# Same character played by the same actor on different shows. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 15, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585 "2012-01-15T09:12:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/1 "2012-01-15T09:12:50Z")
Bouncing around the internet I came across the fact that Jeremy Piven played the same character on 4 different shows. See [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spence_Kovak). He was a regular on Ellen and made one time guest appearance on 3 seemly unrelated shows. How often has this happened? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/2 "2012-01-15T09:18:33Z")
No idea. But Kelsey Grammer played Frasier Crane on both _Cheers_ and _Frasier_. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/3 "2012-01-15T09:22:33Z")
First one that comes to mind is Richard Belzer as John Munch. He’s appeared on the following live action shows: - Homicide - Law & Order:SVU - Law & Order - The X-Files - The Beat - Law & Order: Trial by Jury - Arrested Development - The Wire ---
**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, 2012, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/4 "2012-01-15T09:29:55Z")
Yeah, I’m pretty sure Munch is the king of this. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/5 "2012-01-15T09:38:00Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > No idea. But Kelsey Grammer played Frasier Crane on both _Cheers_ and _Frasier_. Yeah, but _Frasier_ was basically a spin off of _Cheers_, I’m more interested in unrelated shows. I should have specified that. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/6 "2012-01-15T13:06:24Z")
Werner Klemperer appeared as Col. Klink on Batman and The Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/7 "2012-01-15T15:25:20Z")
Kevin James played Doug Heffernen on Everybody Loves Raymond. Or Ray Romano played Ray Barone on King of Queens. Or both. Or neither. I dunno. I’ve confused myself. mmm ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/8 "2012-01-15T15:33:45Z")
Quark and Miles O’Brien were on Star Trek TNG. Then DS9. At one point Armin Shimerman was on three shows at once. DS9, The Practice and Buffy. Different characters but still Armin was all over the tv dial in various shows. Colm Meaney did a lot of guest roles too playing various characters. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/9 "2012-01-15T15:54:00Z")
Lisa Kudrow was Ursella on both Friends and Mad About You. Wasn’t Mad About You cancelled by the time Friends started? Looked it up and boy was I wrong. MABY ended in 99, Friends started in 94. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/10 "2012-01-15T15:57:17Z")
\*\*Law and Order \*\*had several crossover episodes with **Homicide: Life On the Street**. Richard Belzer (as Munch) is best known, but Benjamin Bratt, Jill Hennessy, J.K. Simmons, Sam Waterson and Jerry Orbach appeared on both shows as the same character. Calista Flockhart and Dylan McDermott each played a character in both **Ally McBeal** and **The Practice**. ---
**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 15, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/11 "2012-01-15T16:11:42Z")
There were occasional crossovers between \*Green Acres \*and \*Petticoat Junction \*back in the day. I can’t remember which characters, specifically. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/12 "2012-01-15T16:46:13Z")
Ed Asner played the same character on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Lou Grant”. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/13 "2012-01-15T18:01:22Z")
Sam Drucker crossed over a lot on Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. Characters from all three shows visited his general store. Sam was played by Frank Cady. > **[Frank Cady | Actor, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0128326/)** > > Known for: Rear Window, When Worlds Collide, Green Acres I’m pretty sure the train and the engineer characters that ran it appeared on both shows. > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > There were occasional crossovers between \*Green Acres \*and \*Petticoat Junction \*back in the day. I can’t remember which characters, specifically. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/14 "2012-01-15T18:06:25Z")
I just confirmed Uncle Joe Carson also crossed over on Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. Played by Edgar Buchanan. > **[Edgar Buchanan | Actor, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0118000/)** > > Known for: Shane, The Black Arrow, Ride the High Country ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/15 "2012-01-15T18:12:44Z")
Fred Ziffel and I’d guess the pig appeared on Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. Played by Hank Patterson. > **[Hank Patterson | Actor](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0666230/)** > > Known for: Green Acres, The Amazing Colossal Man, The Twilight Zone Oliver Wendell Douglas played by Eddie Albert was on all three shows too. > **[Eddie Albert | Actor, Producer, Writer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000734/)** > > Known for: Roman Holiday, Green Acres, The Heartbreak Kid Eva Gabor playing Lisa Douglas also appeared on all three shows. > **[Eva Gabor | Actress, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001247/)** > > Known for: The Rescuers, Green Acres, The Aristocats ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/16 "2012-01-15T18:27:53Z")
The train engineer was Floyd. He was on Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. Rufe Davis played him. > **[Rufe Davis | Actor, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205406/)** > > Known for: Saddlemates, Code of the Outlaw, The Phantom Plainsmen IIRC correctly Floyd had someone else helping him with the train but I can’t recall the character’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/17 "2012-01-15T18:39:35Z")
There is a lot of crossover on SyFy shows. From Warehouse 13, Allison Scagliotti (Claudia Donovan) has appeared on Eureka and Lindsay Wagner (Dr. Vanessa Calder) on Alphas. In return Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo) visited Warehouse 13. Starting to see NCIS:LA/Hawaii 5-0 crossovers now too. ---
**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 15, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/18 "2012-01-15T18:41:23Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Lisa Kudrow was Ursella on both Friends and Mad About You. Wasn’t Mad About You cancelled by the time Friends started? > > Looked it up and boy was I wrong. MABY ended in 99, Friends started in 94. There was a scene in Friends where Jaime and Fran (Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzle) came into Central Perk and tried to give their order to Phoebe, thinking she was Ursula. This led to Phoebe discovering that her twin sister Ursula, whom she hadn’t seen in years, was an NYC waitress. I also thought the scenes between Phoebe and Ursula were the best part of Friends. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/19 "2012-01-15T19:03:54Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > Bouncing around the internet I came across the fact that Jeremy Piven played the same character on 4 different shows. See [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spence_Kovak). He was a regular on Ellen and made one time guest appearance on 3 seemly unrelated shows. That was from a time when ABC had a bunch of shows crossover for a night/week. I remember all those shows had the cast go to Las Vegas, so characters were appearing on each other shows. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585/20 "2012-01-15T19:16:05Z")
Richard Anderson played Oscar Goldman on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. When the latter show switched networks, he got special permission to continue his role on it. (Also the lead actors crossed over on both shows.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-character-played-by-the-same-actor-on-different-shows/609585.md?page=2)