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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bolding mine
Maybe I’m being acute, but I’m certainly not obtuse and am probably right to think you meant Angel.
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.”
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!”
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)
Jim Carrey. His breakout series was In Living Color and he went on to a string of highly successful movies.
Not to mention Toy Story.
How about Clint Eastwood after Rawhide?
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.
Howie Mandel form the same show.
David Morse and Ed Begley Jr. also not superstars, but have had a decent careers also.
Do soaps count? …Tommy Lee Jones, then.
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.
Half the cast of Geeks and Freaks, although I guess to say they broke out on that show is a bit of a stretch.
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.
Not to mention Christopher Reeve and Mark Hamill.
I am posting here to mention Mr. Shatner (as has already been done upthread) because… well… come on, Captain Kirk!