/32.png) [@Yeeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeeter)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/4 "2008-09-05T02:42:48Z")
Shatner ---
**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:** [September 5, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/5 "2008-09-05T02:48:22Z")
Carl Reiner in **The Dick Van Dyck Show**. Reiner used his toupee as a prop in a lot of shows of the 60s (and probably back in the 50s) – he’d wear it or take it off depending on the situation, but in **Dick Van Dyck** he generally wore it. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/6 "2008-09-05T02:50:01Z")
> [@Yeeter](#): > > Shatner FTW I came in here to say that. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/7 "2008-09-05T02:54:29Z")
> [@KRSOradio](#): > > I also don’t mean people like Vicki Lawrence or Estelle Ghetty who used wigs because they played significantly older people, than they were in real life. Damn! I came into this Thread _specifically_ to say Estelle Getty and Vicki Lawrence! ETA: Looking at her imdb page, Estelle Getty died just about a month and a half ago. I don’t remember hearing about it. ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/8 "2008-09-05T03:05:30Z")
The thread title made me immediately think of Katey Sagal as Peg Bundy. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/9 "2008-09-05T03:20:31Z")
Yaphet Kotto, Homicide: Life on the Streets. Most awesome hairpiece ever! ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/10 "2008-09-05T03:31:47Z")
Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher) wore a wig that pretty much matched her real hair. I think so the length /style was consistant or something. (I remember seeing her interviewed about it) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/11 "2008-09-05T03:32:53Z")
DeForest Kelley, Lorne Greene, Rob Reiner, George Burns. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/12 "2008-09-05T12:01:18Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher) wore a wig that pretty much matched her real hair. I think so the length /style was consistant or something. (I remember seeing her interviewed about it) > > Brian I’m pretty sure Brent Spiner wore a piece for the same reason: to keep the styling consistent. And, of course, Michael Dorn. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/13 "2008-09-05T12:25:56Z")
Topher Grace in **That 70’s Show**. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/14 "2008-09-05T12:47:16Z")
S. Epatha Merkerson on _Law & Order_. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/15 "2008-09-05T13:10:55Z")
Hugh Laurie wears a piece in _House_. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/16 "2008-09-05T13:36:13Z")
> [@KRSOradio](#): > > I also don’t mean people like Vicki Lawrence or Estelle Ghetty who used wigs because they played significantly older people, than they were in real life. How about people like Mollie Sugden, who wore wigs to make the running gag concerning her hair colors easier? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/17 "2008-09-05T14:01:03Z")
Ed Bishop and George Sewell on “UFO.” Maybe even Michael Billington. And, of course, all the Moonbase babes wore purple wigs for reasons that were never made explained. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/18 "2008-09-05T14:07:27Z")
> [@Susie\_Derkins](#): > > Topher Grace in **That 70’s Show**. He wore a wig at least one season because he got his hair cut for a movie role and it no longer matched. That’s happened to actors numerous times over the years. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/19 "2008-09-05T14:09:59Z")
Walter Koening on his first year of Star Trek. Fran Drescher on The Nanny ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110/20 "2008-09-05T14:12:34Z")
Cassandra Peterson as **Elvira** , of course. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-actresses-who-wear-wigs-toupees-in-tv-series/462110.md?page=2)