# Who has starred in the most successful TV series? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007 "2020-01-06T02:31:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/1 "2020-01-06T02:31:26Z")
By starred, I mean top billing, and by successful, I mean a show that lasted at least three seasons. I know David Boreanaz has had three: Angel, Bones, and now Seal Team. Would he be the one with the most? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/2 "2020-01-06T02:36:38Z")
Definitely not David Boreanaz. Ted Danson, for example, has been on Cheers, Becker, CSI (not original cast, but for more than three seasons), Damages, Bored to Death and The Good Place. And I’ll bet someone can name someone more successful than that. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/3 "2020-01-06T02:41:41Z")
Lucille Ball starred in four shows that went over 3 seasons: _I Love Lucy, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show,_ and _Here’s Lucy_. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/4 "2020-01-06T02:45:24Z")
We asked this years ago and the answer was Bill Bixby, who had had multiple shows go multiple seasons(I forget how many). ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/5 "2020-01-06T02:50:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > We asked this years ago and the answer was Bill Bixby, who had had multiple shows go multiple seasons(I forget how many). For the OP’s criteria, top billing and at least 3 seasons, I think Bill Bixby only has three: _My Favorite Martian_, _The Courtship of Eddie’s Father_, and _The Incredible Hulk_. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/6 "2020-01-06T02:52:23Z")
Also, I don’t think that Boreanaz actually had top billing for _Bones_; I think that may have gone to Emily Deschanel. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/7 "2020-01-06T02:58:50Z")
He shared top billing. He was clearly a co-star at the very least. Lucy doesn’t count, it’s all the same show. Danson, however, I think by the criteria I set out he’s the best so far. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/8 "2020-01-06T03:01:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Definitely not David Boreanaz. Ted Danson, for example, has been on Cheers, Becker, CSI (not original cast, but for more than three seasons), Damages, Bored to Death and The Good Place. For Ted Danson, I think _Cheers, Becker,_ and _The Good Place_ would all definitely count per the OP’s criteria, but he was only a series regular on _Damages_ for the first season, and I’m not sure he counts as getting “top billing” for either _CSI_ or _Bored to Death_. Still, that makes him at least tied with Boreanaz, and, depending on how you define “top billing”, he may beat out Lucille Ball as well. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2020, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/9 "2020-01-06T03:06:09Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > For Ted Danson, I think _Cheers, Becker,_ and _The Good Place_ would all definitely count per the OP’s criteria, but he was only a series regular on _Damages_ for the first season, and I’m not sure he counts as getting “top billing” for either _CSI_ or _Bored to Death_. Still, that makes him at least tied with Boreanaz, and, depending on how you define “top billing”, he may beat out Lucille Ball as well. Sounds like there’s a dispute for one of Boreanaz’s three and one of Danson’s three, but Scott Bakula was the straight-up star on QUANTUM LEAP, and is doing likewise now on NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, and in between was the captain of the ENTERPRISE. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/10 "2020-01-06T03:06:31Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > He shared top billing. He was clearly a co-star at the very least. Lucy doesn’t count, it’s all the same show. Danson, however, I think by the criteria I set out he’s the best so far. Why doesn’t Lucille Ball count? The four shows I listed are _not_ the same show, they just have similar names. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/11 "2020-01-06T03:13:57Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Lucy doesn’t count, it’s all the same show. _[I Love Lucy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043208/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_28)_ and _[The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050033/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_22)_ might arguably have been “the same show,” as they featured the same actors, playing the same characters. But, _The Lucy Show_ and _Here’s Lucy_ were different series entirely, with her playing different characters (even though Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz from the earlier series) was in _The Lucy Show_, and Gale Gordon was in both of the later series). ---
**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:** [January 6, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/12 "2020-01-06T03:15:52Z")
Harry Morgan: _December Bride, Dragnet,_ and _Mash_. _Pete and Gladys_ ran two seasons, so that’s close. Bea Benaderet: _Burns and Allen, The Flintstones, Petticoat Junction_ John Forsythe: _Bachelor Father, Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty_ ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/13 "2020-01-06T03:21:11Z")
William Shatner : Star Trek (TOS), TJ Hooker, Boston Legal ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/14 "2020-01-06T03:25:13Z")
William Shatner has Star Trek, T.J. Hooker, Boston Legal, and arguably Rescue 911. (ETA: Ninja’d!) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/15 "2020-01-06T03:28:35Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Harry Morgan: _December Bride, Dragnet,_ and _Mash_. _Pete and Gladys_ ran two seasons, so that’s close. > > Bea Benaderet: _Burns and Allen, The Flintstones, Petticoat Junction_ > > John Forsythe: _Bachelor Father, Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty_ I don’t see Harry Morgan as starring in December Bride, nor Bea Benaderet as a star of Burns and Allen. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/16 "2020-01-06T03:32:22Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I don’t see Harry Morgan as starring in December Bride, nor Bea Benaderet as a star of Burns and Allen. OK, Mr. Smartie Pants, who did have the top billing in Burns and Allen? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/17 "2020-01-06T03:33:15Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > William Shatner has Star Trek, T.J. Hooker, Boston Legal, and arguably Rescue 911. (ETA: Ninja’d!) If you’re going to include _Rescue 911_ (18 episodes over 7 seasons), then you need to include _TekWar_ (18 episodes over three years but ONE season 😕😕) Or, maybe not. Shatner rules TV! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/18 "2020-01-06T04:20:30Z")
Helen Mirren starred in Prime Suspect, Elizabeth I, and in Catherine the Great. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/19 "2020-01-06T04:24:02Z")
I don’t think Elizabeth I or Catherine the Great lasted long enough to qualify, given the restrictions in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/20 "2020-01-06T04:26:24Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t think Elizabeth I or Catherine the Great lasted long enough to qualify, given the restrictions in the OP. 1558 to 1603 and 1762 to 1796 aren’t long enough for you? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007.md?page=2)