# Shows and movies that star the same actors in the same roles decades later **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665 "2022-07-27T18:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/81 "2022-07-29T14:46:43Z")
John Hurt in Alien [![](https://the-take.com/images/uploads/screenprism/_constrain-480w/ALIEN_chestburster1280.jpg) ](https://the-take.com/images/uploads/screenprism/_constrain-480w/ALIEN_chestburster1280.jpg) John Hurt in Spaceballs ![](https://c.tenor.com/R1mTGINdXasAAAAC/alien-kane.gif) ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/82 "2022-07-29T14:47:43Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If I recall, some of the original Klingon commander actors reprised their roles on some episodes of Deep Space Nine. They did. All three of the below appeared together in the episode “Blood Oath.” Colicos appeared in two additional DS9 epsidoes, and Ansara in one. - John Colicos (Kor) - Michael Ansara (Kang) - William Campbell (Koloth) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/83 "2022-07-29T14:57:43Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > and as an adult in **Mr. Holmes** (2015), Not really. Rowe played an actor _playing_ Holmes. Ian McKellan played Holmes. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/84 "2022-07-29T17:34:21Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Not really. Rowe played an actor _playing_ Holmes. Ian McKellan played Holmes. I thought about making the distinction, but it was too complicated. The way I see it, it Rowe was playing an actor playing Holmes in the movie, then he was playing Holmes. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/85 "2022-07-29T17:39:38Z")
Surprised no one’s yet mentioned the 2019 revival of _Mad About You_, which featured Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt reprising their roles as Paul and Jamie Buchman, from the 1992 series. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/86 "2022-07-29T17:45:22Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Surprised no one’s yet mentioned the 2019 revival of _Mad About You_ I had forgotten about that revival. My understanding is that, in the U.S., it was only available on Spectrum cable; if that’s accurate, it was likely little-seen. _(Edit: I stand corrected; it’s apparently now on Amazon Prime.)_ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/87 "2022-07-30T01:02:11Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > _Star Trek_ had DeForest Kelly reprise his role as Dr. McCoy for _The Next Generation_ and also James Doohan as Scotty. I don’t think Kelley fits the purpose of this thread. He made his guest appearance on TNG in 1987, but played Bones in two more movies, _The Final Frontier_ in 1989 and 1991’s _The Undiscovered Country_. Hardly decades between his appearances. Same with Doohan. He played Scotty in _Star Trek: Generations_ in 1994, just two years after appearing in _Relics_. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/88 "2022-07-30T06:23:58Z")
It was mentioned [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/39). I’m not rereading the thread to check, but I’m sure someone mentioned Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield revisiting their roles of Peter Parker in the most recent _Spider-Man_ film, right? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/89 "2022-07-30T12:54:43Z")
Paul Reubens played Tucker Cobblepot (Penguin’s dad) in 1992’s _Batman Returns_ and again on the TV show _Gotham_ 23 years later. [![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vvomu_iuhBs/Vhutpqs4PWI/AAAAAAAAF04/tPIwc7A7MSQ/s1600/BatmanReturnsPaulReubens.jpg) ](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vvomu_iuhBs/Vhutpqs4PWI/AAAAAAAAF04/tPIwc7A7MSQ/s1600/BatmanReturnsPaulReubens.jpg) [![](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/gotham_s02e15_paul_reubens_still.jpg) ](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/gotham_s02e15_paul_reubens_still.jpg) ---
**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:** [July 31, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/90 "2022-07-31T04:34:00Z")
Frankie Avalon and Annette Funnicello made _ **Back to the Beach** _ in 1987, 22 years after the last of the original six beach movies. They were couldn’t use their characters’ original names for legal reasons, but they were clearly the same people. Bob Denver and Alan Hale were in it too as Gilligan and the Skipper, but were never referred to as such. Edd “Kookie” Byrnes was in it as a valet, the same job he had in _ **77 Sunset Strip** _. There were cameos by other actors as well, notably the surviving members of the Cleaver family, but not as June, Wally, or Beaver. Paul Reubens played Pee-Wee Herman at the height of his fame. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2022, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/91 "2022-07-31T04:40:16Z")
Tony Dow played Wally in the courtroom skit in Kentucky Fried Movie. Jerry Mathers didn’t play The Beaver, though. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2022, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/92 "2022-07-31T05:45:00Z")
Jack Webb created the 1950s series _Dragnet_ (and the radio series) as well as its later 60s revival. Of course, he played Joe Friday in every episode (as well as writing and directing many). A number of actors played in all 3 series. “A Christmas Story”, a 1967 episode, was a remake of “The Big Little Jesus” from 1953. In both episode, the priest was played by Harry Bartell. At least one scene used the exact same shots. [Dragnet "Big Little Jesus/Christmas Story" Edited Together - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5JbTit3eEk) ---
**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:** [July 31, 2022, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/93 "2022-07-31T06:21:03Z")
Correction: Annette _ **Funicello** _. Other cast members reprising their roles were Connie Stevens and surf musician Dick Dale. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/94 "2022-07-31T13:29:34Z")
How about Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche reprising their Trading Places roles as cameos in Coming To America. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/95 "2022-07-31T16:09:54Z")
Only five years later, however (Bellamy and Ameche); the OP is looking for recurrences that were much further apart. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/96 "2022-08-01T00:35:58Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > If I recall, some of the original Klingon commander actors reprised their roles on some episodes of Deep Space Nine. > > They did. All three of the below appeared together in the episode “Blood Oath.” Colicos appeared in two additional DS9 epsidoes, and Ansara in one. > > - John Colicos (Kor) > - Michael Ansara (Kang) > - William Campbell (Koloth) Which I mentioned in post 62. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2022, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/97 "2022-08-01T01:49:47Z")
How do we count soap opera actors that have been playing the same part more or less continuously? [Wikipedia lists a score of actors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-serving_soap_opera_actors) in the U.S. and U.K. who have played the same character in the same show for 40 or more years. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/98 "2022-08-01T17:46:43Z")
Unless they leave and come back later, I don’t think the OP is concerned about them. They’d have to be Kevin Kline/“Jeffrey Anderson” to qualify. > **[Soapdish (1991) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102951/)** > > Soapdish: Directed by Michael Hoffman. With Cathy Moriarty, Teri Hatcher, Robert Downey Jr., Sally Field. An ambitious television soap actress connives with her producer to scuttle the career of the show's long-time star, but nothing works as they... ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/99 "2022-08-03T02:37:13Z")
The original Law & Order had a **1st** season episode “Indifference” based on the Joel Steinberg case. They followed up in the **15th** season episode “Fixed” with the same actor playing the same character being released from prison. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.E](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.e/32/8932_2.png) [@Mr.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.E)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665/100 "2022-08-03T18:39:44Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > How do we count soap opera actors that have been playing the same part more or less continuously? [Wikipedia lists a score of actors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-serving_soap_opera_actors) in the U.S. and U.K. who have played the same character in the same show for 40 or more years. In my heart I feel like actors playing the same role for decades is a different phenomenon than an actor coming back to reprise their role after decades away. That said, it’s still a fairly rare and noteworthy phenomenon that deserves to be acknowledged in some way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-and-movies-that-star-the-same-actors-in-the-same-roles-decades-later/968665.md?page=6)