# The Former Casts of Popular Shows: Most Successful and Least Successful **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992 "2013-07-31T15:02:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/61 "2013-07-31T21:09:09Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > Am I being whoooshed? Or, are you perhaps thinking of a different show? The Office just ended this year, so it would be difficult to pick most successful or least. Even the original Office has Martin Freeman, and Ricky Gervais vying for most successful. While we’re at it, whatever happened to the cast of _I Love Lucy_? Seems like none of them have done anything in 20 years or so! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/62 "2013-07-31T21:10:31Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > What about Tim Reid? He hasn’t really done a whole lot since _The Office_ ended. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/63 "2013-07-31T21:10:33Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > This is a hard one: _WKRP_ > > Winner- Howard Hessmen, for a couple lousy parts in crap movies and sitcoms > Loser- Tied, _Everyone Else!_ 😃 > > Well, to be fair, Mr. Carlson was the Maytag Repairman. He was also a child molester in _Diff’rent Strokes_. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/64 "2013-07-31T21:31:12Z")
_Bosom Buddies_: Peter Scolari went on to _Newhart_ and is now the dad on _Girls_. Holland Taylor probably comes next, she’s been in a bunch of stuff, like _The Truman Show_, with Ed Harris, from _Appolo 13_. Donna Dixon was in _The Twilight Zone_ and married Dan Aykroyd, who was in _Dragnet_ with Christopher Plummer. Wendy Jo Sperber was in the _Back to the Future_ movies, and _Bachelor Party_, with Adrian Zmed and Tawny Kitaen. That’s pretty much it. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/65 "2013-07-31T21:41:20Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > _Bosom Buddies_: > > Peter Scolari went on to _Newhart_ and is now the dad on _Girls_. > > Holland Taylor probably comes next, she’s been in a bunch of stuff, like _The Truman Show_, with Ed Harris, from _Appolo 13_. > > Donna Dixon was in _The Twilight Zone_ and married Dan Aykroyd, who was in _Dragnet_ with Christopher Plummer. > > Wendy Jo Sperber was in the _Back to the Future_ movies, and _Bachelor Party_, with Adrian Zmed and Tawny Kitaen. > > That’s pretty much it. Um… I think you’re forgetting someone obvious… … [Telma Hopkins](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0394286/?ref_=tt_cl_t5) went on to a long string of television appearances, as a guest star and as a regular. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/66 "2013-07-31T21:41:26Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > _Bosom Buddies_: > > Peter Scolari went on to _Newhart_ and is now the dad on _Girls_. > > Holland Taylor probably comes next, she’s been in a bunch of stuff, like _The Truman Show_, with Ed Harris, from _Appolo 13_. > > Donna Dixon was in _The Twilight Zone_ and married Dan Aykroyd, who was in _Dragnet_ with Christopher Plummer. > > Wendy Jo Sperber was in the _Back to the Future_ movies, and _Bachelor Party_, with Adrian Zmed and Tawny Kitaen. > > That’s pretty much it. Come on man, you’re forgetting the most successful one of all! Telma Hopkins was a regular on _Family Matters_, _The Hughleys_, and _Half & Half_, and she’s on _Are We There Yet?_ right now! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/67 "2013-07-31T21:50:57Z")
**Welcome Back, Kotter** : Most: John Travolta Least: everyone else, including the star, Gabe Kaplan **Newhart** : Least: Julia Duffy Most: William Sanderson, who played Larry. He’s been a character actor in countless shows, including Deadwood. **Wanted: Dead or Alive** Most: Steve McQueen Least: I don’t remember anybody else **The Larry Sanders Show** : Most: Jeremy Piven Least: Jeanine Garafolo ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/68 "2013-07-31T22:25:01Z")
One that hasn’t been brought up yet… **[Head of the Class](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_the_Class)** (starring Howard Hessman from WKRP). I’m sure many of the cast would be vying for least successful (let’s say Robin Givens or Hessman, because why not?) but most successful would have to be [**Dan Schneider**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Schneider_(TV_producer)), the heavy-set actor that played Dennis (sat in the back of the room). You probably don’t know his name and haven’t seen him in much, but as a writer/producer/creator he’s churned out hit after hit for the young-people set including: “All That,” “Kenan & Kel,” “The Amanda Show,” “Drake & Josh,” “Zoey 101,” and “iCarly” (and several other shows.) He also wrote the movies _Good Burger_ and _Big Fat Liar_. According to [CelebrityNetWorth.com](http://CelebrityNetWorth.com), he’s [worth about $20Million](http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/producers/dan-schneider-net-worth/). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/69 "2013-07-31T22:34:45Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > This is a hard one: _WKRP_ > > Winner- Howard Hessmen, for a couple lousy parts in crap movies and sitcoms > Loser- Tied, _Everyone Else!_ 😃 > > Well, to be fair, Mr. Carlson was the Maytag Repairman. Tim Reid’s had a moderately successful career. He’s been a regular on three TV series. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/70 "2013-07-31T23:08:17Z")
**Happy Days** : Most: Ron Howard (also arguably the most successful from Andy Griffith) Least: probably Anson Williams (Potsy) **Laverne and Shirley** : Most: Penny Marshall as a director or Michael McKean as an actor Least: Cindy Williams in a tie with David Lander **Three’s Company** : Most: John Ritter, hands down Least: Joyce DeWitt **All In The Family** : Most: Rob Reiner (O’Connor and Stapleton were already well known and successful) Least: Sally Struthers **Dick Van Dyke Show** : Most: Mary Tyler Moore Least: Larry Mathews ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/71 "2013-07-31T23:56:37Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > _Bosom Buddies_: > > Peter Scolari went on to _Newhart_ and is now the dad on _Girls_. > > Holland Taylor probably comes next, she’s been in a bunch of stuff, like _The Truman Show_, with Ed Harris, from _Appolo 13_. > > Donna Dixon was in _The Twilight Zone_ and married Dan Aykroyd, who was in _Dragnet_ with Christopher Plummer. > > Wendy Jo Sperber was in the _Back to the Future_ movies, and _Bachelor Party_, with Adrian Zmed and Tawny Kitaen. > > That’s pretty much it. Whatever happened to that dorky guy with the black curly hair? Hanks something? ---
**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, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/72 "2013-08-01T00:35:29Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > . . .David Lander For a guy who’s been living with multiple sclerosis since 1984, I’d say he’s had [a pretty good career.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005581/?ref_=sr_1) > [@Morbo](#): > > Wendy Jo Sperber I’m not sure I’d put her in at all, since she died at the age of 47. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/73 "2013-08-01T00:53:22Z")
**Small Wonder** Best: [Edie McClurg](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566052/) aka Bonnie Brinde, mother of the next door neighbor has a full resume since 1989. Worst: Plenty of choices but out of the core cast, both [Marla Pennington](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0672188/) aka Joan Lawson (Vicki’s “mom”) and [Jerry Supiran](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839481/) aka Jamie Lawson have Small Wonder as their last IMDB credit. I’m giving the show credit as “popular” since it got four seasons. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/74 "2013-08-01T01:58:35Z")
“Welcome Back Kotter” John Travolta - most Ron Palilio - least “Moonlighting” Bruce Willis - most Cybill Shepherd - not least but boy, look how Willis shot ahead. “Charlie’s Angels” Jacklyn Smith - most Cheryl Ladd - least “Combat” Vic Morrow - most had he lived on the rest - \_\_\_ “Soap” Billy Crystal - most Guillaume, Mulligan, Urich - runners up (all else) - least “The Love Boat” Gavin Macleod - most Lauren Tewes - least ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/75 "2013-08-01T02:21:52Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > “The Love Boat” > Gavin Macleod - most > Lauren Tewes - least I’ll admit the bar is set pretty low but how has Gavin MacLeod had the most successful career since _The Love Boat_? He’s had a handful of guest starring credits. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/76 "2013-08-01T02:25:31Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > “Moonlighting” > Cybill Shepherd - not least but boy, look how Willis shot ahead. Allyce Beasley ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/77 "2013-08-01T02:39:13Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > “Charlie’s Angels” > Jacklyn Smith - most > Cheryl Ladd - least Kate Jackson was in _Scarecrow and Mrs King_ for four years. That trumps Jaclyn Smith I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/78 "2013-08-01T02:46:05Z")
> [@Renifer](#): > > _Buffy The Vampire Slayer_: > > Most successful: Allyson Hannigan, who’s in another hit show and people also know her from the _American Pie_ movies. Seth Green is also very popular, but because he was well-known before he joined Buffy, Hannigan wins the title. > > Least successful: Sadly, Nicholas Brandon has not done much else in showbiz since _Buffy_ and he’s had some problems with the law. It’s a shame because I really liked Xander and I would have liked to see Brandon in other films/TV spots. I think David Boreanz with “Bones” has almost as much claim to that crown as Hannigan, though she arguably beats him by a hair. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/79 "2013-08-01T02:46:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Tim Reid’s had a moderately successful career. He’s been a regular on three TV series. Wait, Tim _who?_ Wasn’t he on _The Office_? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/80 "2013-08-01T02:49:41Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > For Growing Pains, I’d guess Jeremy Miller as least successful acting-wise; he hasn’t done much post GP, but I don’t know that he’s really tried. For most successful, Brad Pitt if bit parts count, Alan Thicke if they don’t. You do remember that Leonardo Di Caprio AKA the star of the second most successful movie of all time was on that show?🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992.md?page=5)