It is quite common in movies and on TV for male actors almost in their dotage to portray characters who are pursuing much younger actresses. Cary Grant and Sean Connery come to mind. The reverse is not as common. I was recently watching an episode of *Married With Children * from the 1996 /1997 season in which Bud, the character played by David Faustino, then 22 or 23, has a torrid affair with his father’s boss, Gary, played by Janet Carroll, who was then 55 or 56, a difference of 33 years. And the affair wasn’t just hinted at; there were several scenes when they locked lips with enthusiasm. Are there any instances on TV when there was a greater difference in the actual ages of the actor portraying the younger man and actress portraying the older woman?
Harold and Maude comes to mind–but you specified TV.
On Friends, Phoebe’s younger brother, Frank Buffay Jr. (played by Giovanni Ribisi) was married to Alice (played by Debra Jo Rupp or “Kitty” from That 70’s Show). They had an age difference of 23 years.
But of course, this was mostly played for laughs, and there were not main characters on the show.
What about *The Drew Carey Show *when his character’s love interest was played by Shirley Jones?
Isn’t this the whole premise of Jenna Elfman’s new show?