# Most Successful TV Cast (Post-Series Ending) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823 "2005-01-26T21:41:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/1 "2005-01-26T21:41:42Z")
Often times when a show is successful, cast members often have a tough time moving forward. The Seinfeld gang has had this trouble. What tv cast has gone on to the greatest success? No shows with rotating casts or sketch shows (SNL for both) . Those folks aren’t playing the same characters. The one that comes to mind is the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Moore was nominated for an Oscar. Ted Knight had Too Close For Comfort. Gavin MacLoud had the Love Boat. Ed Asner went on to play Lou Grant (not really a true spinoff). Valerie Harper had Rhoda and Valerie. Cloris Leachman was on Facts of Life and got some Oscar buzz recently. John Amos went to Good Times. Betty White had the Golden Girls and Mama’s Family. Party of Five is doing pretty well. Neve Campbell has a nice career. Scott Fox is on one of the hottest shows on TV. For some ungodly reason Jennifer Love Hewitt keeps finding work (A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE A NICE RACK!), Scott Wolf is now on Everwood. Lacey Chabert bounces around a bit. Cheers is a split decision. While guys like Norm and Cliff are hopelessly typecast, a few have had excellent careers. Grammer obviously kept playing Frasier. Dansen had a great run as Becker. Kirstie Alley had some nice film work, Veronica’s Closet and an upcoming sitcom about being overweight. And Woody Harrelson has been nominated for an Oscar and continues to fight the good fight for hemp rope. Any others? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/2 "2005-01-26T22:05:26Z")
**The Andy Griffith Show**. Andy had a pretty good run with **Matlock**. Opie grew up to be Richie Cunningham on **Happy Days** and is currently Ron Howard, Oscar-winning director. Jim Nabors had **Gomer Pyle, USMC** , and, I guess, his singing career. Don Knotts had success in movies and also as Mr. Furley on **Three’s Company**. George Lindsey (Goober) was on **Hee Haw** for a long time. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/3 "2005-01-26T23:26:24Z")
**The Andy Griffith Show** is generally considered the gold standard for afterlife. Completely overlooked, however, is Mary Tyler Moore’s failed attempt at a variety show after her beloved sitcom ended. Moore’s cast of regulars included Michael Keaton Dick Shawn David Letterman Swoozie Kurtz Judith Kahan James Hampton You may not remember Kahan and Hampton immediately, but do an IMDB search and they’ll be familiar. Not bad for a thoroughly bad show. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/4 "2005-01-26T23:30:54Z")
Cybil Shepherd had a bit of a career after Moonlighting. I think her sidekick did OK too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/5 "2005-01-26T23:58:44Z")
The surviving members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus ended up doing pretty well for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/6 "2005-01-27T00:00:40Z")
The folks from **Happy Days** seem to have done ok post-TV cancellation: - Ron Howard: Director - Henry Winkler: Movie roles and stuff - Tom Bosley: Trash Bag fame - Scott Baio: Joanie Loves Chachi and Charles in Charge Some of the **Taxi** cast moved on post-TV cancellation: - Danny DeVito: Movies - That one smart guy: He’s been in movies and TV stuff too - The scientist guy from Back to the Future who also played a Klingon Another example of success after the TV show was cancelled is the cast from **Star Trek** , who all went on to do several movies, but that’s probably cheating. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/7 "2005-01-27T00:10:17Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Some of the **Taxi** cast moved on post-TV cancellation: > > - Danny DeVito: Movies > - That one smart guy: He’s been in movies and TV stuff too > - The scientist guy from Back to the Future who also played a Klingon -Tony Danza: Who’s the Boss and the Tony Danza Show ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/8 "2005-01-27T00:44:21Z")
“East Side/West Side” which ran for one season in 1963 had George C. Scott (Oscar winner), Elizabeth Wilson (Tony Award winner) and Cicely Tyson (Oscar nominee and multiple Emmy award winner) ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/9 "2005-01-27T01:39:17Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > -Tony Danza: Who’s the Boss and the Tony Danza Show Does that really count? Every character he’s ever played in a sitcom has been named Tony. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/10 "2005-01-27T03:30:08Z")
The Dick Van Dyke Show? ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/11 "2005-01-27T03:39:41Z")
> [@Daniel](#): > > Does that really count? Every character he’s ever played in a sitcom has been named Tony. :dubious: The OP didn’t ask for good actors, just successful ones. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/12 "2005-01-27T03:50:43Z")
> [@VernWinterbottom](#): > > The Dick Van Dyke Show? Yeah, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and Richard Deacon were HUGE after that show! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/13 "2005-01-27T04:11:31Z")
Well, there was a lousy, short-lived sitcom called “Working Stiffs.” It lasted just a few weeks, but the two unknown stars (Michael Keaton & Jim Belushi) have done okay since then! ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/14 "2005-01-27T04:27:36Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > The folks from **Happy Days** seem to have done ok post-TV cancellation: > > - Ron Howard: Director > - Henry Winkler: Movie roles and stuff > - Tom Bosley: Trash Bag fame > - Scott Baio: Joanie Loves Chachi and Charles in Charge. Not to mention Anson Williams, who has a successful directing career, and Marion Ross, who has continued to perform on TV in some high-profile roles. Oh, and Ted McGinley. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/15 "2005-01-27T04:33:37Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > Yeah, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and Richard Deacon were HUGE after that show! Yes, but Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore and Carl Reiner have all gone on to HUGE success. Perhaps the show produced fewer stars than The Andy Griffith show or Happy Days, but IMHO it produced the most “successful” stars by far. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/16 "2005-01-27T04:51:01Z")
Yeah **Taxi** had Danny DeVito … movies Judd Hirsch … Tony winner on stage Tony Danza … TV, movies, stage, song and dance, own production company Marilu Henner … movies TV Christopher Lloyd … movies Andy Kaufman … movie about him Jeff Conaway … more TV and movies Carol Kane … tons of movies and TV ---
**Author:** ![mza662](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@mza662](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mza662)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/17 "2005-01-27T05:07:08Z")
just a quick sidejacking, but who did Ted McGinley play in Happy Days? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/18 "2005-01-27T05:40:24Z")
**Bonanza** : Lorne Greene had plenty of work off the Ponderosa, including Captain Adama in the original **Battlestar Galactica** series. Pernell Roberts had a big hit with **Trapper John, M.D.** Michael Landon had huge successes with **Little House on the Prairie** as well as **Highway to Heaven**. Alas, Dan ‘Hoss’ Blocker died before the series went off the air. And I don’t know what happened to the guy who played Hop Sing. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/19 "2005-01-27T05:54:47Z")
Victor Sen Yung died in 1980. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823/20 "2005-01-27T06:48:14Z")
Well, **Saturday Night Live** isn’t really a series, and it hasn’t ended (although most of its humour has). Still, consider: Eddie Murphy Chevy Chase Jane Curtin Dan Ackroyd John Belushi Gilda Radner Steve Martin Chris Rock Adam Sandler Mike Myers Dana Carvey Martin Short Billie Crystal Chris Farley Phil Hartman Jon Lovitz Dennis Miller Rob Scneider Bill Murray - I’m sure others who I can’t recall Of course, the cast of SNL’s predecessor, **Second City TV** also did well: John Candy Eugene Levy Martin Short Dave Thomas Rick Moranis Harold Ramis Andrea Martin Catherine O’Hara [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-tv-cast-post-series-ending/286823.md?page=2)