# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/41 "2026-01-18T21:07:51Z")
There are a number of actors from Slow Horses who all worked together on Wolf Hall: Aimee-Ffion Edwards; Jack Lowden, Jonathan Pryce, and Saskia Reeves. I might have missed some. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/42 "2026-01-18T21:07:52Z")
Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara have been in a bunch of stuff together, starting back at _SCTV_ in the late 70s. I absolutely adored _Schitt’s Creek_; they are both brilliant in it. ---
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/43 "2026-01-18T21:14:28Z")
John Banner and Werner Klemperer, of “Hogan’s Heroes” appeared together on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” S1 E22 “Safe Conduct.” ---
**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:** [January 18, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/44 "2026-01-18T22:47:19Z")
Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford worked together on _The West Wing_ and now on _The Diplomat._ ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/45 "2026-01-18T22:56:23Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > The assassination of Ceasar was in an episode of Xena? Played by **Karl Urban** as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/46 "2026-01-18T23:04:18Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > The most recent **documented** character is probably Boudica, who lived around 60 CE. Xena fought with her against the Romans in Britannica. How did she escape that one with her 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, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/47 "2026-01-18T23:45:23Z")
Getting off-topic, but if anyone wants a Xena thread, I’d be happy to start one. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/48 "2026-01-19T00:05:08Z")
[Smuggler’s Bay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuggler%27s_Bay), a 6-part adaptation of the classic adventure novel [Moonfleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonfleet_(novel)) starred Frazier Hines and Patrick Troughton. Years later they would co-star as Doctor Who and Jamie. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTQ2MWRmYjAtYTVkNS00MmIyLWE1YjMtNjA4OWMxMWVlNTdkXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTQ2MWRmYjAtYTVkNS00MmIyLWE1YjMtNjA4OWMxMWVlNTdkXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/49 "2026-01-19T02:46:50Z")
Allyson Hannigan and Seth Green (Willow and Oz on Buffy) were both in _My Stepmother Is An Alien_ (and in fact, their characters went on a precocious date together) ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Ducky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrs_ducky/32/6227_2.png) [@Mrs\_Ducky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Ducky)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/50 "2026-01-19T08:57:29Z")
Except his name is Jon Cryer, not Cypher. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/51 "2026-01-19T10:32:14Z")
Somewhat the reverse of what the OP is looking for: actors who appeared in an earlier series, and later appeared in a work. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore played Rob and Laura Petrie for five seasons on _The Dick Van Dyke Show._ Years later, though the roles were different, Van Dyke and Moore would work together again, on a one-shot PBS production of _The Gin Game_. It’s quite good, and it is apparent that the chemistry they had before was still there. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/52 "2026-01-19T10:58:55Z")
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were the leads in _Sherlock_. They were also having Hobbit on Dragon conversations in _The Hobbit_ movie. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/53 "2026-01-19T16:30:33Z")
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer in Spinal Tap from 1984 reunited as the Folksmen in The Mighty Wind from 2003. Most of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries featured a lot of the same actors, so a million examples there. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/54 "2026-01-19T19:32:33Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Somewhat the reverse of what the OP is looking for: actors who appeared in an earlier series, and later appeared in a work. > > Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore played Rob and Laura Petrie for five seasons on _The Dick Van Dyke Show._ Years later, though the roles were different, Van Dyke and Moore would work together again, on a one-shot PBS production of _The Gin Game_. It’s quite good, and it is apparent that the chemistry they had before was still there. They also worked together in _The Mary Tyler Moore Hour_, an attempt to fuse a variety show and sitcom. The writers were trying to figure out skits for Van Dyke and decided that since Mary looked a lot like the actress who played Laura Petrie, they came up with a series of skits about Rob and Laura. The topper was the end. Mary had been delayed and finally meets Dick van Dyke. She mentions that she auditioned for the _Dick Van Dyke Show_, but Rose Marie got the part. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/55 "2026-01-19T19:44:31Z")
I realized my earlier example doesn’t fit the OP at all, so I’ve been racking my brain for a way to atone. All I’ve come up with is a reverse example: Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James co-starred in How to Beat the High Cost of Living a few years before the series Kate & Allie. Sorry, it’s the best I can do. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/56 "2026-01-19T19:46:20Z")
Ted Shackleford and Joan Van Ark played Gary and Val Ewing on _Knots Landing_, a spin-off of _Dallas_, starting in 1979. About a year earlier, in 1978, they had both appeared in an episode of _Wonder Woman_, playing time travelers who visited from the 22nd century, one good (Shackleford) and one evil (Van Ark). ---
**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 19, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/57 "2026-01-19T22:23:49Z")
David Wayne and Larry Hagman, “Digger” Barnes and JR Ewing on _ **Dallas** _, were previously in the ‘70s sitcom _ **The Good Life** _ (not to be confused with the British series of the same name starring Ricard Brier and Felicity Kendall). Donna Mills (Abby Cunningham on _ **Knot’s Landing** _) played Hagman’s wife on _ **The Good Life** _ and would appear alongside him again in at least one _ **Knot’s Landing** _–_ **Dallas** _ crossover episode. (IIRC, the two ended up in bed together.) ---
**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 19, 2026, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/58 "2026-01-19T22:59:30Z")
Tim Conway and Joe Flynn of _ **McHale’s Navy** _ fame were reunited in the short-lived sitcom _ **The Tim Conway Show** _ (1970). ---
**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:** [January 20, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/59 "2026-01-20T16:43:33Z")
Not a TV show, but the 1972 Peter Bogdanovich movie **What’s Up, Doc?** had Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, and Liam Dunn two years before they all appeared together in Mel Brooks’ **Young Frankenstein**. The 1921 film **The Lucky Dog** featured both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy before they became a team six years later. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783/60 "2026-01-20T20:56:30Z")
Steve Martin and Martin Short were both in _Three Amigos!_ and a couple _Father of the Bride_ films decades before _Only Murders in the Building_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-a-tv-series-who-appeared-together-in-an-earlier-work/1026783.md?page=4)