# One actor, one role, many series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462 "2004-01-14T22:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/1 "2004-01-14T22:06:53Z")
While watching a rerun of _Law and Order: SVU_, it occured to me that Richard Belzer has played John Munch on four series: as a series regular on _Homicide: Life on the Street_ and _SVU_ and as a guest on _Law and Order_ and _The X Files_ (although The X Files isn’t on his IMDB listing, I don’t think I hallucinated it). Does anybody know of any actors who have played the same role in more than four series? ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/2 "2004-01-14T23:58:28Z")
From tvtome.com in their bio of Camryn Manheim > [@](#): > > Is the reigning Queen of Crossovers. Her character Eleanor Frutt appeared on five shows: The Practice (her “point of origin”), Ally McBeal, Gideon’s Crossing, Boston Public, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Other “five pointers” include George Wendt as Norm Peterson and Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch. ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/3 "2004-01-15T00:34:42Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > While watching a rerun of _Law and Order: SVU_, it occured to me that Richard Belzer has played John Munch on four series: as a series regular on _Homicide: Life on the Street_ and _SVU_ and as a guest on _Law and Order_ and _The X Files_ (although The X Files isn’t on his IMDB listing, I don’t think I hallucinated it). If Belzer/Munch is the oldish guy who wears black and sunglasses, then yeah, he was a guest star in the X-Files. I heard the guy is big on conspiracy theories and that’s the reason he wanted to be in the X-Files. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/4 "2004-01-15T00:34:57Z")
What about old character actors from the 50’s that generally played the exact same character, not necessarily the same role? Like [Frank Nelson](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0625372/bio), the guy who would always say “YYYeeesssssss???” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/5 "2004-01-15T00:43:49Z")
FTR, looking in Belzer’s entry on TV Tome, The fifth show Munch has appeared on is The Beat. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/6 "2004-01-15T04:50:56Z")
From 1968-1969 [Frank Cady](http://imdb.com/name/nm0128326/) was a semi-regular as Sam Drucker on _Green Acres, Petticoat Junction_ and _Beverly Hillbillies_ (all of them produced by [Paul Henning](http://imdb.com/name/nm0377417/) ). Bob Newhart has played the character Bob Hartley on at least three series: _The Bob Newhart Show_, _Newhart_ (final episode) and _Murphy Brown_ (cameo with Marcia Wallace). Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford played George and Louise Jefferson on _All in the Family_ , _The Jefferson_ , _Fresh Prince of Bel-Air_, [ER](http://imdb.com/title/tt0086704/guests) ( **not** the current series but the sit-com from the 1980s that also starred George Clooney) as well as in at least one movie ([Jane Austen’s Mafia!](http://imdb.com/title/tt0120741/) and numerous commercials and talk-show sketches. Bernard Fox has played warlock physician Dr. Bombay on _Bewitched_ ,_[Tabitha](http://imdb.com/title/tt0075590/)_, _Sabrina the Teenaged Witch_ and the soap opera _Passions_. Redd Foxx played Fred Sanford in at least three series (S&S, Grady, and Sanford). Ed Asner has played Lou Grant in at least four series (_Mary Tyler Moore_ , _Rhoda_ , _Lou Grant_ and _Roseanne_ ). Odd crossovers: several of the doctors from _St. Elsewhere_ once had a drink at _Cheers_ (this was on an episode of Cheers!, not of St. Elsewhere), Kramer once got a walk-on role on _Murphy Brown_ and Sherry Stringfield’s character Dr. Susan Lewis once used the services of _Third Watch_ . ---
**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:** [January 15, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/7 "2004-01-15T05:29:19Z")
Other than cheers and i assume fraiser, what else did “Norm” appear in? veronica’s closet? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/8 "2004-01-15T07:23:08Z")
Kelsey Grammer has starred as Frasier Crane in _Cheers_ and _Frasier_, and guest-starred as Frasier in _Wings_ and, apparently, _The John Larroquette Show._ ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/9 "2004-01-15T16:18:43Z")
Lisa Kudrow played the character of Ursula on both “Mad About You” and “Friends.” Kudrow had the job as Ursula, a recurring character on MAY, when she got one of the regular roles as Phoebe on Friends. I seem to remember that for at least a little while she appeared on both shows; eventually it was revealed on Friends that the characters were estranged twin sisters, and Ursula became a minor recurring character on Friends. (MAY regulars Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzle also showed up on an episode of Friends as their MAY characters in a scene in which they mistook Phoebe for Ursula.) Kramer doesn’t really count, **Sampiro** , as Michael Richards wasn’t actually _on_ Murphy Brown playing Kramer. Rather, in an episode of Seinfeld he was portrayed as being on the show. But that’s not the same as actually being on the show any more than Elaine really wrote the Peterman catalogue or George really worked for the Yankees (all three of these being institutions that actually exist in the real world). –Cliffy P.S. Richards did appear as Kramer in an episode of Mad About You, though. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/10 "2004-01-15T21:19:02Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Kramer doesn’t really count, **Sampiro** , as Michael Richards wasn’t actually _on_ Murphy Brown playing Kramer. Ah, my bad- I’d heard the episode referred to and just assumed I’d never seen that particular one. My other bad- I flip-flopped above- the ST. ELSEWHERE docs going to CHEERS! was featured on ST. ELSEWHERE, not on CHEERS! (I got it the other way around). Also, some of the ST. ELSEWHERE actors (William Daniels, Ed Begley, Stephen Furst [who, IIRC, was killed off on ST. ELSEWHERE] and Eric Laneauville [who was an orderly on ST. E) checked into the hospital on SCRUBS, but I didn’t see the episode so I don’t know if they were in character or not. Gary Burghoff (who is probably the most obnoxious celebrity I’ve ever met, incidentally- I recognized him at Mardi Gras but didn’t address him; a lady who did was told to “go the hell away- I’m with my family”- little Capote-esque troll) played Radar O’Reilly in the movie and film versions of M_A_S_H, an episode of AFTER-M_A_S_H\*, and in the shortlived spinoff WALTER, which would give 4 venues if you count movies. Sally Struthers appeared as Gloria Stivic in ALL IN THE FAMILY, the pilot episode of THE JEFFERSONS, ARCHIE BUNKER’S PLACE and the spin-off GLORIA, giving her four shots. There was constant interaction among the casts of GOLDEN GIRLS, EMPTY NEST & NURSES, but I don’t think that any of them took it to a fourth series. A brilliant crossover that only counted for “Two” was on MAD ABOUT YOU, in which Carl Reiner guest starred as elderly “comedy legend” Alan Brady (his character from DICK VAN DYKE). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/11 "2004-01-15T21:29:28Z")
Just occurred: Whitman Mayo is a five-timer, depending on how you count Conan O’Brien. He appeared as Grady Wilson in SANFORD & SON, the spinoffs GRADY, SANFORD ARMS & SANFORD, and on an episode of CONAN. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/12 "2004-01-15T22:03:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Other than cheers and i assume fraiser, what else did “Norm” appear in? _The Simpsons, The Tortellis, Wings_ and _St. Elsewhere_, which makes his count 6. _The Simpsons_ also guest starred Werner Klemperer doing his Col. Klink bit, as he did on _Batman_ and _Hogan_. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/13 "2004-01-15T22:07:16Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > P.S. Richards did appear as Kramer in an episode of Mad About You, though. Hrm… know any more about this one? Now, are we counting cartoons, specifically _The Simpsons_? I remember Mulder and Scully showed up in the Burns-as-an-alien Simpson episode, and I’m sure other people have appeared in character. There was also some Halloween or Aprils Fools day where all the ABC Wednesday characters appeared on each others’ shows. (I think it was ABC Wed., I remember _Drew Carey_ being a part of it.) Patsy and Edina of _Absolutely Fabulous_ showed up once or twice in the final season of _Roseanne_. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/14 "2004-01-15T22:14:00Z")
Oooh, I also remembered that when Damon Wayans hosted _SNL_ sometime after _In Living Color_ was canceled, he reprised the role of “Men on…” Blaine Edwards alongside Roger Ebert (Chris Farley). And the end of the sketch, Antwon Merriweather, Blaine “Men on…” companion (David Alan Grier), showed up. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/15 "2004-01-15T22:38:46Z")
That reminds me, **Troy** – Ed Grimley and Jackie Rodgers Jr. (and maybe others), characters Martin Short developed on SCTV, regularly appeared on SNL during Short’s short (ha ha) tenure there. Short later developed a Saturday-morning cartoon around Grimley (which was pretty decent, I must say), on which Joe Flaherty regularly repised (in live-action segments) his role as SCTV’s Count Floyd. Michael Richards as Kramer was in an early Mad About You episode (IMDB says it’s ep 1.8, “The Apartment”). According to this episode, Kramer’s familiar “Seinfeld” apartment was subletted from Paul, to whom it was a security blanket (because he knew he could always go back there if his marriage to Jamie didn’t work out). I haven’t seen the episode since it originally aired 10+ years ago, but IIRC Kramer had a brief but characteristic appearance. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/16 "2004-01-15T22:51:00Z")
Ed Asner also played Lou Grant for a sketch on SNL in the 80s, where Lou had put together a team of mercenaries to rescue Mary Richards from being trapped in reruns. I remember it was a cute sketch, plus one of the SNL regulars (Brad Hall maybe?) playing a member of the team kept working the bolt on his Uzi to give himself some “business” to act macho with since he didn’t have many lines. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/17 "2004-01-16T05:55:34Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > According to this episode, Kramer’s familiar “Seinfeld” apartment was subletted from Paul, to whom it was a security blanket (because he knew he could always go back there if his marriage to Jamie didn’t work out). I haven’t seen the episode since it originally aired 10+ years ago, but IIRC Kramer had a brief but characteristic appearance. Y’know, I remember that one now! Thanks, Cliffy. I remembered another one, in a wholly animated universe- the character of Daria got her start on _Beavis and Butthead_. Hrm, I guess if we’re counting related series, we also have Bones appearing in _Star Trek: TOS_ and an appearance in _TNG_, Miles O’Brien and Worf in TNG and DS9, and a bunch of others, I’m sure. Same with _Angel_ and _Buffy_. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/18 "2004-01-16T06:19:46Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > _The Simpsons_ also guest starred Werner Klemperer doing his Col. Klink bit, as he did on _Batman_ and _Hogan_. Was that actually Werner Klemperer? I Did Not Know That. In fact, I’d thought he was dead… Cool. A pseudo-example on Made About You. John Astin appeared once in an episode as an unnamed character that Paul was convinced was Astin, because he was acting just like Gomez Addams. He eventually tangoed off the roof. ---
**Author:** ![Adamcomic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Adamcomic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adamcomic)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/19 "2004-01-16T12:16:59Z")
We have a new leader (or at least a tie for first, depends on if you count the movies). Majel Barrett has played the voice of the computer on 5 different Star Trek series, all the movies, and in an episode of Family Guy. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462/20 "2004-01-16T13:20:22Z")
Sean Connery plays himself in everything he does…does that count? Although I don’t know all of them, Adam West has played Batman in a lot of shows, mainly as just a little cameo, and more often than not, as himself dressed as Batman because he can’t find other work. Same with Mark Hamil. Man, that’s really sad… Also, Martin Short had his own short lived comedy show that had an appearance of Ed Grimley on it. I remember the old cartoon as well, and enjoyed that a lot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-actor-one-role-many-series/224462.md?page=2)