# Actors who have successfully played TWO characters on television **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867 "2001-10-02T00:17:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/21 "2001-10-02T01:00:48Z")
Another all-star of TV was Bill Bixby: My Favorite Martian, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, The Incredible Hulk. He also had something with Mariette Hartly called Goodnight, Beantown (I think), but I don’t think it went long enough to count. ---
**Author:** ![PlanMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PlanMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlanMan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/22 "2001-10-02T01:02:19Z")
Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright on “Bonanza” and the title role of “Trapper John, MD.” Buddy Ebsen was Jed Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies” and was “Barnaby Jones” (who was also in the TBH movie). Kate Mullgrew was “Mrs. Quincy” and then Capt. Janeway on “Voyager.” Avery Brooks was the mysterious Hawk on “Spenser for Hire” and Capt. Sisko on “Deep Space Nine.” Robert Urich: title role “Spenser for Hire” and (forget name) in “Vega$” Robert Guillaume was Benson in “Soap” and “Benson” and the producer, or something in “Sports Night” (I miss that show) Rene Auberjunois was on “Benson” and was Odo on “DS9” [sub]except to check spelling, all done without Google or other cheats[/sub] Well I think we know who watches too much TV. ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/23 "2001-10-02T01:05:39Z")
Heather Locklear was in _T.J Hooker, Dynasty, Melrose Place,_ and _Spin City_. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/24 "2001-10-02T01:06:03Z")
Robert Culp was in I, Spy and The Greatest American Hero. Larry Hagman of I Dream of Jeannie and Dallas. Bill Daly of I Dream of Jeannie and The Bob Newhart Show. Peter Bonerz of The Bob Newhart Show is now on Three Sisters. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/25 "2001-10-02T01:09:03Z")
Robert Urich played Dan Tanna on Vega$ and Spenser on Spenser for Hire. Avery Brooks (who will always be Hawk) played Hawk on Spenser and Sisko on Deep Space Nine. If you count supporting actors, Carolyn McCormick played Rita Fiore on Spenser and Elizabeth Olivet on Law and Order. Chris Noth was Logan on Law and Order and Big on Sex and the City. Susan Dey was on the Partridge Family and on LA Law. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/26 "2001-10-02T01:10:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PlanMan \* > **Robert Urich: title role “Spenser for Hire” and (forget name) in "Vega$"** How can one forget Dan Tanna? He parked his T-bird in the living room, after all. This reminds me of one: Robert Wagner of Switch and Hart to Hart. His secretary on Switch was Sharon Gless, who went on to Cagney and Lacey. Tyne Daly from Cagney and Lacey is now on Judging Amy. ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/27 "2001-10-02T01:10:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grace \* > \*\*Thought of another one… > > Bruce Boxleitner from Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Babylon 5 \*\* Which reminds me of Kate Jackson who was (I think) Mrs King and in _Charlie’s Angels_. Jane Curtain in \*SNL, Kate & Allie, \* and _3rd Rock From the Son._ ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/28 "2001-10-02T01:15:38Z")
Don Johnson on _Miami Vice_ and _Nash Bridges_. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/29 "2001-10-02T01:27:10Z")
Diana Muldaur on Star Trek:TNG and LA Law. Kate Jackson was also the wife on MacMillan and Wife. ---
**Author:** ![PlanMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PlanMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlanMan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/30 "2001-10-02T01:28:26Z")
::smacks forehead:: of course, Dan Tana! Dick van Dyke on, well _The Dick van Dyke Show_ and Dr. Mark Sloane on _Diagnosis: Murder_ His brother Jerry guested on both shows as basically the same bumbling but lovable doofus. Leonard Nimoy as Spock on _Star Trek_ (TOS) and the Martin Landau replacement on _Mission:Impossible_ Martin Landau and Barbara Bain from _Mission_\*:_Impossible and Space_:\*_1999_ (what is it with them and colons …) ---
**Author:** ![TheLochNessHump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@TheLochNessHump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLochNessHump)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/31 "2001-10-02T01:40:27Z")
How about actors who play diffent characters on the same show? Jerry Orbach played two DIFFERENT characters on LAW & ORDER. Dennis Franz played two DIFFERENT characters on HILL STREET BLUES. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/32 "2001-10-02T01:51:00Z")
For that matter, in an early season of MASH, Harry Morgan played a colonel who was going senile. Apparently, he got better by the time Col. Blake got sent home. ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/33 "2001-10-02T02:04:25Z")
Lee Majors was also on The Big Valley. Let’s not forget Bob Denver as Gilligan and Maynard B. Krebs. As for Lou Grant, the character was a continuation and occasionally referred to his time in Minneapolis, but what I meant to say was that the portrayal and personality was very different. One was an overbearing, lovable, semi-compentent comic character, the other was a highly competent aloof character more befitting a drama. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/34 "2001-10-02T02:08:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph \* > \*\*Kate Jackson was also the wife on MacMillan and Wife. \*\* I thought Susan Saint James playing the wife? She was also in Kate and Allie. ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/35 "2001-10-02T02:17:07Z")
I liked **Steven Weber’s** character on that sit-com that he was on last year - it underwent a couple of name changes. If the series failed but the actor succeeded, does this count? Wings was good, but his second series bombed. Also, the guy who plays **Malcom’s father** on **Malcolm in the Middle** had a great recurring role on **Seinfeld** - the Dentist friend - **Tim Watley!** ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/36 "2001-10-02T02:29:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thermalribbon \* > I liked **Steven Weber’s** character on that sit-com that he was on last year - it underwent a couple of name changes. If the series failed but the actor succeeded, does this count? Wings was good, but his second series bombed. This is a perfect example of the curse of being known for one series and not being able to support the second. (Pun intended) > [@](#): > > Also, the guy who plays **Malcom’s father** on **Malcolm in the Middle** had a great recurring role on **Seinfeld** - the Dentist friend - **Tim Watley!** There supporting cast is doing well. Mr. Kruger also plays the commandant on Malcolm. ---
**Author:** ![PlanMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PlanMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlanMan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/37 "2001-10-02T02:46:23Z")
Jim Backus: Thurston Howell III on _Gilligan’s Island_ and as _Mr. Magoo_ (animated) Oh, and it was Maynard **G.** Krebs. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/38 "2001-10-02T02:51:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Harry Morgan on Dragnet and M_A_S\*H . Morgan also starred in “December Bride,” “Pete and Gladys” (making him the only actor to appear in two different spinoffs – that and “After M_A_S\*H”), “Kentucky Jones,” “Hec Ramsey,” “The Richard Boone Show,” “The D.A.,” and “Blacke’s Magic” – ten prime time series in all. But the champion is Robert Urich: “Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice,” “Tabitha,” “S.W.A.T.,” “Soap,” “Vega$,” “Gavilan,” “Spenser: For Hire,” “American Dreamer,” “Crossroads,” “It Had to Be You,” “The Lazarus Man,” “The Love Boat: The Next Wave,” and now, “Emeril.” In addition, he’s been host for “Vital Signs” and “Boatworks.” He’s got to have a lot of friends in Hollywood, especially since a lot of these were flops (and with “Emeril,” we can only hope . . .) Bea Benederet was a success in “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show,” “The Flintstones,” and “Petticoat Junction.” Lots of actors in soap operas played two different characters in the same show (see “Evil Twin”). Sheryl Lee played both Laura Palmer and her cousin Maddy Ferguson in “Twin Peaks,” for example. ---
**Author:** ![custard\_dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@custard\_dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/custard_dragon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/39 "2001-10-02T02:52:56Z")
What about the Andy Griffeth Show? Opie went on to Happy Days, Andy to Matlock, Din Knotts as Mr. Roper’s doppelganger. Merideth Baxter Birney on Bridget Loves Birney, Family, and Family Ties. ---
**Author:** ![Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michele_in_SoCal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867/40 "2001-10-02T02:57:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PlanMan \* > **…Kate Mullgrew was “Mrs. Quincy” and then Capt. Janeway on “Voyager.” …** She was Mrs. Columbo. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-have-successfully-played-two-characters-on-television/84867.md?page=3)