# Disappearing TV stars **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286 "2005-06-28T22:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/21 "2005-06-29T03:31:26Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Also, there was at least one survivor of _Diff’rent Strokes_: Dixie Carter, who resurfaced with a smash hit in the 90s. And she married Mark Twain. However, she was replaced on the show with Mary Ann Mobley after half a season (possibly due to death threats from the kids in the cast). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/22 "2005-06-29T03:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Lou Grant (one exception: Nancy Marchand had a late-in-life comeback as the ultimate Mommy Dearest on The Sopranos, though Ed Asner must have a record for most flopped series since this one was cancelled,) The second tier of actors on this series all went on to lead roles in other series. Robert Walden was on _Brothers_ which lasted for five seasons; Linda Kelsey starred in _Day by Day_ which was on for two seasons, and Jack Bannon starred in the short-lived _Trauma Center_ for a season. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/23 "2005-06-29T04:34:22Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Skip Stephenson [died](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827323/) in 1992. Oh man, I just came to post that we’re related. I had no idea! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/24 "2005-06-29T06:32:40Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > LA Law, no survivors except Alan Rachins and Harry Hamlin (excluding the guy who plays Kragen on SVU since he was a recurring character). Dann Florek, you mean. He was fairly regular for awhile in one of the later seasons, especially since he was the firm’s receiver for many episodes. But anyway, you’ve forgotten a certain guy named Jimmy Smits (Victor Sifuentes), who went on to huge success in _NYPD Blue_ and is now running for president on _The West Wing_! And speaking of _TWW_, Jimmy’s running mate is current chief of staff Leo McGarry, played since the series premiered by fellow _LA Law_ grad John Spencer (Tommy Mullaney). Spencer won an Emmy a couple of years ago for his amazing portrayal of Leo. Yummy Blair Underwood (Jonathan) has been in a lot of movies (the big screen kind) and had lead roles in a couple of TV flops, most recently _LAX_ with Heather Locklear. He also memorably played Miranda’s neighbor/lover on _Sex and the City_. And he does the voice of the father on _Fatherhood_, the animated sitcom by Bill Cosby on Nick @ Nite. I know Michele Greene (Abby) and Jill Eikenberry (Ann Kelsey) have starred in like a kabillion TV movies. (I seem to recall Eikenberry is a breast cancer survivor and has spent a lot of time as an advocate for research.) Corbin Bernsen (Arnie) ain’t too shabby in the TV movie field either, but lately has been a regular on two soaps – first _Young & the Restless_ (performing with his mom, uberdiva Jeanne Cooper), and now on _General Hospital_. mmm, who am I forgetting? Oh whatsername, Susan something who played Roxanne – she had a semi-regular role as Brian Dennehy’s wife in a string of mystery TV movies. Finally there are a couple of those final season latecomers – Debi Mazar, whose character name I don’t remember, is on HBO series _Entourage_; Alan Rosenberg (Eli) had a semi-regular role on _Cybill_ for a few years; and Michael Cumpsty – whose character basically replaced Arnie as the firm’s resident bastard – has moved to theater, starring in many Broadway plays and musicals. I saw him in _1776_ as Dickenson – did a great job! (Dayum I know waaaay too much about these people. What can I say, _LA Law_ was one of my favorite TV series ever.) Ooh … don’t mean to pick on you, **Otto** , but: > [@](#): > > Robert Guillaume starred in the Soap spin-off Benson and later in IIRC News Night. Blasphemer! It’s _Sports Night_, dammit! 🙂 Guillaume’s also done many voiceovers in animated films, most notably in _The Lion King_ and its myriad sequels. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/25 "2005-06-29T06:50:57Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > **Murphy Brown** Faith Ford was in that awful show with Norm MacDonald… and Hope and Faith, an equally awful show with Kelly Rippa. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/26 "2005-06-29T10:25:40Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > And I would swear I remember Sarah Purcell from something else, but according to the IMDb, it was before _Real People_. She was in the Wonder Woman episode **Amazon Hot Wax** which also featured Rick Springfield and Judge Reinhold. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/27 "2005-06-29T10:55:09Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > **WKRP in Cincinnati** > Loni Anderson - a few forgettable roles, some extra spotlight due to relationship with Burt Reynolds > Howard Hessman - some other show as a teacher whose name I forget, then nothing > Gordon Jump - Maytag repairman > Herb, Les, Andy, Bailey, Venus: zilch (unless you count a few reprising their roles on the short-lived “New WKRP”) Hmmmn. I guess Tim Reid’s show {url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108927/]Sister, Sister which ran for five years meant nothing. And his highly acclaimed show [Frank’s Place](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092354/) only ran a year. Howard Hesseman’s show [Head of the Class](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090444/) he was only on for four years. The only member of the cast who hasn’t worked regularly in movies or TV is Jan mithers(Bailey Quarters). Do you ever do research or do you just blow smoke and wait for someone to call you on it? > [@Dooku](#): > > **Night Court** > Nobody of note has done anything. Dave Anderson had some flop as Dave Berry, Markie Post had a small role in _There’s Something About Mary_, but everyone else - obscurity. Wow. I had no idea [a afour year show](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105982/) was a flop. Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/28 "2005-06-29T11:32:46Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > Wow. I had no idea [a afour year show](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105982/) was a flop. Who knew? Well, it certainly didn’t compair to Harry Anderson’s popularity on Night Court. The John Laroquette Show wasn’t very good, either. IMHO, they made a mistake by dropping the main character’s alcoholism. After that, it was just another forgettable sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/29 "2005-06-29T11:35:18Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Well, it certainly didn’t compair to Harry Anderson’s popularity on Night Court. > > The John Laroquette Show wasn’t very good, either. IMHO, they made a mistake by dropping the main character’s alcoholism. After that, it was just another forgettable sitcom. So? The quality isn’t relevant in this thread. Laroquette also had a show two seasons ago called Happy Family with Christine Baranski. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/30 "2005-06-29T15:46:16Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Blasphemer! It’s _Sports Night_, dammit! 🙂 Guillaume’s also done many voiceovers in animated films, most notably in _ **The Lion King** _ and its myriad sequels. (Bolding mine.) Which adds a new, previously unknown to me level to the conversation between him and Felicity Huffmann when she went to see that play. Thanks for the info! ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/31 "2005-06-29T16:12:06Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > [ > **Murphy Brown** > All of the above lasted several seasons, and all had actors who went on to do other things, but the other things (save for Nancy Marchand as Livia) were in lesser vehicles that never approached the popularity of the series listed. **Robert Pastorelli** has done a kajillion movies since then. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/32 "2005-06-29T16:16:18Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Skip Stephenson [died](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827323/) in 1992. And yet that same IMDB page lists his last credit as “Score with Chicks” in 1994. I have images of a skelaton in bad polyester stumbling around after scantily clad bimbos, jabbering inane, flat one-liners. The buck-toothed smile is still the same. :eek: I need to go scrub my brain. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/33 "2005-06-29T16:32:38Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > Hmmmn. > > I guess Tim Reid’s show {url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108927/]Sister, Sister which ran for five years meant nothing. > > And his highly acclaimed show [Frank’s Place](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092354/) only ran a year. Tim Reid and his wife, Daphne Maxwell Reid, also own New Millineium Studios in Petersburg, VA. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/34 "2005-06-29T17:02:07Z")
Just adding a few tidbits about various actors, in no particular order: Robert Pastorelli had a pretty good career after “Murphy Brown,” but he died (I think from an overdose) a few years ago. Robert Guillaume had a pretty good role in the recent Ewan McGregor/Albert Finney/Tim Burton movie “Big Fish.” (It wasn’t a huge role for Guillaume, but notable—you can’t miss him.) I’ve seen Markie Post guest star on other things, and she had a role in a sitcom with John Ritter and Billy Bob Thornton in the 90s (“Hearts Afire”), which I believe is coming out on DVD soon. John Laroquette is now working on some detective show (I think it’s a detective show) for the Hallmark Channel. Jimmy Smits has been in two of the most recent Star Wars movies. (He looks fabulous in this most recent one.) Max Gail (from “Barney Miller”) has guest starred on other things. I remember seeing him in an episode of “Due South.” ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/35 "2005-06-29T17:22:43Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Blasphemer! It’s _Sports Night_, dammit! 🙂 Guillaume’s also done many voiceovers in animated films, most notably in _The Lion King_ and its myriad sequels. And during the filming of _SportsNight_, he suffered a stroke which was actually written into the show (pretty cool). So that may be another reason he’s no longer as active as he once was. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/36 "2005-06-29T18:31:00Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > Max Gail (from “Barney Miller”) has guest starred on other things. I remember seeing him in an episode of “Due South.” Not to menion his star turn in _D.C. Cab_. And to correct an earlier post of mine, Who’s the Boss? debuted in 1984, not 1982, so there were a couple of Hellmondless seasons. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/37 "2005-06-29T18:40:12Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > Do you ever do research or do you just blow smoke and wait for someone to call you on it? The hell? Oh, you got me, killer. Let it be known throughout the land from this point forward that Katherine Hellmond, Tim Reid, John Laroquette, Harry Anderson, Howard Hessman and every other cast member of every show I listed in my original post to this thread have had the careers beyond their wildest dreams, and I am eternally shamed for besmirching their good names. They truly are the stuff of Hollywood legend. I am unworthy! Boooo!!! Boooo!!! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/38 "2005-06-29T18:45:35Z")
Max Gail largely quit acting when his wife died from cancer, leaving him the single dad of a small child. He has since remarried and has become more active. (Trivia: at the height of his career he lived in a geodesic dome he built from a kit. He bought some property in Malibu with his first “big-money” pay, then built the dome on it, then slowly built a house as he could afford it (he has a background in construction). The home was featured on one of the cable channels recently and it’s beautiful (and the dome is now an office on the property). ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/39 "2005-06-29T21:43:32Z")
Markie Post also starred in a failed pilot for a remake of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl which was MESSED UP! It was closer to The Shield than to anything Sid and Marty had imagined. I think you were right to be called on it Dooku… Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286/40 "2005-06-29T21:52:27Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > Markie Post also starred in a failed pilot for a remake of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl which was MESSED UP! It was closer to The Shield than to anything Sid and Marty had imagined. Heh! I can just see it. “Now THAT’S what I call an electra-shakedown!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-tv-stars/310286.md?page=3)