# Actors in a TV series who appeared together in an earlier work **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [January 18, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783 "2026-01-18T02:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/1 "2026-01-18T02:03:51Z")
Two examples: Charlie Sheen and Jon Cypher, the Harper brothers in _ **Two and a Half Men** _, were both in the 1991 movie _ **Hot Shots** _. Alice Ghostley and Marion Lorne, the bungling Esmerelda and Aunt Clara in _ **Bewitched** _, respectively, appeared together in the hotel lobby scenes in 1967’s _ **The Graduate** _. (Ghostley would essentially replace Lorne in the TV series when she passed away shortly thereafter.) Any others? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/2 "2026-01-18T02:09:50Z")
Car 54 had Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis before starring together on the Munsters. Tom Poston was on at least one episode of The Bob Newhart before being with him as a regular on Newhart. Tony Danza and Danny DeVito of Taxi made a crappy movie together. _Going Ape!_ Speaking of which, Christopher Lloyd and Danny were in _One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest_ before Taxi. This happened all the time. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/3 "2026-01-18T02:14:02Z")
An excellent example (Gwynne and Lewis), should have thought of it first! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/4 "2026-01-18T02:15:16Z")
Kristin Johnston & French Stewart appeared together for 6 years on _3rd Rock from the Sun_ in the late 1990s, then again for two years on _Mom_ in the early 2020s. Johnny Galecki starred in _The Big Bang Theory_, and two actors with which he’d appeared in _Roseanne_ had recurring roles on BBT. While Sara Gilbert & Laurie Metcalf were on _Roseanne_ from day 1, to the end, and appeared in nearly every episode, Galecki was a _Roseanne_ regular for just a couple of seasons. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/5 "2026-01-18T02:16:14Z")
Then there are the groups of actors that made movies together. Astair and Rogers. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara The Mel Brooks regulars, etc. Rat Pack Brat Pack Frat Pack ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/6 "2026-01-18T02:16:20Z")
Will Arnett and David Cross appeared together on _Arrested Development_ before _The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret_. Hank Azaria and Yeardley Smith appeared together on _The Simpsons_ before _Herman’s Head_. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/7 "2026-01-18T02:22:11Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Hank Azaria and Yeardley Smith They were both on _King of the Hill_ as well, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/8 "2026-01-18T02:25:06Z")
Weird one, The Elka Summer’s movie, _The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz_ had Bob Crane, John Banner, Werner Klemperer and Leon Askin of Hogan’s Heroes. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/9 "2026-01-18T02:30:29Z")
Bob Denver and Tina Louise both appeared in _For Those Who Think Young_ (1964) which premiered a few months before _Gilligan’s Island_. I do not recall that they had any scenes together in the film. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/10 "2026-01-18T02:31:45Z")
Vic Morrow (Sgt Saunders on _ **Combat!** _) and Jack Lord (Steve McGarrett on _ **Hawaii Five-O** _) faced off in episodes of both series. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/11 "2026-01-18T02:32:49Z")
Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion did all 14 episodes of _Firefly_ together. Then Fillion was in 16 of the 25 episodes of the largely forgotten _Con Man_ which starred Tudyk. In turn Tudyk has been in 2 episodes of Fillion’s _The Rookie_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/12 "2026-01-18T02:37:15Z")
And Fillion voiced the Octopus on Resident Alien. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/13 "2026-01-18T02:41:08Z")
I see a pattern now: [Once We Were Spacemen](https://www.youtube.com/@OnceWeWereSpacemen) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/14 "2026-01-18T02:45:00Z")
Can’t believe I forgot this-- 2 years before _Xena, Warrior Princess_ premiered, **Renee O’Connor** , the actress who played Gabrielle, was in a TV movie called _The Flood: Who Will Save Our Children?_ along with **David Franklin** , the actor who would play Brutus in the 4th season of _Xena_. He’d only be in a handful of episodes, but they were all pivotal and intense. [slight hijack] I have always loved Cesar’s delivery of the line “And you, Brutus?” on _Xena._ He says it like a dare. [/slight hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/15 "2026-01-18T03:01:55Z")
_Downton Abbey_ starred Brendan Coyle and Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Bates and Lord Grantham, respectively. These parts made these guys’ careers, launching them to superstar status. However, a dacade and half earlier both men appeared in the Bond film _Tomorrow Never Dies_ in blink-and-you’ll-miss-them bit parts. Bonneville had a speaking part, I don’t believe Coyle did. I believe they were in the same scene together. They both played sailors on the British ship that was firing on the stealth boat near the end of the movie. Both actors had almost no screen time previous to this. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/16 "2026-01-18T03:08:15Z")
Two more from _Arrested Development_: Alia Shawkat had a recurring role on season 4 of _Transparent_, which starred Jeffrey Tambor. Drew Carey and Ryan Stiles appeared together on _The Drew Carey Show_ before (and while) reuniting for the American version of _Whose Line Is It Anyway?_ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/17 "2026-01-18T03:38:52Z")
Jerry Van Dyke (Dick’s brother) appeared alongside Mary Tyler Moore in episodes of both _ **DVD** _ and _ **MTM** _. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/18 "2026-01-18T03:52:12Z")
Andy Griffith and Don Knotts were in _No Time For Sergeants_ before _The Andy Griffith Show_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/19 "2026-01-18T04:01:09Z")
Jack Hogan (Pvt Kirby on _ **Combat!** _) was on _ **Hawaii Five-O** _ as well. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/20 "2026-01-18T07:32:46Z")
Before _ **Star Trek** _, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy worked together in an episode of _**The Man from UNCLE (**_“The Project Strigas Affair”), [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783.md?page=2)