# TV actors who have played opposite each other as regulars on more than one show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270 "2010-06-07T14:04:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/41 "2010-06-07T20:26:11Z")
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie had a sketch comedy show called “Bits of Fry and Laurie”, they were both regulars on “Black Adder”, and then the title characters in “Jeeves and Wooster”. Steve Carell and Ed Helms, both now on “The Office”, both were regulars on “The Daily Show”, but I’m not sure if it was at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/42 "2010-06-07T20:29:39Z")
Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker were only on one show together. (LA Law) But it looks like they’ve done a ton of sappy made for TV movies and after school specials. I think they’re married in real life, too. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/43 "2010-06-07T20:34:45Z")
Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch co-starred on _ **F-Troop** _ and later, on the Saturday morning kiddie show _The Ghostbusters_. Stuart Margolin was James Garner’s buddy on both _ **The Rockford Files** _ and _ **The New Maverick.** _ And wasn’t Don Knotts a semi-regular in the later years of Andy Griffith’s _ **Matlock** _? ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/44 "2010-06-07T20:46:11Z")
Oh, if we’re counting variety shows, another obvious one would be Dick and Tommy Smothers. If we’re not, they’d be a less obvious example. _ **The Smothers Brothers Show** _ (1965) was a situation comedy. It did not do well. **The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour** (1967) was popular and acclaimed but too controversial for the network. **The Summer Brothers Smothers Show** (1970) was a low-rated summer replacement series. **The Smothers Brothers Show** (1978) was an unsuccessful attempt to revisit the 1967 series format without the satirical edge. _ **Fitz and Bones** _ (1981) was a light drama about a TV news team. It bombed. **The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour** (1988) appears to have been their final attempt at a TV series, having obviously run out of titles. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/45 "2010-06-07T20:46:50Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > And wasn’t Don Knotts a semi-regular in the later years of Andy Griffith’s _ **Matlock** _? Yes. Don’t ask how I know that. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/46 "2010-06-07T20:57:15Z")
Michael Conrad and Charles Haid on the short-lived “Delvecchio” and “Hill Street Blues” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/47 "2010-06-07T21:52:25Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > OK, Tom Poston had a recurring role (5 episodes) as Bob’s college buddy on _The Bob Newhart_ Show before being cast as a regular (the dimwitted handyman) on _Newhart_. And he was Mr. Suzanne Pleshette. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/48 "2010-06-07T22:37:15Z")
Ricky Tomlinson & Sue Johnston: Brookside & The Royale Family. Victoria Wood and pretty much everybody. Specifically Julie Walters, Duncan Preston and Celia Imrie. Maybe Anne Reid as well. The first two were in Wood and Walters (as the title suggests), with all five being in Pat & Margaret, Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (Anne Reid probably doesn’t count here as she was just in one episode) and dinnerladies. Probably missed a few specials and the like there. All of 'em were in various episodes of Victoria Wood, but I can’t be arsed to peg down which episodes had which actors in 'em. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/49 "2010-06-07T23:21:32Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Sonya Walger & Dominic Monaghan: Lost & FlashForward Technically true, in that they were both in both shows, but it kinda stretches the meaning of “played opposite each other”. They had basically one scene together on Lost, and weren’t even in the same room with each other, and I don’t recall them having much direct interaction on FF either. Anyway… Has anyone mentioned Balthazar Getty and Ron Rifkin both being regulars on Alias and Brothers & Sisters yet? Also Patricia Wettig, regular on B&S, recurring on Alias, though I don’t think she was still on when Getty was added to the cast. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/50 "2010-06-08T02:42:17Z")
Here are some actors/actresses who played the same role in multiple TV shows. If that counts. Nancy Walker played Ida Morgenstern in 4 episodes of _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_ with Valerie Harper as her daughter. then when Rhoda spun off she continued to play her mother. Cloris Leachman and Lisa Gerritson played Phyllis and Beth on _the MTM show_ and Phyllis. Most of the _Leave it to Beaver_ cast went on to star in _Still the Beaver_ Ditto Brady kids in _The Brady Bunch_ and _The Brady Bunch Hour_ ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/51 "2010-06-08T09:37:17Z")
Police comedy _The Job_ was created by Denis Leary and Peter Tolan. It starred Leary, Lenny Clarke, Diane Farr and Adam Ferrara who all starred in _Rescue Me_ also created by Leary and Tolan. Nice to have friends. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/52 "2010-06-08T10:25:13Z")
We counting sequel trees? 6 Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi Dukes of Hazzard and Enos etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/53 "2010-06-08T10:49:28Z")
Dan Castellaneta and Julie Kavner on both **The Simpsons** and **The Tracey Ullman Show**. Victoria Jackson and Jan Hooks were on **SNL** and **The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour**. I’m still a little freaked out by how much they disliked each other. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/54 "2010-06-08T10:53:07Z")
Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker on Angel and Dollhouse. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/55 "2010-06-08T11:11:36Z")
Hank Azaria & Yeardley Smith: The Simpsons & Herman’s Head. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/56 "2010-06-08T23:06:13Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Ditto Brady kids in _The Brady Bunch_ and _The Brady Bunch Hour_ And the Brady Brides, and the Bradys. (Plus the Christmas TV movie, but that’s not a series, so I just mention it for posterity.) ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/57 "2010-06-10T16:21:36Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker on Angel and Dollhouse. Add Alexis Denisof to this one And Denisof and Alyson Hannigan (Mrs. Denisof) in “Buffy” and “How I Met Your Mother.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/58 "2010-06-10T17:09:33Z")
[Garry Walburg](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906918/) appeared in 12 episodes alongside Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple as poker playing buddy Speed before getting a featured role on Quincy, M.E. as Lt. Monahan. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/59 "2010-06-10T17:19:50Z")
This is probably cheating but Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders played opposite each other in French & Saunders, Let Them Eat Cake, Jam & Jerusalem, Girls On Top, and The Comic Strip Presents films. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270/60 "2010-06-10T17:42:18Z")
Are we counting actors who have played the same characters where the shows were not spin-offs? Because if we are, there’s Alan Rosenberg and Debi Mazar on _Civil Wars_ and _L.A. Law_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-have-played-opposite-each-other-as-regulars-on-more-than-one-show/542270.md?page=4)