# Which actor has had the best success after his or her breakout series? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745 "2013-04-03T17:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/41 "2013-04-04T14:46:47Z")
Can a film franchise count as a series or just TV shows? In the former case, Harrison Ford is way up there. And John Travolta certainly did well for himself after “Welcome Back, Kotter.” ---
**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:** [April 4, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/42 "2013-04-04T19:13:45Z")
Bob Denver had a breakout role in **The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis** and became a TV icon later. Harry Morgan came to notice in the show **December Bride** and went on to appear in ten other TV series, most successfully in **Dragnet** and **Mash**. Robert Urich became a success with **SWAT** , and continued on for more series than even Morgan, with highlights in **Soap, Vega$** and **Spenser: For Hire.** ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/43 "2013-04-04T19:17:51Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Terriers was Logue’s followup to his breakthrough show, Grounded For Life. Which was a followup on his failed sitcom **The Knights of Prosperity** (originally meant to be titled “Let’s Rob Mick Jagger” - seriously), which co-starred **Sofia Vergara** - who has gone on from that start in the US market to a bit of success herself. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/44 "2013-04-04T19:29:30Z")
Hugh Laurie came to prominence in Blackadder. Ditto Stephan Fry. David Bornez started Bones almost as soon as Angle finished and he got his start in Buffy. Come to think, Antony Head has done well too. OTH, Neil Patrick Harris needed near two decades to see further success after Dougie Howser MD. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/45 "2013-04-04T19:31:35Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’m thinking of people like Michael C. Hall, Michael Chiklis, Timothy Olyphant, and others in their category where the series they were key members of have passed away. How about the strange case of William Shatner? The series that made him world-famous ended – and yet begat a movie starring him maybe a decade later, followed by half-a-dozen more such movies, and then a decade after _that_ he earns half-a-dozen consecutive Emmy nominations for his role as Denny Crane. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/46 "2013-04-04T19:49:32Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > David Bornez started Bones almost as soon as **Angle** Bolding mine Maybe I’m being acute, but I’m certainly not obtuse and am probably right to think you meant **Angel**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/47 "2013-04-04T19:54:19Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Harry Morgan came to notice in the show **December Bride** and went on to appear in ten other TV series, most successfully in **Dragnet** and **Mash**. While I whole-heartedly agree with you on your other two in this post, I am somewhat hesitant with Harry Morgan. He was an established character actor before the early television series. He had third or fourth billing with Henry Fonda in the Ox Bow Incident. He had second or third billing with at least one Jimmy Stewart film. Granted most of stuff before were dramas (especially Westerns) and December Bride really showcased his sardonic wit, but, still, I am a little uncomfortable about seeing this as his “breakout series.” ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/48 "2013-04-04T20:15:53Z")
No Johnny Galecki love? David on _Roseanne_. One of the most popular shows before it jumped. Now on Big Bang. No issue with people thinking he was gay, he’s just private. And he has to love being on a show with Helberg. “My god, I’m taller than someone!” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/49 "2013-04-04T21:08:17Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Yeah, the guy’s had a heckuva career on both sides of the camera. Iconic roles on iconic TV series, and film roles in cult classics, actual classics, and some great popcorn movies. Not to mention a long, actual Hollywood marriage, recent seperation aside. And all the more impressive when you remember that he, well, looks like Danny Devito. He really is shockingly short- as in, if he’s much over 5’, I’ll eat my shoes. (saw him in person at Tales of the Cocktail a few years back) ---
**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:** [April 4, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/50 "2013-04-04T21:34:12Z")
Jim Carrey. His breakout series was _In Living Color_ and he went on to a string of highly successful movies. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/51 "2013-04-04T21:34:22Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Tim Allen - Home Improvement. The show launched him into a successful movie career, including Galaxy Quest and The Santa Clause franchise. Not to mention _Toy Stor_y. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/52 "2013-04-05T14:29:25Z")
How about Clint Eastwood after _Rawhide_? ---
**Author:** ![jrbor76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@jrbor76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrbor76)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/53 "2013-04-05T17:13:40Z")
Seriously? Nobody’s mentioned Seth Rogen yet? Or James Franco? Or Jason Segel? I don’t think any of them are _the one_ most successful actor to hit it big in movies after starting out in TV, but if you’re looking for the success of an unknown TV cast as a whole after the series ends (not to mention the crew), it’s pretty damned hard to beat _Freaks and Geeks_. ---
**Author:** ![Srsly\_Dad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Srsly\_Dad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Srsly_Dad)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/54 "2013-04-05T17:26:37Z")
> [@dantheman](#): > > Denzel Washington in St. Elsewhere. Howie Mandel form the same show. David Morse and Ed Begley Jr. also not superstars, but have had a decent careers also. ---
**Author:** ![beatlejuice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@beatlejuice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlejuice)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/55 "2013-04-05T17:38:09Z")
Do soaps count? …Tommy Lee Jones, then. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/56 "2013-04-05T17:41:54Z")
> [@jrbor76](#): > > Seriously? Nobody’s mentioned Seth Rogen yet? Or James Franco? Or Jason Segel? Why would we? None of them had a “breakout” role on TV. Well, Jason Segal did. But Seth Rogen owes his fame to Knocked Up and Franco hit the big-time with Spider-Man. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/57 "2013-04-05T17:57:33Z")
Half the cast of _Geeks and Freaks_, although I guess to say they broke out on that show is a bit of a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/58 "2013-04-05T19:26:54Z")
> [@Srsly\_Dad](#): > > Howie Mandel form the same show. > > David Morse and Ed Begley Jr. also not superstars, but have had a decent careers also. From that show you go Begley and not Mark Harmon? Harmon stars in the number #1 show on TV for the last several years and St Elsewhere was certainly his breakout role. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/59 "2013-04-05T19:54:24Z")
> [@beatlejuice](#): > > Do soaps count? …Tommy Lee Jones, then. Not to mention Christopher Reeve and Mark Hamill. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745/60 "2013-04-05T23:40:19Z")
I am posting here to mention Mr. Shatner (as has already been done upthread) because… well… come on, Captain Kirk! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-actor-has-had-the-best-success-after-his-or-her-breakout-series/654745.md?page=4)