# Same cast members in different series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666 "2015-01-13T00:22:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nuveena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@Nuveena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nuveena)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/61 "2015-01-15T18:25:30Z")
The writer/producers of Once Upon a Time came from Lost, and there is quite a bit of overlap in actors: Emilie de Ravin, Lana Parilla, Elizabeth Mitchell, Rebecca Mader, Jorge Garcia, and Alan Dale. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/62 "2015-01-15T23:59:10Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > OK, The **Deadwood** \*_Justified_\* connection boasts Timothy Oliphant, Jim Beaver, Garret Dillahunt, Brett Sexton. A few more that just one episode on Justified. Is how many episodes they were on a meaningful distinction? Just asking ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/63 "2015-01-16T00:23:34Z")
Both Michael Dorn and Penny Johnson appear occasionally on Castle. And Jonathan Frakes has directed a few episodes. (Star Trek actors, in case anyone doesn’t recognize them) And maybe this is stacking the deck, but _American Horror Story_… ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/64 "2015-01-16T05:18:45Z")
I’ve recently been working my way through the entire run of _Frasier_. I’ve noticed a lot of Star Trek alumni in guest roles, including Patrick Stewart, Nana Visitor, Brent Spiner, Robert Picardo, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois. Kelsy Grammer once guested on TNG. Only main characters included. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/65 "2015-01-16T07:18:11Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’ve recently been working my way through the entire run of _Frasier_. I’ve noticed a lot of Star Trek alumni in guest roles, including Patrick Stewart, Nana Visitor, Brent Spiner, Robert Picardo, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois. Kelsy Grammer once guested on TNG. Only main characters included. You said Nana Visitor twice. “I LIKE Nana Visitor!” ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/66 "2015-01-16T07:30:07Z")
d’oh :smack: ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/67 "2015-01-16T07:38:34Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’ve recently been working my way through the entire run of _Frasier_. I’ve noticed a lot of Star Trek alumni in guest roles, including Patrick Stewart, Nana Visitor, Brent Spiner, Robert Picardo, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois. Kelsy Grammer once guested on TNG. Only main characters included. Probably didn’t hurt that they were all Paramount productions filming at pretty much the same time. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/68 "2015-01-16T12:50:13Z")
During the run of _ **TOS** _, the same guest stars kept popping up in _ **Mission: Impossible** _,\*\*\* Mannix\*\*\*, and other shows produced at Desilu/Paramount. Every studio had casting directors who favor certain actors. Another example was Universal with shows like _ **Columbo** _ and _ **McCloud** _. I don’t know to what extent such stables of actors exist today. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/69 "2015-01-16T13:18:09Z")
What is TOS? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/70 "2015-01-16T13:23:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What is TOS? The original Star Trek, from The Original Series. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/71 "2015-01-16T15:47:24Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > In the early days of FOX-TV, the same group of actors would end up in very similar roles in sitcoms. I can’t remember any names or titles without looking them up, so they obviously didn’t make much of an impression. But the sitcoms were all basic couples and groups type things. Herman’s Head had Simpsons actors Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria. I recently watched the pilot of Chuck and noted Yvonne Strahovski and C.S. Lee both of which were on Dexter. I was curious and did a “[Common Cast/Crew Between Two Titles](http://www.imdb.com/search/name?roles=tt0934814,tt0773262)” search on IMDB for the 2 shows and it came up with 68 names, many of which were actors and stunts actors and also noticed Mark Pellegrino. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/72 "2015-01-17T01:28:45Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **Leave It to Beaver** _ fit this category, as did _ **My Three Sons** _ a few years later. > > In the '70s, _ **Wonder Woman** _ and _ **Buck Rodgers** _ both “morphed” considerably during their runs. How did Leave it to Beaver morph, other than the kids getting older and moving to a different house? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/73 "2015-01-17T01:31:52Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > he was before that on radio with her in My Favorite Husband. RE:Gale Gordon and Lucy He also had several guest appearances on her one show he didn’t costar in. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/74 "2015-01-17T01:37:01Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > A few more from **Arrested Development** : David Cross and Will Arnett appeared in **The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret** , and Arnett and Judy Greer voiced characters on **Bojack Horseman**. Cross was practically a regular on Arnett’s first show after AD, Running Wilde (he wasn’t billed as part of the regular cast, but he was in most episodes). Also, Jeffrey Tambor had a guest appearance as Arnett’s character’s father. Some AD references were made. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/75 "2015-01-17T02:49:36Z")
Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch were on _F Troop_ and the CBS Saturday morning series _The Ghost Busters_ (the inspiration for the _Ghostbusters!_ cartoon series, not to be confused with _Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters_). ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/76 "2015-01-17T03:46:00Z")
[Bryan Fuller](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Fuller#Frequent_casting) has a lot of actors he reuses between Wonder Falls, Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, and Hannibal. Sometimes they are the same characters in guest roles, but not all the time. So if they are a common universe, there are also a number of doppelgangers. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/77 "2015-01-17T13:52:31Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > How did Leave it to Beaver morph, other than the kids getting older and moving to a different house? They switched networks early in the series, from CBS to ABC. That was the reason behind their move to the new house. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/78 "2015-01-18T05:26:15Z")
Jeez, I thread like this and nobody has mentioned [Richard Belzer’s John Munch character](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Munch) yet?! I think his holds the record for most appearances in different series (across a half dozen networks no less)… ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/79 "2015-01-18T10:23:12Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Jeez, I thread like this and nobody has mentioned [Richard Belzer’s John Munch character](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Munch) yet?! I think his holds the record for most appearances in different series (across a half dozen networks no less)… That might be because the question isn’t about character crossovers, it’s about different series that seem to employ a similar stable of actors, such as Sports Night/The West Wing and Deadwood/Sons of Anarchy. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666/80 "2015-01-18T23:59:44Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > They switched networks early in the series, from CBS to ABC. That was the reason behind their move to the new house. Oh. I still don’t see that as a morph, the other shows listed were a lot different, but if that’s what was meant, okay. Anyway, a couple of others to mention. Another Cougar Town one, regulars Ian Gomez and Christa Miller, were both also on the Drew Carey Show. Miller was a regular, Gomez recurring. Arron Stanford and Noah Bean, both were in Nikita, both are now in 12 Monkeys. If anyone already said either of these, sorry, but didn’t want to reread the thread to make sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-cast-members-in-different-series/709666.md?page=5)