# TV Only -- well-known actors with no movie credits? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 28, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775 "2007-05-28T12:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/1 "2007-05-28T12:58:42Z")
The announcement that [Gretchen Wyler](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0943738/) has passed caused me to look her up at IMDB since I’m unfamiliar with her work. I see that the majority of her credits are for TV performances but that she does seem to have a few screen credits as well. That got me to wondering if there are any actors who have yet to make their first movie but who are well known enough to be recognizable to the average person just for their TV work. When you consider that even Letterman has had some movie face time, that Larry King’s TV persona has been used in several movies, and that many TV types add their voices to animated ventures, I will be surprised if there’s anybody “famous” in the realm of acting who has gotten “famous” just for TV work. Can you name any? (I didn’t check to see if this topic has been addressed earlier, so link to older threads if you know of such. Please.) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/2 "2007-05-28T20:58:28Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] The announcement that [Gretchen Wyler](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0943738/) has passed caused me to look her up at IMDB since I’m unfamiliar with her work. I see that the majority of her credits are for TV performances but that she does seem to have a few screen credits as well. That got me to wondering if there are any actors who have yet to make their first movie but who are well known enough to be recognizable to the average person just for their TV work. When you consider that even Letterman has had some movie face time, that Larry King’s TV persona has been used in several movies, and that many TV types add their voices to animated ventures, I will be surprised if there’s anybody “famous” in the realm of acting who has gotten “famous” just for TV work. Can you name any? (I didn’t check to see if this topic has been addressed earlier, so link to older threads if you know of such. Please.) [/QUOTE] I remember Gretchen Wyler primarily as a stage performer. As a teen, I saw her on Broadway with Robert PReston in the comedy “Sly Fox.” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/3 "2007-05-28T21:04:17Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] I remember Gretchen Wyler primarily as a stage performer. As a teen, I saw her on Broadway with Robert PReston in the comedy “Sly Fox.” [/QUOTE] I did get that impression from her obituary comments and some cast photos at IMDB, but I haven’t seen IMDB list stage work as main credits for actors. The fact that TV is included is hefty enough and they keep expanding how TV credits are shown. I didn’t mean to belittle the stage aspect of Ms. Wyler’s work, but I was not familiar even with her TV work. The idea that she had very few movie credits is what prompted this thread. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/4 "2007-05-28T21:24:57Z")
[Betty White](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924508/) I see a total of two theatrical films to her credit, and no big roles. Probably the closest you’ll get to what you’re referring to. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/5 "2007-05-28T21:47:59Z")
The first name to come to mind was Jim Nabors, but even he has a credit in Stoker Ace and Cannon Ball Run II. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/6 "2007-05-28T21:57:34Z")
Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo) appeared in only one movie. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/7 "2007-05-29T03:52:35Z")
Keeping with \*\*pinkfreud’\*\*s answer…Fred Rogers was only in the movie _Casper_. Can anyone enlighten me as to how much he was in the movie? Did he have an actual role or did they maybe just show a clip of his show in the movie? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/8 "2007-05-29T04:00:08Z")
I looked at some long-running TV shows, thinking that those actors wouldn’t have had time to do movies, but by gum they do. Like Ray Romano from Everybody Loves Raymond and Maura Tierney from ER – they were both in Welcome to Mooseport. Also looked at busy actors like Jim Beaver, Laurie Metcalf, Mariska Hargitay, Kim Dickens, Goran Visnjic (sp?), Dan Florek (he’s been in everything on TV) – movie credits showing for all of them. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/9 "2007-05-29T04:41:13Z")
Looks like Jerry Seinfeld had only one (small) part in a movie ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/10 "2007-05-29T06:41:29Z")
Jerry Seinfeld is voicing the lead character in the animated film “Bee Movie” that is coming out this summer. He promoted it in Cannes heavily. So while it’s not Seinfeld’s face, I would think the voice credit would be a big credit. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/11 "2007-05-29T07:22:07Z")
[George Eads](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0247040/) only one movie credit to his name, it’s his first credit and something nobody’s heard of. Yet he’s instantly recognizable to most Americans with a TV who have ever turned on CSI. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/12 "2007-05-29T11:04:27Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2007, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/13 "2007-05-29T11:34:37Z")
I did some random clicks of ex-SNL performers to see if any of them failed to make the leap to movies. Astonishingly, nearly all of them have screen credit, with the possible exception of Yvonne Hudson (from the cursed Sixth Season). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/14 "2007-05-29T14:32:17Z")
Not surprisingly, [Susan Lucci](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005166/) seems to have had very small movie appearances or uncredited ones. It may be obvious to most by now, but I suspect the relative rarity of a TV-only performer is due to the objective of most actors to make it to the big screen at least once in their career. Either that or their rise to prominence in TV or on stage makes the Hollywood crowd want to draw them into movies. There just has to be at least one TV-only actor who has resisted the call or the urge, but locating that one or few is a hefty task. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/15 "2007-05-29T14:51:59Z")
[Deidre Hall](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004984/) who plays Dr. Marlena Evans Craig Brady Black on “Days of Our Lives” doesn’t seem to have any movie credits. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/16 "2007-05-29T14:59:41Z")
[Sawyer Sweeten](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842326/) and [Sullivan Sweeten](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842327/), who played Ray Barrone’s kids on **Everybody Loves Raymond**. Admittedly, no one know their names, but they are certainly identifiable. No films yet for either (not counting made for TV movies). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/17 "2007-05-29T15:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] [Deidre Hall](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004984/) who plays Dr. Marlena Evans Craig Brady Black on “Days of Our Lives” doesn’t seem to have any movie credits. [/QUOTE] Well, there’s the uncredited appearance in [Special Delivery (1976)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075250/fullcredits#cast) back when God was still a corporal. I’m prepared to forgive that one, so Deidre may be a candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/18 "2007-05-29T15:55:02Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] I looked at some long-running TV shows, thinking that those actors wouldn’t have had time to do movies, but by gum they do. [/QUOTE] Television actors get several months off between seasons and virtually all of them grab the chance to cash in on their tv fame by making movies. That’s why it’s so hard to find examples of people who haven’t done this. Maybe people should look back in time to the 50s and 60s. Seasons then ran 39 shows instead of the current 22 and so actors really did have much shorter breaks. The flip side of that is that most of the experienced actors of the day would have come from movies. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/19 "2007-05-29T16:06:29Z")
Neither Chris Partridge (Jeremy Gelbwaks, Brian Forster) went on to do film. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775/20 "2007-05-30T13:56:43Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] There just has to be at least one TV-only actor who has resisted the call or the urge, but locating that one or few is a hefty task. [/QUOTE] I think you missed my post. (#11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-only-well-known-actors-with-no-movie-credits/405775.md?page=2)