# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/81 "2020-01-07T21:55:50Z")
Jason Bateman Silver Spoons - 5 seasons The Hogan Family - 6 seasons Arrested Development - 5 seasons, kinda The Ozarks - 2 seasons so far ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/82 "2020-01-07T22:08:59Z")
James Garner had Maverick, Rockford Files and Eight Simple Rules. There were several variation on Maverick. He also had Nichols which was short lived. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/83 "2020-01-07T23:25:39Z")
Peter Krause has gotten pretty good being first or second-billed in the following: Parenthood - 6 seasons Six feet Under - 5 seasons 9-1-1 - 3 seasons and counting Plus: Sports Night - 2 seasons Dirty Sexy Money - 2 seasons The Catch - 2 seasons ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/84 "2020-01-08T00:01:25Z")
He’s probably not the winner, but the first guy that leaped to mind was David Duchovny. X-Files, Californication & Red Shoe Diaries and he’s unquestionably the lead in those non-ensemble style shows. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/85 "2020-01-08T00:19:04Z")
BTW, I think it’s cheating to use people that are on ensemble shows, but admittedly that’s a blurry line. I suspect that Courtney Cox was the “lead” of Friends when it premiered, but in reality all 6 main characters were either the lead or none of them were. Similar argument could be made for 90210, the plethora of procedurals like Law & Order, ER, CSI:Whatever and prime-time soaps like Dynasty and Melrose Place. SNL and other sketch shows suffer from this perhaps even worse. Even Seinfeld, if not for the title and Jerry’s position as writer/producer, could be considered to have 3 “leads”. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/86 "2020-01-08T01:30:44Z")
Mark Harmon has had leading roles in Flamingo Road, St Elsewhere, Chicago Hope and NCIS. Incidentally it was only with NCIS and the internet that I recognised him as the guy I’d fancied in every one of those roles 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/87 "2020-01-08T12:58:08Z")
Tim Daly [ul] [li]Wings - 8 seasons[/li][li]Superman: The Animated Series - 3 seasons[/li][li]Private Practice - 5 seasons[/li][li]Madame Secretary - 6 seasons[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/88 "2020-01-08T14:24:46Z")
Kate Jackson : Dark Shadows Rookies Charlie’s Angels Scarecrow and Mrs. King ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/89 "2020-01-08T15:22:21Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > Dark Shadows She was only on that show for a year, and she wasn’t a star. > [@gytalf2000](#): > > Scarecrow and Mrs. King Building off this we have Bruce Boxleitner [ul] [li]How the West was Won - 3 seasons[/li][li]Scarecrow and Mrs King - 4 seasons[/li][li]Babalon 5 - 4 seasons[/li][/ul] He also had a major role in something called Cedar Cove for 3 seasons, but it looks like he was a supporting cast member. ---
**Author:** ![TimfromNapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TimfromNapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimfromNapa)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/90 "2020-01-08T20:27:19Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > 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? James Arness was the top-billed star in Gunsmoke for 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/91 "2020-01-08T21:06:05Z")
> [@TimfromNapa](#): > > James Arness was the top-billed star in Gunsmoke for 20 years. Yes, but he only starred in _one_ successful series. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/92 "2020-01-09T00:40:23Z")
> [@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. If you look at the CSI box sets, Danson is the most prominently featured on the cover of three of the four seasons he was in. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/93 "2020-01-09T01:22:27Z")
Kristen Bell arguably has 4: Veronica Mars, Gossip Girl, House of Lies, and The Good Place. She wasn’t _top billed_ in Gossip Girl. In fact, she wasn’t even credited. But she was the titular character and in every episode! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/94 "2020-01-09T03:24:48Z")
Maura Tierney [ul] [li]News Radio - 5 seasons[/li][li]ER - 10 seasons[/li][li]The Affair - 5 seasons[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/95 "2020-01-09T03:27:21Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Yes, but he only starred in _one_ successful series. How the West was Won ran for 3 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/96 "2020-01-09T04:43:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > How the West was Won ran for 3 seasons. I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/97 "2020-01-09T16:37:38Z")
Eric McCormack [ul] [li]Will & Grace - 11 seasons[/li][li]Travelers - 3 seasons[/li][li]Perception - 3 seasons[/li][li]Pound Puppies - 3 seasons (voice)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/98 "2020-01-09T16:43:48Z")
Seth MacFarlane [ul] [li]The Orville - 3 seasons[/li][li]American Dad! - 15 seasons (voice)[/li][li]Family Guy - 18 seasons (voice)[/li][li]The Cleveland Show - 4 seasons (voice)[/li][/ul] He’s not really a star in The Cleveland Show, so it probably shouldn’t be listed. But he’s also credited as the creator of all 4 shows, which is unique. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/99 "2020-01-09T23:42:49Z")
Seth MacFarlane made me realize I should look at Mel Blanc’s imdb page. It’s… extensive. 1149 acting credits. Looks like he was a lead voice actor in Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels The Bugs Bunny Show The Flintstones If he had lived at a different time, he might have had dozens of successful 3-year shows. As it is, most of his credits are for single animated shorts, and most of the shows lasted only 2 seasons, not 3. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007/100 "2020-01-10T02:16:52Z")
Here’s [a thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=57992&page=2) I started on a similar subject, but with slightly different qualifications. I didn’t require a starring role, and the cutoff was 80 episodes in at least three different series. See especially the posts by **obfusciatrist** who took over as official record-keeper of the thread. That was almost 20 years ago, and some actors have gone on to star in more seasons of shows since then. The last updated official list from that thread included the following actors: Denise Alexander Richard Dean Anderson Rene Auberjonois Barbara Babcock Lucille Ball Bea Benaderet Barbara Berjer Casey Casem Tim Conway Bill Cosby David Coulier Jane Curtin Abby Dalton William Daniels Shelley Fabares John Forsythe Peter Graves Phil Hartman David Hasselhoff Bernie Kopell Don Knotts Michael Landon Heather Locklear Judi Evans Luciano Lee Majors Wendie Malick Howie Mandel Gavin McCloud Alvin Melvin Martin Milner Harry Morgan Lorenzo Music Tom Poston Burt Reynolds Dolph Sweet Frank Welker And the following were listed as questionable Don Adams Bill Bixby Tom Bosley Julie Kavner William Shatner Dick Van Dyke Betty White [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-starred-in-the-most-successful-tv-series/846007.md?page=6)