# Good actors & actresses that appeared in many failed tv shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312 "2011-07-17T02:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/1 "2011-07-17T02:28:08Z")
Some talented actors or actresses can’t seem to catch a break. They keep getting tv shows that fail quickly. Summer Glau is a good example. She got a lot of attention in Firefly, but it got cancelled after 14 episodes. She guest starred in The Unit and The 4400. Her big break should have been Sarah Connor Chronicles. It got cancelled after 1 1/2 seasons (31 episodes). She briefly Appeared in Doll House. Recently she was in a new series The Cape. Cancelled after 9 episodes. 😛 Girl seems jinxed or something. > **[Summer Glau | Actress, Producer, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1132359/)** > > Known for: Serenity, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Firefly See if you can think of more jinxed actors or actresses. There must be a lot out there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/2 "2011-07-17T02:34:36Z")
[The Patron Saint.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_McGinley#Film_and_television) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/3 "2011-07-17T03:02:57Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [The Patron Saint.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_McGinley#Film_and_television) Some might argue about his being a good actor. (I like him plenty, but he’s no Olivier, or anything.) I’m also not sure he’s near the harbinger of doom he has the reputation of being. Few of his listed credits appear to be as regular cast member (and a couple of those survived him just fine)…and at least a couple of the ones that didn’t, they were successful shows just on the ebb when he came onboard. That said, he is the first guy who came to mind for me, so I probably shouldn’t be defending him from his reputation. \>\_\> ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/4 "2011-07-17T17:11:42Z")
[Paula Marshall](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Marshall), seen a few times on “House” this season as Lisa Cuddy’s sister, is another one that seems to have a reputation for being a series-killer. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/5 "2011-07-17T17:38:29Z")
Although [Delroy Lindo](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005148/) certainly doesn’t deserve a “kiss of death” tribute, he has been a key player in at least two good shows that the networks jettisoned in spite of my regular viewing (and that of others I know who appreciated them): _Kidnapped_ and _Chicago Code_. I just hope his work continues without hiccups. He’s a good actor. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/6 "2011-07-17T18:45:40Z")
Martin Mull is the Angel of Death for TV shows. Don’t know if he’s considered talented, but when he becomes a character on a series, it will soon be cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/7 "2011-07-17T18:49:18Z")
I nominate [Bonnie Hunt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Hunt). She’s always good, some of the shows she was in were good, but none of them lasted. Not even her talk show lasted very long. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/8 "2011-07-17T19:02:41Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Martin Mull is the Angel of Death for TV shows. Don’t know if he’s considered talented, but when he becomes a character on a series, it will soon be cancelled. Martin Mull played Leon on _Rosanne_ for 6 seasons. He played Principal Kraft on _Sabrina, the Teenaged Witch_ for 3 seasons. He voiced recurring character Father Donovan on _American Dad_ for 5 seasons. Not exactly the death knell for those shows. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/9 "2011-07-17T19:09:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Martin Mull played Leon on _Rosanne_ for 6 seasons. He played Principal Kraft on _Sabrina, the Teenaged Witch_ for 3 seasons. He voiced recurring character Father Donovan on _American Dad_ for 5 seasons. Not exactly the death knell for those shows. So a few shows lingered on for a few years before dying, so what? ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/10 "2011-07-17T21:10:59Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > So a few shows lingered on for a few years before dying, so what? Hell, by that logic the only non-Angel-of-Death in Hollywood was James Arness. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-actors-actresses-that-appeared-in-many-failed-tv-shows/589312/11 "2011-07-17T23:01:51Z")
I’ve liked [Alison La Placa](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0478844/) as an actress, but as far as series are concerned, she’s the female Ted McGinley. She doesn’t hurt established shows as a guest star, but when she’s a regular, watch out. Tim Conway’s vanity license plate is “13 WKS,” the length of time all his starring shows were on the air. He was OK as a supporting actor, but killed any show where he was the lead.