# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![jrbor76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@jrbor76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrbor76)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/101 "2012-03-30T15:32:14Z")
I take it people who do animated voiceover work count as long as they’ve done at least one “traditional” sitcom (and ideally the animated sitcom is primetime). At least I assume the OP would allow something like that. Someone already listed K Sagal/M Kunis… who else… how about… Julie Kavner (Rhoda/The Simpsons) Stephen Root (News Radio/King of the Hill) Jessica Walter i think? (Arrested Development/Archer) And I know she’s not listed as a full cast member but it almost seems unfair not to include Marcia Wallace (Bob Newhart Show/The Simpsons) considering how many episodes she’s done. Same goes with Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement/Family Guy). …and that’s not even counting those people who do almost exclusively voiceover work for primetime stuff. Mel Blanc? Mike Judge? Billy West? H Jon Benjamin? I could go on… (I’m a primetime animation geek, what can I say) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/102 "2012-03-30T16:33:53Z")
Interesting that all four women in “Hot in Cleveland” (which I hate) were in other successful sitcoms. Especially Betty White. And we should add Rue McClanahan, who was in “Maude” and “Golden Girls,” and a couple seasons of “Mama’s Family.” And William Frawley, who was in “I Love Lucy” and “My Three Sons.” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/103 "2012-03-30T16:43:02Z")
I think Patty Duke deserves mention . . . for playing two roles in the same sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/104 "2012-03-30T17:01:26Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Interesting that all four women in “Hot in Cleveland” (which I hate) were in other successful sitcoms. Especially Betty White. Not so much “interesting” as “the entire reason for the existence of the show.” The show was the first original sitcom created for the TV Land network, and capitalized on that network’s demographic, which is people who like to watch old sitcoms. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/105 "2012-03-30T17:33:33Z")
Well if Rue McClanahan gets credit for _Maude_, shouldn’t Conrad Bain also get credit for _Maude_ and _Diff’rent Strokes_? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/106 "2012-03-30T17:42:20Z")
> [@kath94](#): > > ETA: Totally missed that little dig with “Opie Cunningham.” Oh, **The Other Waldo Pepper** , you’re so clever! Sure, but Eddie Murphy came up with that 30 years ago. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/107 "2012-03-30T17:44:49Z")
He’s dead, so it probably doesn’t matter to him, but if he were alive, Bill Bixby might feel a bit slighted that his turns as Ray Walston’s Favorite Earthling and Brandon Cruz’s dad didn’t get mentioned until page 3 of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/108 "2012-03-30T19:17:02Z")
> [@jrbor76](#): > > Same goes with Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement/Family Guy). Not to mention _Seinfeld_. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/109 "2012-03-30T20:03:01Z")
John Astin: The Addams Family and Night Court If you count voice overs: Mila Kunis: That 70’s Show & Family Guy Phil Hartman: The Simpsons & News Radio ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/110 "2012-03-30T20:13:49Z")
Oh, c’mon people. Here’s a list of shows mentioned here that no one, except the one who posted it, has EVER heard of. 🙂 _Hearts Afire Raising Hope Valerie_ **Every single one posted by Baron Greenback** \* The Hogan Family Samantha Who?\* _Veronica’s Closet_ **Every single one made before 1970** \* Sister, Sister Life’s Too Short Hot in Cleveland\* It’s looking more and more like the OP is onto something. Please note again the 🙂 above, before the flames start. ---
**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 30, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/111 "2012-03-30T20:20:03Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Sure, but Eddie Murphy came up with that 30 years ago. 🙂 I know, but I honestly don’t know which of 'em came up with it first; I saw an interview around the same time where Ron Howard referred to himself that way, and have no idea whether he was just going with the joke or whether the joke predated Murphy. Regardless, how about THE MIDDLE letting Patricia Heaton land on her feet alongside Neil Flynn? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/112 "2012-03-31T11:06:48Z")
Wayne Rogers: **MASH** and **House Calls** Lorenzo Music: **Rhoda** and **Garfield** Robert Guillaume: **Benson** and **Sports Night** Keisha Knight Pulliam: **House of Payne** and **The Cosby Show** Are we counting **Ugly Betty** and **Desperate Housewives** as sitcoms? They’re kind of on the cusp. Some actors I was sure would qualify for this list, but amazingly did not: Roger Bowen, Paul Lynde, McLean Stevenson, Morey Amsterdam, Marlo Thomas, Jack McBreyer, Gavin McLeod, Alan Alda, Peter Bonerz, Dave Wilson, Paul Sand ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/113 "2012-03-31T12:39:54Z")
If\* Desperate Housewives\* qualifies as a sitcom, then \*Monk \*does as well. Which would include Tony Shaloub with \*Monk \*and _Wings_. ---
**Author:** ![ekweizn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@ekweizn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekweizn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/114 "2012-03-31T16:11:14Z")
Post #114: Charlie Sheen. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/115 "2012-04-01T04:43:21Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Do animated shows count (e.g. Don Adams in “Get Smart” and “Inspector Gadget”)? Maybe not. Adams was also in [Check It out!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088493/combined) which IIRC wasn’t very good, but it did run for 3 seasons. > [@Labtrash](#): > > George Clooney was in > > _The Facts of Life_ (17 Eps) > > and _Roseanne_ (11 Eps) > > Not a headliner in either show, but both were successful He also played “Ace” in [E/R](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086704/combined) (different from “E.R.”) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/116 "2012-04-01T05:12:10Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > We’re calling Cougar Town a success now? I enjoy it, but since it got a big delay in coming back for it’s third season and they just added a cute baby to the cast in the middle of the season, I figure it’s on it’s way out. It’s been struggling for years. It’s too bad because it’s finally figured out what kind of show it wants to be. Meh. Stan’s been there from day 1 and he only ever shows up for purely comedic purposes or to remove Andy from the current scene. Since the mom isn’t part of the culdesac crew, I figure they can be even more flaky on showing the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/117 "2012-04-01T05:21:53Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Not to mention Christa Miller (“Drew Carey Show,” “Scrubs,” and “Cougar Town”) and Ian Gomez (“Drew Carey Show,” “Cougar Town”). Speaking of which, did anyone catch the recent episode that ended with about five “Scrubs” actors popping up (including J.D.)? :D… What no mention of Drew Carey? Aside from _The Drew Carey Show_, he had _Whose Line Is It Anyway?_, which I claim counts as a situation comedy because it was all about putting comedians in situations. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/118 "2012-04-01T08:49:10Z")
Kristen Schaal, for **Flight of the Conchords** and \*\* \*\* (which I hope she becomes a regular on, as we already see more of her than several of the credited regulars, but I predict her character will die a wacky death when Kenny rejoins the NBC Page Program next week). ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/119 "2012-04-01T09:03:13Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > 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. Thing is, when someone has been crazy successful on a sitcom, he/she is likelier to want to do a drama or film work next. Going from **The Mary Tyler Moore Show** to some lesser sitcom is not seen as a career promotion, but going from that to a serious drama of any duration at all, is. Lots of people have made long careers doing one single-season sitcom after another (and cooling their heels on **Hollywood Squares** in between gigs). I would call Andy Richter’s career successful on balance, Paget Brewster’s too, but their CVs don’t reflect this. There’s no rational reason that Dennis Leary hasn’t done any sitcoms, since he appears to have been born for the purpose. But, with the cop and fireman shows he has been on, his career seems to be in okay shape anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143/120 "2012-04-01T14:07:40Z")
> [@jrbor76](#): > > Same goes with Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement/Family Guy). > [@Tangent](#): > > Not to mention _Seinfeld_. Also Dave’s World and Less Than Perfect (I’m guessing The Tick really doesn’t qualify as successful.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-with-more-than-1-successful-sitcom/617143.md?page=7)