# Name some actors who have starred in 3 successful TV series **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2001, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539 "2001-01-31T10:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 31, 2001, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/1 "2001-01-31T10:39:03Z")
Name some actors or actresses who have starred in at least 3 (reasonably) successful TV series The rules[list=1][li]Each series must have lasted at least 80 episodes (about 3 or 4 seasons)[sup]1[/sup] on U.S. primetime network television[/li][li]The actor must have played a major character on the series for at least 3 seasons (but not necessarily for the entire run of the series).[/li][li]No actor gets credit for playing the same character in a second series[/li][li]Playing the voice of a major character counts (Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson counts, but William Conrad as the narrator of “Buck Rogers” doesn’t) [/list=1]I can think of only a few who (probably) fit the bill:[/li] **Michael Landon** : Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven **Lee Majors** The Big Valley, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Fall Guy **Heather Locklear** : Dynasty, T. J. Hooker, Melrose Place (and Spin City if she stays on the show a total of 3 years) **Bill Cosby** : I Spy, The Cosby Show, Cosby **Kate Jackson** : The Rookies, Charlie’s Angels, Scarecrow and Mrs. King (I’m not sure she was a major character in “The Rookies”. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the show). Surely there are others. Aren’t there? It kept me up for a couple of hours last night trying to think of some, but these five were the only ones I could come up with. There is no shortage of people who have starred in two successful series. * * * [sub][sup]1[/sup] I lowered the standard from 100 episodes to 80 episodes specifically to let Bill Cosby slip under the wire.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/2 "2001-01-31T11:05:49Z")
Majel Barrett. She does the voices for the ships computers in the three latter-year Star Trek series. Not exactly a “starring character”, but a crucially prominent one. I think, nowadays, most actors are chosen not so much for their diversity, but because they fit the role. Typecasting seems much more common these days than it was forty years ago… and while, then, it was seen as something to avoid, now it seems to be considered beneficial to a career (if you’re successful enough to be typecasted… cha-ching!). ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/3 "2001-01-31T11:55:13Z")
William Shatner in (of course) Star Trek and TJ Hooker and y’know, that other one…umm… ---
**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:** [January 31, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/4 "2001-01-31T12:47:49Z")
RATS! I wanted to say Kelsey Grammar for Cheers, Frasier and Sideshow Bob. But the first two are the same character. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2001, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/5 "2001-01-31T13:35:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tomcat \* > \*\*William Shatner in (of course) Star Trek and TJ Hooker and y’know, that other one…umm… \*\* Are you thinking of “Rescue 911”? I had completely forgotten about that. It’s not exactly what I had in mind, but I guess it does qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/6 "2001-01-31T13:47:36Z")
Harry Morgan Pete and Gladys Dragnet M_A_S\*H ---
**Author:** ![Scarred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@Scarred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarred)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/7 "2001-01-31T14:20:32Z")
Can we count Jane Curtain for SNL, Kate & Allie, and Third Rock? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/8 "2001-01-31T14:33:27Z")
Carroll O’Connor: All in the Family Archie Bunker’s Place In the Heat of the Night Shatner was also in "Barbary Coast, but I doubt that went to 80 episodes James Garner? Maverick Rockford Files ``` I think he was in another series, but can't think of one ``` Bill Cosby has had a LOT more than 3 series: ``` I Spy The Cosby Show (he played a high school atheltic instructor) The Cosby Show (a variety show. It featured one of the last TV appearances of Groucho Marx) The Cosby Show (Dr. Huxtable) The Cosby Mysteries The Cosby Show (the one where he's a retiree) Little Bill Fat Albert ``` ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/9 "2001-01-31T14:46:39Z")
Betty White: “The Betty White Show” (1950s) “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970s) “Golden Girls” (1990s) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/10 "2001-01-31T15:01:46Z")
Bob Newhart: The Bob Newhart Show Newhart Bob ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/11 "2001-01-31T15:15:08Z")
I’m sure David Hasselhof(sp?) must have been in something besides Night Rider and Baywatch. Don’t know what though. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/12 "2001-01-31T15:16:07Z")
Bill Bixby: _My Favorite Martian The Courtship of Eddie’s Father The Incredible Hulk_ ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/13 "2001-01-31T15:22:58Z")
do you want to open the floodgates and include game show hosts, too? [nitpick alert](by the way Carrol O’Connor wouldn’t count under the rules, since the character of Archie Bunker was the same for both AB’s place and AITF).[/nitpick alert] ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/14 "2001-01-31T15:24:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > \*\*Bob Newhart: > > The Bob Newhart Show > Newhart > Bob > \*\* I was thinking of him, but I don’t think _Bob_ meets the 80 episode criterium. How about Ted Knight? He had at least two. If I was at home, I could consult a couple of books I have and I’m sure we’d discover even more. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/15 "2001-01-31T15:26:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\* > Shatner was also in "Barbary Coast, but I doubt that went to 80 episodes > > ``` > ** > > ``` Neither did Star Trek - 68 eps. ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shadowfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfox)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/16 "2001-01-31T15:30:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*Carroll O’Connor: > > All in the Family > Archie Bunker’s Place > In the Heat of the Night\*\* He played the same character in the first two shows, so I don’t think it counts. Markie Post was in three series that each lasted at least three seasons (Night Court, The Fall Guy, and Hearts Afire) Howie Mandel has been in three series that each lasted three seasons, but the last two were cartoons (St. Elsewhere, Muppet Babies (he did the voices of Animal, Bunsen and Skeeter), and Bobby’s World. ---
**Author:** ![Alzarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/17 "2001-01-31T16:03:07Z")
I’m not sure if his frequent appearances in “Matlock” count, but he was certainly in both “Andy Griffith Show” and “Three’s Company”. Also, not sure about the longevity of “The New Dick Van Dyke Show”, but pair that with the original, and “Diagnosis Murder”. Hmm, this is harder than i thought! Ok, this one for sure: William Daniels: “St. Elsewhere”, “Boy Meets World”, and “Knight Rider”! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/18 "2001-01-31T16:15:41Z")
William Daniels also starred in the series “Captain Nice” in the early 1960s ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/19 "2001-01-31T16:40:47Z")
Does Lucille Ball count? I Love Lucy The Lucy Show Here’s Lucy Basically the same character, just different last names. ---
**Author:** ![Alzarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/20 "2001-01-31T16:48:50Z")
Aside from the fact that “Bob” only ran a season, you really can’t even give him credit for two series, as he played the same character in both, though granted, the bulk of “newhart” was a vast and elaborate dream sequence… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539.md?page=2)