Actors with more than 1 successful sitcom

Cafe Society
1

I can’t readily think of very many actors who have starred in more than one successful sitcom. I can easily think of several who failed terribly (e.g. the entire Seinfeld cast). I wouldn’t include spinoffs a la Frasier in this, as these generally star supporting characters, not the main star(s).

Granted, I recognize it’s extremely difficult for any sitcom, regardless of stars, to be successful.

The only one I can really think of is Ted Danson (Cheers, Becker). Personally I don’t really care for Becker but it stayed on the air for 6 seasons so I guess it could be considered successful.

Excluding spinoffs, any others?

2

Bob Newhart
Mary Tyler Moore
Bea Benederet

3

Bob Newhart springs to mind first.

eta: damn. Ummm, Ted Knight?

4

Bob Newheart starred in The Bob Newheart Show in the 70’s and Newheart in the 80’s. Mind you, technically this is a borderline example, given Newheart’s ending. :smiley:

Bill Cosby starred in both The Cosby Show in the 80’s and Cosby in the 90’s.

EDIT: I type too slow.

5

I think Tim Allen is earning consideration. Home Improvement was huge and, at least IMO, Last Man Standing could be another hit. I think it’s funny as all get out.

6

Neil Patrick Harris. Very different kinds of ‘sitcom’, but since Doogie Howser was a half-hour with comedy elements I’d include it, and I wouldn’t exactly call him a ‘Supporting Character’ on “How I met your mother.”

7

Larry Hagman in “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Dallas.”

8

Julia Louis Dreyfuss’ “The New Adventures of Old Christine” ran for four seasons. I think she counts.

9

Dick Van Dyke – The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show. The latter ran three seasons and would have run longer if it wasn’t for a censorship controversy with CBS.

Garry Shandling – It’s Gary Shangling’s Show and The Larry Sanders Show

Jeffrey Tambor – The Larry Sanders Show and Arrested Development

10

Michael J Fox - “Family Ties” “Spin City”

11

John Ritter

Three’s Company

Hearts Afire

8 Simple Rules

12

Good ones, all. Seems I was having a major brain freeze this morning, as I am :smack: every new post. Now I’m wondering why Ted Danson of all people was the only one I could think of. :confused:

Keep 'em coming.

13

I can think of a lot of words to describe “Dallas,” but “sitcom” isn’t one of them.

John Ritter - “3’s Company” and “8 Simple Rules…”

14

I laughed at the “Dream” reveal.

15

I never watched it, but I believe I have heard of this. Isn’t this where Larry Hagman wakes up in bed next to Barbara Eden?

16

Jerry Stiller, while not the star, was on Seinfeld and King of Queens. As essentially the same character.

ETA: Wow, he was only in 26 episodes of Seinfeld. 26 out of 172. Quite an impression for so few appearances.

17

Bea Arthur in Maude and Golden Girls

Harry Anderson on Night Court and Dave’s World
John Larroquette on Night Court and the John Larroquette show

The second in each of those lists lasted four seasons, that’ reasonably successful.

18

Cosby had more than that – he has a "Cosby Show"in which he plated a gym teacher in the late 60s/early 70s, plus a variety show (not a sitcom, but definitely a comedy. He had Groucho Marx as a guest!). Not to mention the breezy I Spy.

19

Henry Morgan – besides MASH, he was in Third Rock from the Sun, not to mention Pete and Gladys and (not a sitcom; I don’t know what it was supposed to be) Kentucky Jones.
Plus AfterMASH, which we will try to forget.

20

Nobody mentions Lucille Ball? Maybe you think they’re all the same show:

I Love Lucy
The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
The Lucy Show
Here’s Lucy!