# Best Recurring Sitcom Guest Star (that never became a regular cast member)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220 "2005-07-12T19:02:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/61 "2005-07-15T16:19:17Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > Carla’s ice hockey husband, Eddie LeBec (played by whatever happened to Jay Thomas). Or her ex-husband Nick (played by "Damn, is there a movie or show he [I[hasn’t been in\* Dan Hedaya) and his new wife (played by Jean Kasem- they actually had \*Cheers’\* first spin-off, the shortlived [Tortellis]([http://imdb.com/title/tt0092467/](http://imdb.com/title/tt0092467/))). ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/62 "2005-07-15T16:25:28Z")
I love Dan Hedaya. I am one of four people in America who loved the Tortellis. The second most successful Cheers spinoff! ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/63 "2005-07-15T17:45:30Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > **zamboniracer**. Stuart Margolin was an official character. Listed in the opening credits. Angel’s “real” first name: Evelyn. I don’t know that I agree with you about that. [According to this site](http://www.thesandbox.net/arm/rockford/episode_guide/series.shtml) Evelyn “Angel” (“Don’t worry, I’ll stonewall 'em, Jimmy”) Martin was only ever a recurring character. Only Rockford, Rocky and Det. Becker were in the credits. Where I really went wrong was that the show wasn’t a sitcom. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/64 "2005-07-15T18:34:51Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > And didn’t Sam once date Capt. Janeway? Yep - she was running for office. IIRC he ended it b/c he realized she was using him as eye candy for publicity photos. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/65 "2005-07-15T18:45:13Z")
_Seinfeld_ did have a number of characters who were somewhere in the grey area of almost-permanant-cast. Frank and Estelle Costanza, Newman, and several others were often funnier than the regular four. The always-off-camera voice of George Steinbrenner, and whoever played Mr. Peterson were also memorable. The show’s been off the network for seven years, and even now the Mr. Peterson character is appearing some insurance spots. If that’s not a longevity record for a sitcom supporting character, I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/66 "2005-07-15T18:53:21Z")
Tom Hanks on Family Ties. He was hilarious before he became a serious actor. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/67 "2005-07-16T02:10:54Z")
Here’s a twofer: [Daniel von Bargen,](http://imdb.com/name/nm0901926/) who portrayed the apathetic \*_Mr. Kruger \*\* on_ Seinfeld \* as well as the one-eyed \*\*Commander Spangler \*\* on _Malcolm in the Middle._ ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/68 "2005-07-16T03:08:45Z")
Just popping in to add William H. Macy as Sam on _Sports Night_. You can never go wrong with William H. Macy. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220/69 "2005-07-16T05:01:45Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > … and whoever played Mr. Peterson were also memorable. The show’s been off the network for seven years, and even now the Mr. Peterson character is appearing some insurance spots. If that’s not a longevity record for a sitcom supporting character, I don’t know what is. He’s a “Star.” Said so in TV Guide last week! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-recurring-sitcom-guest-star-that-never-became-a-regular-cast-member/312220.md?page=3)