# Actors with more than 1 successful sitcom **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143 "2012-03-29T13:00:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/21 "2012-03-29T14:11:39Z")
Ed O’Neill, for MARRIED WITH CHILDREN and MODERN FAMILY. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/22 "2012-03-29T14:15:59Z")
Bill Daily played second fiddle on a couple of successful sitcoms: Roger Healey on “I Dream of Jeannie” and Howard Borden on “The Bob Newhart Show.” ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/23 "2012-03-29T14:17:10Z")
And now for the b-level actors… Suzanne Somers, with Three’s Company (first 5 of the 8 aired seasons) and Step by Step (7 seasons). In addition, IIRC from trade press at the time, she made a killing on the continuing syndication of the two seasons of She’s the Sheriff-- a made-for-syndication sitcom at a time when original content for syndication was very scanty. It pushes the concept, but Bob Saget starred in Full House (8 seasons) and is narrator of How I Met Your Mother (7 seasons and counting), in addition to having hosted America’s Funniest Home Videos for 8 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/24 "2012-03-29T14:22:36Z")
I’m rather appalled that no one has mentioned Kelsey Grammer, from _Cheers_ and _Frasier_. Not only successful, but two of the most successful of all time. As mentioned above, Julia Louis-Dreyfus certainly qualifies with _Old Christine_. David Spade was on _Just Shoot Me_ for six years and _Rules of Engagement_ for six and counting. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/25 "2012-03-29T14:25:30Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > And now for the b-level actors… > > Suzanne Somers, with Three’s Company (first 5 of the 8 aired seasons) And then there’s the strange case of Valerie Harper: she racked up a bunch of Emmy nominations (and the occasional win) as the lead in RHODA before starring for a couple of seasons as the lead on VALERIE – which changed its name to VALERIE’S FAMILY and continued its six-season run without her. That’s just _ **weird.** _ ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/26 "2012-03-29T14:26:43Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I’m rather appalled that no one has mentioned Kelsey Grammer, from _Cheers_ and _Frasier_. Not only successful, but two of the most successful of all time. The OP said “no spinoffs” and specifically mentioned _Cheers/Fraiser._ Jason Bateman _Valerie_ & _Arrested Development_. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/27 "2012-03-29T14:36:13Z")
Bob Denver – **The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis** and **Gilligan’s Island**. Cloris Leachman – **The Mary Tyler Moore Show** and **Raising Hope** Gavin MacLeod – **McHale’s Navy** and **The Mary Tyler Moore Show** , with **The Love Boat** , if you consider that a sitcom. Betty White – **Mary Tyler Moore, The Golden Girls,** and **Hot in Cleveland** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/28 "2012-03-29T14:39:49Z")
Richard Mulligan took home the Lead Actor Emmy for SOAP roughly a decade before doing likewise with EMPTY NEST. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/29 "2012-03-29T14:42:23Z")
Don Knotts created two rather iconic sitcom characters as Barney Fife (The Andy Griffith Show) and Mr. Furley (Three’s Company). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/30 "2012-03-29T14:50:19Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Jason Bateman _Valerie_ & _Arrested Development_. For that matter, there’s ole Opie Cunningham himself narrating Arrested Development. “_ **No one was making fun of Andy Griffith.** _ I can’t emphasize that enough.” ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/31 "2012-03-29T14:57:11Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Julia Louis Dreyfuss’ “The New Adventures of Old Christine” ran for four seasons. I think she counts. I was surprised that the OP discounted the entire cast of Seinfeld (New Adventures was the first thing I thought of) but allowed Becker. What about Jason Bateman. He was in The Hogan Family and Arrested Development. ETA, I see it was mentioned up thread (as Valerie). ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/32 "2012-03-29T14:59:41Z")
Do animated shows count (e.g. Don Adams in “Get Smart” and “Inspector Gadget”)? Maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/33 "2012-03-29T15:16:51Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Ed O’Neill, for MARRIED WITH CHILDREN and MODERN FAMILY. If you’re going to mention Al, mention Peggy and Kelly too. Katey Sagal in 8 Simple Rules Applegate in Samantha Who ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/34 "2012-03-29T15:30:10Z")
How about Danny Devito in Taxi and Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Not the star of either but both are ensemble comedies that he was/is a major part of. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/35 "2012-03-29T15:31:09Z")
Courtney Cox, from FRIENDS to COUGAR TOWN. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/36 "2012-03-29T15:32:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Bob Denver – **The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis** and **Gilligan’s Island**. He was also in **The Good Guys** , but that doesn’t meet the requirement of “successful” ---
**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:** [March 29, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/37 "2012-03-29T15:39:20Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > He was also in **The Good Guys** , but that doesn’t meet the requirement of “successful” Loved that show, but it was only on a season and a half. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/38 "2012-03-29T15:42:15Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > If you’re going to mention Al, mention Peggy and Kelly too. > > Katey Sagal in 8 Simple Rules > Applegate in Samantha Who Might _Futurama_ be considered a sitcom? If so, Katey Sagal was in that. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/39 "2012-03-29T15:42:54Z")
The under-rated **Jane Curtin** : \*SNL \*was not a sitcom, but she had huge hits in _Kate & Alli_ and _3rd Rock from the Sun_. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/40 "2012-03-29T15:46:14Z")
Does Ricky Gervias qualify with _The Office_ and _Extras_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143.md?page=3)