# Have Supp. actors from a hit sitcom ever had their own hit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313 "2006-03-21T18:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/21 "2006-03-21T19:21:08Z")
Michael J. Fox was technically a supporting actor on “Family Ties,” then later become a movie star, and then his own show, “Spin City.” Howard Hesseman played Dr. Johnny Fever on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” then later starred in that show with the classroom, whatever the hell that was called. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/22 "2006-03-21T19:24:46Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > The only person I can think of that comes close is Ted Knight. He went from a member of one of the most acclaimed sitcom ensembles (Mary Tyler Moore Show) to the lead of Too Close For Comfort. Now of course TCFC was a bit of an ensemble, but he was certainly the lead. > > Anyone else? Think harder. How about Gavin McLeod from the same show, who went on to star in The Love Boat? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/23 "2006-03-21T19:29:27Z")
Teri Hatcher from \*\*Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman \*\* to **Desperate Housewives**. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/24 "2006-03-21T19:29:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Howard Hesseman played Dr. Johnny Fever on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” then later starred in that show with the classroom, whatever the hell that was called. Head of the Class. **Melina Kanakaredes** went from supporting roles on sucessful shows, such as _Guiding Light_ and _NYPD Blue_, to star in her own series, _Providence_. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/25 "2006-03-21T19:29:35Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Michael J. Fox was technically a supporting actor on “Family Ties,” then later become a movie star, and then his own show, “Spin City.” He was one I considered. But he won an emmy for Best Actor while on Family Ties, so I didn’t cite him. > [@](#): > > Howard Hesseman played Dr. Johnny Fever on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” then later starred in that show with the classroom, whatever the hell that was called. Good example. Also, I thought of a few other qualifiers: Marky Post from Night Court MAY qualify for her show Hearts Afire. She shared the lead with John Ritter and it lasted three seasons. If we count that, then add John Larroquette. His show lasted four. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/26 "2006-03-21T19:30:49Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > Think harder. How about Gavin McLeod from the same show, who went on to star in The Love Boat? Love Boat was kitschy, but it wasn’t a sitcom. He certainly was a lead. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/27 "2006-03-21T19:32:44Z")
Paul Lynde went from occasional appearances as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched to more or less starring on Hollywood Squares, then hosting his own variety show in the early 1970s. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/28 "2006-03-21T19:33:30Z")
Do soap operas count? If so, Sarah Michelle Gellar started as a child actress in a supporting role on a soap (was it _All My Children_?) before becoming a huge star as the title character from _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/29 "2006-03-21T19:36:14Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Ron Howard went from ‘Andy Griffith’ to ‘Happy Days’ … and then Penny Marshall went from Happy Days to Laverne and Shirley, and then that whole directing/producing gig. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/30 "2006-03-21T19:37:13Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > He was one I considered. But he won an emmy for Best Actor while on Family Ties, so I didn’t cite him. Three years in a row, no less, so I guess he’s disqualified. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/31 "2006-03-21T19:38:54Z")
Lemme see if I have the rules straight. Show A and Show B both have to be hits, both have to be comedies, and the actor in question had to have been a supporting actor in Show A before starring in Show B as a different character (no spinoffs). Right? The idea being that very few great supporting/ensemble actors can carry a show by themselves? Sorry, I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t already been mentioned. If you allowed spinoffs, I might consider Charlotte Rae (from _Diff’rent Strokes_ to _The Fatcs of Life_), Jim Nabors (from _The Andy Griffith Show_ to _Gomer Pyle_), or Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams (from _Happy Days_ to _Laverne & Shirley_), but I’m not even sure those are exactly what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/32 "2006-03-21T19:42:02Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > Lemme see if I have the rules straight. Show A and Show B both have to be hits, both have to be comedies, and the actor in question had to have been a supporting actor in Show A before starring in Show B as a different character (no spinoffs). Right? The idea being that very few great supporting/ensemble actors can carry a show by themselves? I’ll admit there are a lot of rules. You summarize them accurately. 😃 ---
**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 21, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/33 "2006-03-21T19:44:06Z")
What about Bill Cosby? From “I Spy” to “The Cosby Show.” ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/34 "2006-03-21T19:44:14Z")
I dunno about the Doogie thing - he wasn’t a side character in Doogie MD … But in _that_ same vein, I’d add Cybil Shepard from Moonlighting to Cybil (well, _I_ loved it). I don’t understand why the side kick girl from Dharma and Greg didn’t get her own show - (and the Scientology wierdo did, turned inside out and backwards). I wonder if Mork and Mindy counts? Mork went from Happy Days to Mork and Mindy, (guess that is a spinoff) and Mindy went to My Sister Sam until she was killed off. Then there’s Sports Night and Six Feet Under 😉 which also spawns Sports Night and Desperate Housewives with “Dana” and “Susan” becoming and “lynette” and “Mary Alice” ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/35 "2006-03-21T19:46:19Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > What about Bill Cosby? From “I Spy” to “The Cosby Show.” Nice one! Didn’t one of Carla’s husbands (of Cheers) do their own show, too? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/36 "2006-03-21T19:47:48Z")
**Meredith Baxter-Berney** was on _Petticoat Junction_, then _Bridget Loves Bernie_ as a star (which was a hit show, though only lasted one season), then was supposed to be the star of _Family Ties_. ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/37 "2006-03-21T19:49:45Z")
Dear John - wasn’t Judd on Taxi, too? DJ ran a long time, I thought. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/38 "2006-03-21T20:00:19Z")
Jerry Seinfeld was a regular in **Benson** for a season. Richard Mulligan went from part of the cast of **Soap** to the lead in **Empty Nest**. Conrad Bain was a supporting character on **Maude** and to top billing on **Diff’rent Strokes**. ---
**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 21, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/39 "2006-03-21T20:02:52Z")
George Clooney went from “E/R” to “Facts of Life” to “Roseanne” before breaking out in “ER.” ---
**Author:** ![davmilasav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@davmilasav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davmilasav)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313/40 "2006-03-21T20:09:09Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > … and then Penny Marshall went from Happy Days to Laverne and Shirley, and then that whole directing/producing gig. And don’t forget she was Myrna Turner on \*The Odd Couple \* before that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-supp-actors-from-a-hit-sitcom-ever-had-their-own-hit/349313.md?page=3)