# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/81 "2013-08-01T03:01:23Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > “Cheers” > Most successful: (surprizingly ?) Woody Harrelson Really? Not Kelsey Grammer? And how about _The Dick Van Dyke Show_? Most successful was definitely Mary Tyler Moore. Least successful would be Morey Amsterdam, unless you want to include Larry Mathews (Ritchie). ---
**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, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/82 "2013-08-01T03:24:15Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > “The Love Boat” > Gavin Macleod - most > Lauren Tewes - least Fred Grandy - [Congress](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Grandy) ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/83 "2013-08-01T03:27:35Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Alan Alda didn’t have a major film career? How about _Same Time Next Year, California Suite, The Seduction of Joe Tynan,_ and _The Four Seasons_, all released while he was still on M_A_S\*H? He’s been in at least one or two movies a year, including _Crimes and Misdemeanors, Betsy’s Wedding,_ and _The Aviator_. They haven’t all been starring roles, but most of them have been major supporting roles. Is that you Alan? Anyway. You were just such a superstar and hilarious on MASH I just figured that this guy is destined to be a bigger and bigger star. But, after MASH your fame faded instead of brightened. That’s all. ---
**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, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/84 "2013-08-01T03:37:41Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > Is that you Alan? Anyway. You were just such a superstar and hilarious on MASH I just figured that this guy is destined to be a bigger and bigger star. But, after MASH your fame faded instead of brightened. That’s all. Really? A major role on The West Wing (as an opposing party Senator and presidential candidate)? A middling role on 30 Rock (as the ostensible father of Jack Donoughy). ---
**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:** [August 1, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/85 "2013-08-01T03:38:12Z")
> [@Renifer](#): > > 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 Brendan has some alcohol issues, though he was in a Kitchen show that got canceled quickly. ---
**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, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/86 "2013-08-01T03:45:42Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > You do remember that Leonardo Di Caprio AKA the star of the second most successful movie of all time was on that show?🙂 That’s a very common misconception, but as previously discussed in the thread, Leonardo Di Caprio actually wasn’t a cast member on _Growing Pains_. The actor you’re thinking of is Tim Reid. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/87 "2013-08-01T04:06:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I think Brendan has some alcohol issues, though he was in a Kitchen show that got canceled quickly. He’s also a recurring character on Criminal Minds. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/88 "2013-08-01T06:57:37Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Alan Tudyk has been in a bunch of stuff as a guest star or supporting actor (including V alongside Morena Baccarin), but his biggest claim to fame is as a regular on Suburgatory (and he was just demoted to a recurring character for season 3). You may have heard of some movies he’s been in?\* I, Robot\*? _Transformers-DotM_? _Wreck-it Ralph_? Not starring roles (but important ones), but pretty big movies nonetheless. ---
**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, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/89 "2013-08-01T07:34:03Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Wait, Tim _who?_ Wasn’t he on _The Office_? Yeah, sorry about that. I did look but I missed the posts by you and Morbo that had already made the same point. ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/90 "2013-08-01T07:41:15Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Lease successful (even before his death): Jeff Conaway > He was faded pretty-boy in looks and just a total sad train wreck due to drugs. I wonder how actors like him pay the rent. He was a regular on Babylon 5 for a few years. Aside from Grease, I can’t think of him in anything else of note. ---
**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, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/91 "2013-08-01T08:48:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. While none of them got much camera time after LB, Macleod still earned money as a pitch man for Princess Cruise. ---
**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, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/92 "2013-08-01T08:50:17Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Kate Jackson was in _Scarecrow and Mrs King_ for four years. That trumps Jaclyn Smith I think. Smith was the mini-series queen. Too many appearances to recall. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2013, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/93 "2013-08-01T10:50:59Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I think David Boreanz with “Bones” has almost as much claim to that crown as Hannigan, though she arguably beats him by a hair. I’d give David the nod. He’s a lead on Bones, compared to Alyson being at best a member of an ensemble. David also had a bigger role on Buffy than Alyson, at least for three seasons, until he got his own spinoff that lasted 5 seasons of its own. In regards to American Pie, Alyson gets roughly the same amount of points as Tara Reid. I think David headlining two different network shows that both lasted at least 5 seasons makes him the clear winner. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/94 "2013-08-01T11:34:25Z")
I dunno, Sarah Michelle Gellar has done OK for herself - 2 movie series and a 2-season TV show, with a new one out soon (with Robin Williams), plus several smaller films too. Also, I see her on magazine covers much more than Hannigan, still. I think it depends on how you rate TV vs movies in terms of success. ---
**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, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/95 "2013-08-01T12:15:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Yeah, sorry about that. I did look but I missed the posts by you and Morbo that had already made the same point. No need to apologize, it was funny. I thought you were making a joke. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/96 "2013-08-01T12:57:25Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > You may have heard of some movies he’s been in?\* I, Robot\*? _Transformers-DotM_? _Wreck-it Ralph_? Not starring roles (but important ones), but pretty big movies nonetheless. He’s also got the most memorable role in _42_, neverendlessly hating on Jackie Robinson. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/97 "2013-08-01T13:28:32Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Nathan Fillion is far and away the most popular member of the Firefly cast. A starring role on a popular network drama trumps all the rest… You can’t just wave your hands like that. It most certainly does not trump all the rest. Sure, he’s the lead in a popular series, but other than Firefly and Castle, all he’s really done is “Two Guys and a Girl”, which was Ryan Reynolds’ show anyway. Go look at IMDB; Adam Baldwin has over 100 acting credits to his name, Nathan Fillion has something like 65, which is the same as Alan Tudyk, and Gina Torres, and Morena Baccarin is somewhere in the 50s. And all of them have done a lot more than what you mention; Adam Baldwin was one of the big 3 on “Chuck”, Morena Baccarin was the lead villain in a dozen or so Stargate SG-1 episodes and a movie, Gina Torres is one of the top 2-3 on “Suits” and has been in all sorts of stuff. Like I said, “Success” really needs to be defined; people bring up a good point when they question who is the most successful from “Cheers” - many of the actors have been very successful- Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer and Ted Danson all come to mind, especially if you consider pre-Cheers work. And how does a major supporting role in a big movie compare to regular on a successful TV series? That’s still undefined as well. ---
**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, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/98 "2013-08-01T13:40:58Z")
> [@bump](#): > > especially if you consider pre-Cheers work. I thought the idea was to “measure” however subjectively success after the popular show ended. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/99 "2013-08-01T14:25:43Z")
I’d pick Baldwin too. If nothing else, sheer name recognition would give him the nod. My contribution is That 70s Show. Most? Mila Kunis Least? Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/100 "2013-08-01T14:45:25Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > **Three’s Company** : > > Most: John Ritter, hands down > Least: Joyce DeWitt Does Suzanne Somers not even have a case for most? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992.md?page=6)