# Most Successful TV Actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480 "2016-06-16T00:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/1 "2016-06-16T00:28:23Z")
in terms of longevity on TV in major roles (regular cast members). I was thinking about this while watching Bones on Netflix. David Boreanaz has had a major role in a TV series pretty much continually since 1997 till 2016 **Buffy The Vampire Slayer** **Angel** 5 seasons **Bones** 11 seasons Walton Coggins had 7 seasons on **The Sheil** d and 6 seasons on **Justifed** Julianna Margulies has 7 seasons on **The Good Wife** and another 6 or 7 on **E.R.** ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/2 "2016-06-16T00:38:06Z")
Carroll O’ Connor’s got to be in the mix: _All In The Family_, nine seasons; _Archie Bunker’s Place_, four seasons; _In The Heat Of The Night_, seven seasons. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/3 "2016-06-16T00:42:39Z")
Kelsey Grammar. Same character, but he played it forever. Michael Landon. _Bonanza_ – 13 years, _Little House on the Prairie_ – 11 years, _Highway to Heaven_ – five years. If you count daytime TV, there’s Don Hastings, who started out in _Captain Video_ in 1948 and continued to perform in soap operas until 2010, with 50 years on _As the World Turns_. Harry Morgan spent four years on _December Bride_, two years on its spinoff _Pete and Gladys_, three years on _Dragnet_, and eight years on _MASH_, not to mention short lived series like _Hec Ramsay, the D.A._ and, _Black’s Magic_. Bea Benederet had eight years on _Burns and Allen_, four years as voice actress in _The Flintstones_, and six years on _Petticoat Junction._ ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/4 "2016-06-16T00:44:25Z")
Robert Urich Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice S.W.A.T Soap Tabitha The Lazarus Man Spenser For Hire Vega$ And many other short-lived TV series that I don’t feel like looking up and typing out. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/5 "2016-06-16T01:33:07Z")
Bill Bixby. _My Favorite Martian - 1963-66. The Courtship of Eddie’s Father - 1969-72 The Magician - 1973-74 The Incredible Hulk - 1977-82 Goodnight, Beantown - 1983-84_ Not to leave out more than 50 other appearances in TV episodes and made-for-TV movies from 1961 to 1993, including three _Incredible Hulk_ movies. Robert Young, two major TV series. _Father Knows Best - 1954-60, 203 episodes. Marcus Welby, M.D. - 1969-76, 170 episodes._ ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/6 "2016-06-16T02:10:47Z")
James Arness - _Gunsmoke_ 635 episodes Ed O’Neill - [ul] [li]\*Married With Children \*262 episodes[/li][li] _Modern Family_ - 166 episodes and counting[/li][/ul] Chris Noth[ul] [li]_Law & Order -_ 111 Episodes (+36 for L&O CI)[/li][li]_Sex & The City_ - 41 episodes[/li][li]_The Good Wife_ - 101 episodes[/li][/ul] Also, Larry Hagman & Patrick Duffy (_Dallas_, et.al.) Lest we forget, [Betty White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_White) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/7 "2016-06-16T02:32:37Z")
**Andy Griffith** The Andy Griffith Show - 249 episodes Matlock - 181 episodes **Ron Howard** The Andy Griffith Show - 216 episodes The Smith Family (?) - 39 episodes Happy Days - 170 episodes + 24 episode cartoon Arrested Development - 67 episodes \*\*Scott Baio \*\* Happy Days - 137 episodes Joanie Loves Chachi - 17 episodes Charles in Charge - 126 episodes Diagnosis Murder - 41 episodes Arrested Development - 5 episodes See Dad Run - 55 episodes ---
**Author:** ![Goofus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@Goofus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goofus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/8 "2016-06-16T02:42:41Z")
The main cast of The Simpsons ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/9 "2016-06-16T02:53:19Z")
Ted Danson doesn’t seem to have struggled to find regular series work since the early 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/10 "2016-06-16T02:56:57Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > If you count daytime TV, there’s Don Hastings, who started out in _Captain Video_ in 1948 and continued to perform in soap operas until 2010, with 50 years on _As the World Turns._ Daytime TV is going to be hard to beat. The only soap opera actor I could think of off hand was Susan Lucci, who, according to IMDB, played the same character for 959 episodes from1970 to 2011. Game show hosts would also be in the running. Bob Barker hosted game shows from 1956 to 2007. Some TV journalists might be up there. Morley Safer was on “60 Minutes” as a correspondent from 1968 to 1970 and a host from 1970 until his death this year. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/11 "2016-06-16T03:05:57Z")
William Shatner did 101 episodes of Boston Legal, 90 of T.J. Hooker, 79 of Star Trek (plus 22 playing the same character on Star Trek: The Animated Series). Lee Majors did 112 episodes of The Fall Guy, 99 of The Six Million Dollar Man (plus a few playing the same character on The Bionic Woman), 53 of Owen Marshall, and 112 of The Big Valley Ted Danson (mentioned above) did 84 episodes of CSI (plus 18 of CSI: Cyber as the same character), 129 of Becker, 279 of Cheers Judd Hirsch did 114 of Taxi, 114 of Numb3rs, and 90 of Dear John Honorable mention to Michael Dorn who played Worf on 175 episodes of ST:TNG and 102 episodes of ST: DS9. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/12 "2016-06-16T03:08:47Z")
You can’t have a list without [Lucille Ball](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000840/?ref_=nv_sr_1), who was on TV pretty much continuously from 1951 to 1986. Raymond Burr had nine years as Perry Mason, eight years as Ironside, another year as the lead in Kingston Confidential and then more than two dozen Perry Mason TV movies over eight years. Dennis Weaver was a sidekick on Gunsmoke for nine years, then had lead roles in at least six series. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/13 "2016-06-16T03:37:10Z")
Mark Harmon did 305 episodes of NCIS (plus several more episodes on related shows playing the same character), 95 on Chicago Hope, and 63 on St. Elsewhere. William Daniels did 137 of St. Elsewhere, 158 of Boy Meets World, and 85 of Knight Rider (as the voice of K.I.T.T.) Rene Auberjonois did 173 episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space 9, 135 of Benson, and 71 of Boston Legal. Julie Bowen has done 166 of Modern Family and counting, 52 of Boston Legal, and 83 of Ed. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/14 "2016-06-16T04:04:23Z")
Kayey Sagal did 76 episodes of 8 Simple Rules, 260 of Married With Children, 92 of Sons of Anarchy, and 124 of Futurama (voice) Markie Post did 64 episodes of The Fall Guy, 54 of Hearts Afire, and 159 of Night Court Jane Curtain did 104 of SNL, 139 of Third Rock, and 122 of Kate and Allie Gerald McRaney did 68 of Promised Land, 96 of Major Dad, and 156 of Simon and Simon Kate Jackson did 89 of Scarecrow and Mrs. King, 69 of Charlie’s Angels, and 92 of The Rookies. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2016, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/15 "2016-06-16T05:04:24Z")
I think Dick Van Dyke should be nominated for his huge body of work, but most notably: _The Dick Van Dyke Show - 1961-66, 158 episodes. The New Dick Van Dyke Show - 1971-74, 72 episodes. Diagnosis: Murder - 1993-2001, 178 episodes + 5 TV movies + a back door pilot on Jake and the Fatman._ ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/16 "2016-06-16T09:17:59Z")
William Roache has played the same character in Coronation Street since the opening episode in 1960. To date he has clocked up 1818 episodes. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/17 "2016-06-16T12:03:36Z")
The first British actor I thought of was [David Jason](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0419248/). Starring roles include: 2013-2016 _Still Open All Hours_ 2011-2012 _The Royal Bodyguard_ 1992-2010 \*A Touch of Frost \* 1981-2003 _Only Fools and Horses_ 2001-2002 \*Micawber \* 1991-1993 _The Darling Buds of May_ 1988-1993 \*Count Duckula \* 1991-1992 \*Victor & Hugo: Bunglers in Crime \* 1981-1992 _Danger Mouse_ 1989 _A Bit of a Do_ 1984-1988 \*The Wind in the Willows \* 1987 \*Porterhouse Blue \* 1976-1985 _Open All Hours_ 1977-1981 \*A Sharp Intake of Breath \* 1975-1976 _Lucky Feller_ 1974 \*The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs \* 1971 \*Six Dates with Barker \* 1967-1969 \*Do Not Adjust Your Set \* He had starring roles in a few mini series and more voice work but it’s a good mix of comedy, animation and drama for nearly 50 years. I think the only one I have ever seen was _Open All Hours_. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/18 "2016-06-16T12:22:56Z")
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Seinfeld: 172 episodes 1990-1998 New Adventures of Old Christine: 88 episodes 2006-2010 Veep: 49 episodes so far 2012- ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/19 "2016-06-16T13:57:12Z")
Betty White has done many things since 1949 on TV (and since 1945 in movies and before then if you count radio and even on TV since 1939 if you count experimental broadcasts): > **[Betty White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_White)** > > Betty Marion White (January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. A pioneer of early television with a career spanning almost seven decades, she was noted for her vast body of work in entertainment and for being one of the first women to work both in front of and behind the camera. She produced and starred in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953–1955), making her the first woman to produce a sitcom. > After moving from radio to television, White became a staple ... ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480/20 "2016-06-16T18:07:37Z")
I was just thinking recently how impressive Peter Krause’s career has been for someone you wouldn’t normally think of as a tv superstar: 1998-2000 Sports Night 2001-2005 Six Feet Under 2007-2009 Dirty Sexy Money 2010-2015 Parenthood 2016-??? The Catch He has second billing in Sports Night, and then top billing for everything after that. No idea if The Catch will stick around, but even without that it’s a pretty impressive run. (It’s only around 250 episodes, but still spans almost 20 years.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-actors/757480.md?page=2)