# Have any Oscar winners returned to series television? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982 "2013-08-23T17:06:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/1 "2013-08-23T17:06:56Z")
Robin Williams’s new [show](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=700200) has prompted me to start this thread. Williams has won an Academy award, for Best Supporting Actor in “Good Will Hunting.” (1997) Have there been any other series which have featured an Oscar winner (not just a nominee) as a regular cast member? I’m not counting one-time guest appearances. I want to limit this to cast members starring or featured on a regular basis on a television series of at least one season in duration. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/2 "2013-08-23T17:09:21Z")
Timothy Hutton. Oscar for _Ordinary People_, on TNT in _Leverage_. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/3 "2013-08-23T17:13:34Z")
Missed the edit window: I’m asking about actors who have won their award before returning to TV. So, I know Clint Eastwood starred in “Rawhide” and won a Best Director Oscar later in his career, but for the purposes of my question, examples like Eastwood don’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/4 "2013-08-23T17:20:24Z")
Geena Davis won in 1988 for _The Accidental Tourist_, then starred in \*The Geena Davis Show \*and _Commander in Chief_, both of which were canceled after one season, I believe. Also Holly Hunter, who won for \*The Piano \*in 1993, then starred in _Amazing Grace_. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/5 "2013-08-23T17:22:12Z")
Sally Field starred in _Brothers and Sisters_, which ran for 5 seasons, after winning 2 Oscars. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/6 "2013-08-23T17:22:45Z")
Dianne Wiest earned both of her Oscars before landing the role of the DA on LAW & ORDER. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/7 "2013-08-23T17:25:38Z")
Kevin Spacey’s role in HOUSE OF CARDS arguably counts. ---
**Author:** ![Flip\_Pancake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f1d935/32.png) [@Flip\_Pancake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip_Pancake)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/8 "2013-08-23T17:26:54Z")
Does Netflix count? If yes, then Kevin Spacey in _House of Cards_. There’s also Jane Fonda in _The Newsroom_. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/9 "2013-08-23T17:30:21Z")
Marlee Matlin won an Oscar in 1986, and has appeared in numerous television roles since. She starred in _Reasonable Doubts_, which ran for 2 seasons, and had longterm recurring roles on _Picket Fences_, _The West Wing_ and many other shows. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/10 "2013-08-23T17:33:00Z")
Maggie Smith won 2 Oscars before _Downton Abbey_ made her even more of a household name. Jane Wyman won her Oscar over 30 years before she starred in _Falcon Crest_. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/11 "2013-08-23T17:35:16Z")
Peter Capaldi has an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, and he’s been in several TV series, and is going to be the new Doctor Who. ---
**Author:** ![Flip\_Pancake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f1d935/32.png) [@Flip\_Pancake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip_Pancake)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/12 "2013-08-23T17:37:57Z")
Anna Paquin also won for _The Piano_ and worked steadily in film, on stage, and has a lead role on _True Blood_. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/13 "2013-08-23T17:43:36Z")
Jimmy Stewart starred in **The Jimmy Stewart Show** and **Hawkins** long after his Oscar. Loretta Young starred in **The Loretta Young Show** , usually as host, but also as an actress, after her Oscar. Ernest Borgnine in **McHale’s Navy**. Walter Brennan was a 3-time Oscar winner when he starred in **The Real McCoys**. He also did **The Tycoon** and **The Guns of Will Sonnett**. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/14 "2013-08-23T17:45:54Z")
Ernest Borgnine won best actor for Marty in 1955, and then went on a long run in television beginning with McHale’s Navy 1n 1962. ETA: Ninjad by **RealityChuck**. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/15 "2013-08-23T17:51:27Z")
I was going to say Glenn Close, but upon review, she has never won an Oscar?? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/16 "2013-08-23T18:07:28Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Marlee Matlin won an Oscar in 1986, and has appeared in numerous television roles since. She starred in _Reasonable Doubts_, which ran for 2 seasons, and had longterm recurring roles on _Picket Fences_, _The West Wing_ and many other shows. And _My Name Is Earl_, Joy’s deaf lawyer. I had forgotten about her. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/17 "2013-08-23T18:16:55Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > I was going to say Glenn Close, but upon review, she has never won an Oscar?? :eek: No, she has tied the record for most nominations without a win (6). She does have 3 Tonys and 3 Emmys, and has been my favorite actress since her screen debut. Rounding out the list of Oscar winners who have returned to series television: Helen Hayes (_The Snoop Sisters_) Karl Malden (_The Streets of San Francisco_) Martin Balsam (_Archie Bunker’s Place_) Jack Albertson (_Chico and the Man_) Donna Reed (_The Donna Reed Show_; _Dallas_) Cloris Leachman (_The Mary Tyler Moore Show_; _Phyllis_; too many sitcoms to name) Anjelica Huston (_Smash_) Linda Hunt (_NCIS: Los Angeles_) Miyoshi Umeki (_The Courtship of Eddie’s Father_) Shirley Jones (_The Partridge Family_) Rita Moreno (_Happily Divorced_; apparently she was on _Oz_?) Patty Duke (_The Patty Duke Show_ – she was only 16 when she won the Oscar, before her T.V. career) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/18 "2013-08-23T18:21:59Z")
This is really common… is what I came to say, but it looks like you folks beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/19 "2013-08-23T18:24:31Z")
Missed the edit window, but had to include one of my favorite Oscar-winning performances: Celeste Holm (_Promised Land_) ---
**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:** [August 23, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982/20 "2013-08-23T18:27:24Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Rita Moreno (_Happily Divorced_; apparently she was on _Oz_?) Yes, she played a nun who worked as a counselor at the prison. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-oscar-winners-returned-to-series-television/666982.md?page=2)