# Lead Actor with the most TV hits **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749 "2009-02-06T21:19:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [February 6, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/1 "2009-02-06T21:19:59Z")
Which actor has had the most bites out of the TV apple playing completely different characters on shows that were hits, and in which they were the star? I’d like to rule out someone like Frasier or Detective Munch. A totally different character. My top-of-my-head guess would be Shatner. It could be argued that Star Trek wasn’t much of a hit at the time, but I’d say he qualifies with that, TJ Hooker, and Boston Legal. But surely 3 can’t be the top. Probably someone back in the 50s or 60s, but nothing springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/2 "2009-02-06T22:04:19Z")
Bob Newhart had two huge starring roles and one more that lasted only a season. Robert Culp had I Spy, Greatest American Hero and then a small regular role on Everybody Loves Raymond I believe. Harry Morgan had many go back to the beginning of time. “December Bride” … Pete Porter (111 episodes, 1954-1959) “Pete and Gladys” … Pete Porter (72 episodes, 1960-1962) “The Richard Boone Show” … Senator Clements / … (15 episodes, 1963-1964) “Dragnet 1967” … Officer Bill Gannon / … (98 episodes, 1967-1970) “M_A_S\*H” … Col. Sherman T. Potter / … (180 episodes, 1974-1983) & “After MASH” … Sherman T. Potter / … (20 episodes, 1983-1984) Lucy of course had many. 4½ starring roles. The last one only lasted a half season. James Gardner & Lee Majors are worth looking at. I think they had 3+. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/3 "2009-02-06T22:24:14Z")
I don’t know what counts as a hit, but Bill Cosby has “I Spy” (1965-1968), “The Bill Cosby Show (1969-1971)”, “The Cosby Show” (1984-1992), and “Cosby” (1996-2000), as well as “The Electric Company”, but I don’t know if you would call him the lead in “The Electric Company”. There was also “Fat Albert”. He was also in several other series, but they definitely weren’t hits (The Cosby Mysteries, You Bet Your Life, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/4 "2009-02-06T22:33:31Z")
Gotta give some points to Ron Howard. After roles in two (that I know of) major hit series, he went on to become an incredibly successful director. Not quite what the OP was looking for, but in the realm. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/5 "2009-02-06T23:16:12Z")
Richard Dawson Hogan’s Heroes, Match Game, Family Feud, The Running Man.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/6 "2009-02-06T23:25:45Z")
**Richard Chamberlain** , hands down. The guy had at least two hit TV series, including “Dr. Kildare”, and starred in at least 20 TV movies, including the megahit “Shogun”. He even did a TV movie of “The Bourne Identity” back in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/7 "2009-02-07T00:42:55Z")
Assuming we’re using “actor” in a gender-neutral sense, I’d say Heather Locklear surely deserves some recognition. She’s been a main character in the following shows: \*Melrose Place Spin City Dynasty TJ Hooker \* ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/8 "2009-02-07T01:23:35Z")
Robert Urich has been the lead in 7 series. Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice S.W.A.T. Tabitha Vega$ Spenser: for Hire The Lazarus Man The Love Boat: The Next Wave ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/9 "2009-02-07T01:45:07Z")
For a while Urich held the record for most lead TV roles, not sure if that is still true. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/10 "2009-02-07T02:18:28Z")
Somebody of importance once said Ted Danson was the only actor ever to be the lead in 2 different successful sit-coms playing 2 completely different characters. (Cheers & Becker) ---
**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:** [February 7, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/11 "2009-02-07T02:35:58Z")
Bea Benederet – **The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show** (second female lead), **The Flintstones** and **Petticoat Junction.**. Michael Landon is probably the champion, if you count major, long-running TV hits: **Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie** and **Highway to Heaven**. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/12 "2009-02-07T02:49:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Bob Newhart had two huge starring roles and one more that lasted only a season. Actually, Newhart was also the star of _another_ Bob Newhart Show in the 1960s, and one of the co-hosts of a short-lived variety show, _The Entertainers_. Not exactly hits, but that makes five star billings. And then there was Bill Bixby. _My Favorite Martian_ (second-billed, behind Ray Walston) _The Courtship of Eddie’s Father_ _The Magician_ _The Incredible Hulk_ _Goodnight Beantown_ Plus_True Confessions_, a daytime show, and shows on both PBS and Nickelodeon. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/13 "2009-02-07T03:23:17Z")
[David Jason](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jason)seems like he would be a candidate. He’s been in a starring role in several big shows. \*Only Fools And Horses A Touch Of Frost The Darling Buds Of May Count Duckula Danger Mouse \* and several of the Terry Pratchett adaptations. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/14 "2009-02-07T04:00:01Z")
> [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](#): > > Somebody of importance once said Ted Danson was the only actor ever to be the lead in 2 different successful sit-coms playing 2 completely different characters. (Cheers & Becker) Lucille Ball was the lead in four separate series playing four different characters, three of which were hits: I Love Lucy (Lucy Ricardo) The Lucy Show (Lucille Carmichael) Here’s Lucy (Lucy Carter) Life With Lucy (Lucy Baker) [Not sure what What Exit means by 4 1/2 hits. She also played Lucy Ricardo in The Luci-Desi Comedy Hour and Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse] Bob Denver played one of the leads in five series, although only three lasted longer than a season: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Gilligan’s Island The Good Guys Dusty’s Trail Far Out Space Nuts Dick Van Dyke was the lead in two hits plus a third that didn’t make it plus a hit dramatic series: The Dick Van Dyke Show The New Dick Van Dyke Show The Van Dyke Show Diagnosis: Murder Fred Gwynne was a lead in: Car 54, Where Are You The Munsters Television has a long, long history. Few people remember the early days any more. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/15 "2009-02-07T15:41:26Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Lucille Ball was the lead in four separate series playing four different characters, three of which were hits: > I Love Lucy (Lucy Ricardo) > The Lucy Show (Lucille Carmichael) > Here’s Lucy (Lucy Carter) > Life With Lucy (Lucy Baker) > [Not sure what What Exit means by 4 1/2 hits. She also played Lucy Ricardo in The Luci-Desi Comedy Hour and Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse] I was counting counting the Luci-Desi Comedy Hour as a separate show and the Life with Lucy (13 episodes) as the ½. However, **Key Lime Guy** quote implies that Lucy always basically played Lucy and Bob Newhart always played Bob. Danson had completely different characters at least. I would be surprised if he was really the only one though. It gets tricky with the words ‘successful’& ‘lead’ of course. I think John Ritter and Harry Anderson both would count at very least. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/16 "2009-02-07T16:42:04Z")
It’s pretty hard to argue that Lucille Ball played the same character in all her shows. She made a conscious effort to distinguish herself from “Lucy Ricardo.” Same with Bob Newhart. Dr. Bob Hartley and Dick Loudon are kinda sorta the same but that’s more a limitation of Newhart’s acting. This is one of those “facts” that depend on carefully hedging the definition down to where only one person qualifies. Only person to star in two shows. Only person to star as different characters in two shows. Only person to star as different characters in two hit shows. Only person to star as different characters in two hit shows that lasted more than three seasons. Only person to star as different characters with different personalities in two hit shows that lasted more than three seasons. Only person over six feet tall to star as different characters with different personalities in two hit shows that lasted more than three seasons. Do that long enough and you’re sure to have a winner. By any reasonable standards, however, Ted Danson has lots of company. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/17 "2009-02-07T17:19:54Z")
William Shatner Star Trek TJ Hooker TekWar Boston Legal ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/18 "2009-02-07T17:35:33Z")
Shatner also was the lead in the series The Barbary Coast. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/19 "2009-02-07T18:59:03Z")
> [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](#): > > Somebody of importance once said Ted Danson was the only actor ever to be the lead in 2 different successful sit-coms playing 2 completely different characters. (Cheers & Becker) Neil Patrick Harris puts that to lie. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749/20 "2009-02-07T19:09:34Z")
Robert Conrad had “Hawaiian Eye,” “The Wild, Wild West” and “Baa Baa Black Sheep.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-actor-with-the-most-tv-hits/484749.md?page=2)