# People who have costarred as different characters in two (or more) successful series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473 "2009-09-09T20:56:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/41 "2009-09-10T18:42:48Z")
Tom Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, and Kerri Kenney were all on **The State** , and then **Reno 911**. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/42 "2009-09-10T18:58:49Z")
Ade Edmondson and Rik Mayall: Vyvyan and Rik in **The Young Ones** Various characters in **Comic Strip Presents** Eddie Catflap and Richie Rich in **Filthy, Rich and Catflap** Eddie and Richie (different!) in **Bottom** Also, Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall and Nigel Planer: Vyvyan, Rik and Neil in **The Young Ones** Various Character in **Comic Strip Presents** Eddie Catflap, Richie Rich and Ralph Filthy in **Filthy, Rich and Catflap** David Mitchell & Robert Webb: **Bruiser That Mitchell & Webb Situation That Mitchell & Webb Look Peep Show** ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/43 "2009-09-10T19:02:19Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > We’re looking for _pairs_ of people who _both_ starred together on more than one show. :smack: I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/44 "2009-09-10T19:03:24Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Franz’s character didn’t join Hill Street until later seasons. > > Dean Winters was on the first season of Law & Order: SVU with Christopher Meloni and BD Wong, all playing law enforcement officers, a far cry from their roles on Oz on HBO. It seems like there’s a LOT of crossover betwen _ **Oz** _ and the many _ **Law and Order** _ programs. J.K. Simmons was a badass neo-Nazi convict on _ **Oz,** _ but a nice psychiatrist on \*\*\*Law and Order. \*\*\* Meanwhile Kathryn Erbe played a murderous Mom (inspired by Susan Smith) on _ **Oz** _, and a detective on _ **Law and Order: Criminal Intent.** _ ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/45 "2009-09-10T19:08:06Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Plus, to my knowledge Joss has never had a successful show. **Buffy the Vampire Slayer** ran from 1997-2003, won Emmys, launched a spin-off series and has generated millions in merchandising. Many writers would kill for that kind of failure. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/46 "2009-09-10T19:11:46Z")
Denis Leary, Adam Ferrara, Lenny Clarke, Diane Farr all appeared in both _The Job_ and _Rescue Me_, both of which were created and written by Leary and Peter Tolan. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/47 "2009-09-10T19:12:13Z")
Martin Landau and Barbara Bain were both on _Mission: Impossible_ and _Space: 1999_ (and married to each other as well). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/48 "2009-09-10T20:24:22Z")
Bill Bixby: My Favorite Martian(107 episodes) Courtship of Eddie’s Father(73 episodes) Incredible Hulk(82 episodes) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/49 "2009-09-10T20:25:29Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Bill Bixby: > > My Favorite Martian(107 episodes) > > Courtship of Eddie’s Father(73 episodes) > > Incredible Hulk(82 episodes) Unbelievable. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/50 "2009-09-10T21:00:11Z")
A number of cast members of “Battlestar Galactica” (notably Michael Hogan and Tahmoh Penikett) also were regulars on Canada’s “[Cold Squad](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Squad)”. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/51 "2009-09-10T21:05:18Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > **Justin Berfield** is the youngerst person to be in over 100 episodes of 2 different TV series. He played Ross Malloy on Unhappily Ever After for five seasons then went on to play Reese on Malcolm in the Middle for seven seasons. Who were the co-stars that also were on both series? > [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Just to complete the ways the question could be misunderstood: > > How about my uncle Keith? He he has never appeared in a TV show. Both y fiancee and I have not appeared on several TV shows. Hey! Maybe we both didn’t co-star with your uncle together! Wouldn’t that be weird? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/52 "2009-09-10T21:29:31Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Tom Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, and Kerri Kenney were all on **The State** , and then **Reno 911**. Lennon and Kenney were also M’sieu and (the former) Madame Laupin on _Viva Variety_ (a show which wasn’t great but definitely had its moments). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/53 "2009-09-10T21:32:57Z")
Andy Griffith and Don Knotts starred together on “The Andy Griffith Show”; Knotts played a recurring character in 15 episodes of Griffith’s “Matlock”. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/54 "2009-09-10T22:07:00Z")
Steve Carell and Ed Helms both appeared on **The Daily Show** and **The Office** ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/55 "2009-09-11T00:23:15Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Andy Griffith and Don Knotts starred together on “The Andy Griffith Show”; Knotts played a recurring character in 15 episodes of Griffith’s “Matlock”. As true now as it was in post #2, and yet still not what was asked for in post #1. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/56 "2009-09-11T02:19:42Z")
My cat’s breath smells like cat food. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/57 "2009-09-11T03:51:19Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Scott Baio had a recurring role in AD as well, so that makes our first trio. (Though the OP is asking for “costars” rather than supporting characters/narrators…) Actually the first trio was Winters, Meloni and Wong from Oz and Law & Order: SVU. 🙂 > [@astorian](#): > > It seems like there’s a LOT of crossover betwen _ **Oz** _ and the many _ **Law and Order** _ programs. J.K. Simmons was a badass neo-Nazi convict on _ **Oz,** _ but a nice psychiatrist on \*\*\*Law and Order. \*\*\* Meanwhile Kathryn Erbe played a murderous Mom (inspired by Susan Smith) on _ **Oz** _, and a detective on _ **Law and Order: Criminal Intent.** _ There’s also a fair bit of crossover between the Law & Order universe and the Homicide universe but not so much in regular cast members, save for Richard Belzer. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/58 "2009-09-11T06:31:31Z")
Belzer plays the same character in those shows, though. The OP asks for the same actors playing different characters. Yeah, I suppose Buffy has to count as successful; I always think of cult shows as not successful. But in my mind I consider Rescue Me successful, and yet it almost certainly has fewer viewers than Buffy did. That opens up cable “hits”: Edie Falco was Carmelo Soprano and Nurse Jackie The guy who played the priest Carmelo was hot for on the Sopranos plays the pharmacist on Nurse Jackie. The priest guy wasn’t really a main character, though. Hmmm, this is still tough. Anyone else from Six feet Under on Dexter? Half the cast of Deadwood was on John from Cincinatti, but the latter sucked balls and wouldn’t qualify for any definition of successful. Was anyone from Arliss on Entourage? Anyone from The Gary Shandling Show on Larry Sanders? I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/59 "2009-09-12T00:45:20Z")
Both Ben Brower and Claudia Black from _Farscape_ ended up together on _Stargate SG-1_, though both were late additions/substitutions to the cast. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473/60 "2009-09-12T01:11:28Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Just to complete the ways the question could be misunderstood: > > How about my uncle Keith? He he has never appeared in a TV show. Nice win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-have-costarred-as-different-characters-in-two-or-more-successful-series/509473.md?page=4)