# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/81 "2001-02-02T18:49:26Z")
Sorry about the long lines folks, I assumed that the word wrap feature would still work on the “code” stuff as well. Though, now that I think about it, that was a stupid thought. If a moderator notices and has the time, could you fix it for me? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kawliga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@kawliga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kawliga)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/82 "2001-02-02T19:48:22Z")
Does Vivian Vance really qualify? She only spent one season on “Here’s Lucy.” ---
**Author:** ![sputnik7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@sputnik7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sputnik7)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/83 "2001-02-02T20:03:37Z")
Just in case someone forgot to mention. Michael J. Fox 1. Family Ties 2. Palmerstown, U.S.A. 3. Trapper John, M.D. 4. Leo and Me ---
**Author:** ![sputnik7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@sputnik7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sputnik7)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/84 "2001-02-02T20:28:26Z")
Just in case someone forgot to mention. Michael J. Fox 1. Family Ties 2. Palmerstown, U.S.A. 3. Trapper John, M.D. 4. Leo and Me ---
**Author:** ![sputnik7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@sputnik7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sputnik7)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/85 "2001-02-02T20:39:33Z")
Just in case someone forgot to mention. Michael J. Fox 1. Family Ties 2. Palmerstown, U.S.A. 3. Trapper John, M.D. 4. Leo and Me ---
**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 2, 2001, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/86 "2001-02-02T20:48:29Z")
Ken Berry – not for F Troop (only two years) but for his supporting runs on Dr. Kildare and the Ann Sothern Show. Lest we forget Mayberry RFD and Mama’s Family. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@Me\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Joe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/87 "2001-02-02T21:18:53Z")
Judith Light starred on the soap “One Life to Live” for several years, then “Who’s the Boss?” and one other sitcom the name of which I can’t recall, but I think it ran at least two years… Put her down as a maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/88 "2001-02-02T21:43:23Z")
What about Don Adams? Tennesee Tuxedo and his Tales/The Adventures of Underdog (voice) Get Smart Inspector Gadget (voice) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/89 "2001-02-02T22:11:42Z")
Also, how about: Ja’Net DuBois: Love of Life Good Times The Wayans Brothers or Sherman Helmsley All In the Family/The Jeffersons Amen Dinosaurs (voice) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/90 "2001-02-02T22:24:31Z")
(Note to self: Make list before posting) Sally Struthers All in the Family The Pebbles and Bam-Bam Show (Voice) Tale Spin (Voice) Dinosaurs (Voice) ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/91 "2001-02-02T23:31:20Z")
**Vivian Vance** , redux: **kawliga** is correct and Vance will be removed from the list. **Michael J. Fox** : Does not qualify. IMDb’s listing is incorrect, he only guest starred on _Trapper John, M.D._, in an episode called “Brain Child.” _Leo & Me_, _Palmerstown, U.S.A._ made it anywhere near 80 episodes. **Ken Berry** : Does not qualify. Just looking at IMDb you would think he does. Both _The Ann Sothern Show_ (92 eps) and _Dr. Kildare_ have enough episodes. _Mayberry, RFD_ only had 78 episodes, but reaches qualification if you include his character’s episode on _The Andy Griffith Show_. However, according to Ken Berry’s official web site he was only on _Ann Sothern_ for one season. It doesn’t make specific mention of _Dr. Kildare_ but lists that time as one of “semi-regular” appearances, so I can’t think that his role was that significant, or that he did three seasons of work. _Judith Light_, redux: Her third series was _Phenom_ which does not qualify. _Don Adams_: Questionable. Could not find reliable information on duration of _Tennessee Tuxedo_. It was on the air for almost exactly three years. This makes it about even odds as to whether it hit 80 episodes (assuming “standard” season). _Check it Out_ could be his third season, joining two _Get Smart_ series and _Inspector Gadget_; unfortunately it was a Canadian series and is disqualified. _Ja’Net DuBois_: Does not qualify. Her stints on _Love of Life_ and _The Wayans Bros._ were only two years each. _Sherman Hemsley_: Does not qualify. _Amen_ did much better than I remembered, and of course _The Jeffersons_ counts, but _Dinosaurs_ only had 65 episodes. _Sally Struthers_: Does not qualify. _All in the Family_/_Gloria_ are good enough. As is _The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show_. As mentioned, though, _Dinosaurs_ only had 65 episodes. _Tailspin_ reached the same mark. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/92 "2001-02-03T01:41:37Z")
**Casey Kasem** All voice except where noted: **Scooby-Doo** - “Norville ‘Shaggy’ Rogers”. **Superfriends** - “Robin” and others. **Josie and the Pussycats** - “Alexander Cabot III”. **The Adventures of Batman** - “Robin” and others. **Transformers** - “Cliffjumper” and several others. **Battle of the Planets** - “Mark” Scooby-Doo, Superfriends and Transformers all had at least three seasons. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/93 "2001-02-03T03:11:02Z")
**Casey Casem** : Qualifies. But I ain’t too comfortable with it. I’ll let the following explain, but note that _Transformers_ is the only individual series to reach 80 episodes. Shaggy [li]Scooby Doo, Where Are You? (41 episodes)[/li][li]The New Scooby Doo Movies (22 episodes)[/li][li]The Scooby Doo/Dynomutt Hour (24 episodes)[/li][li]Scooby’s All Star Laff-A-Lympics (16 episodes)[/li][li]Scooby’s All Stars (16 episodes)[/li][li]Scooby and Scrappy Doo (16 episodes)[/li][li]The Richie Rich/Scooby Doo Hour (21 episodes)[/li][li]The Scooby and Scrappy Doo Puppy Hour (13 episodes)[/li][li]The New Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show (23 episodes)[/li][li]The New Scooby Doo Mysteries (13 episodes)[/li][li]Scooby Doo Mystery Funhouse (13 episodes)[/li][li]The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo (13 episodes)[/li][li]A Pub Named Scooby Doo (25 episodes)[/li][li]Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (appeared in 3 episodes)[/li]Total: 232 episodes Groovy [li]Catanooga Cats (75 episodes)[/li]Total: 75 episodes Robin [li]The Batman/Superman Hour (17 episodes)[/li][li]The Adventures of Batman (same series as above)[/li][li]Super Friends (16 episodes)[/li][li]The All New Super Friends Hour (16 episodes)[/li][li]The World’s Greatest Super Friends (59 episodes)[/li][li]Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (10 episodes)[/li]Total: 118 episodes Cliffjumper [li]Transformers (98 episodes)[/li]Total: 98 episodes ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/94 "2001-02-03T06:51:19Z")
Okay - I nominate Robert Picardo (ST Voyager, China Beach and The Wonder Years) and Richard Dawson (Hogan’s Heroes, Match Game and Family Feud). StG ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2001, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/95 "2001-02-03T08:40:56Z")
**Robert Picardo** : Does not qualify. Only 64 episodes of _China Beach_. **Richard Dawson** : Does not qualify. Being a regular on a game show has not counted so far. Hosting the show may be different, but Dawson was a panelist for _The Match Game_. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/96 "2001-02-04T04:48:55Z")
How about Robert Guillaume? Soap Benson Sports Night (damn, only ran two seasons) How about actors playing continuously in three consecutive great tv series, regarless of length? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/97 "2001-02-04T06:19:39Z")
Oooo, I may have one: **Alfonso Ribeiro** : [li]Silver Spoons[/li][li]Fresh Prince of Bel-Air[/li][li]In The House[/li] Not sure about that last series though. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/98 "2001-02-04T09:29:57Z")
It doesn’t seem fair to me to include time spent on soaps, unless of course, you’re going to count people who spent _all_ their time on soaps, such as: **Barbara Berjer** : As The World Turns (1965-1971) Guiding Light (1971-1981) Another World (1985-1997) **Denise Alexander** : Days of Our Lives (1966-1973) General Hospital (1973-1984) Another World (1986-1989) **Judi Evans Luciano** : Guiding Light (1983-1986) Days of Our Lives (1986-1991) Another World (1992-1999) Given the number of people who have had long, successful runs on multiple soaps, I think the restriction to primetime shows is valid. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/99 "2001-02-04T14:02:42Z")
I think you need to give a pass to actors who did have three full seasons, even if they fall _just_ under 80 episodes. Star Trek is a good example-79 episodes was 3 _full_ seasons, and the OP did admit that the number 80 was somewhat arbitrary. Even if you’re gonna really nitpick Shatner for 79 ST eps, Nimoy would make it because he was in the original pilot-“The Cage”- ST’s 80th episode. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2001, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539/100 "2001-02-04T14:49:35Z")
Dave, Trek was cancelled during the 3rd season. It didn’t get 3 full ones. And The Cage wasn’t aired, it was the first pilot, which didn’t sell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-actors-who-have-starred-in-3-successful-tv-series/52539.md?page=6)