TV Stars’ Multiple Roles

Most television actors are lucky if their career is noted for one memorable (and, hopefully, long-running) role. Landing in more than one is even more rare.

Here’s our list of TV stars known for more than one character. We’re sure we left some out, so please use our Comments area to put in your two cents.

Edward Asner: Lou Grant and…Lou Grant. Bear with us here. Lou’s first incarnation was as part of a comedy ensemble in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The character later got a dramatic turn in the aptly named Lou Grant.

Bill Bixby: A triple threat. Bixby started out in My Favorite Martian, moved on to The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, and later starred in The Incredible Hulk.

Raymond Burr: Sure, he’ll always be Perry Mason, but Burr went on to enjoy an eight-year run as Ironside.

Buddy Ebsen: Best known as Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies, he also lasted 8 1/2 seasons as detective Barnaby Jones.

Sally Field: From surfer girl Gidget, to The Flying Nun, to her current role in the well-regarded drama Brothers & Sisters, for which she won an Emmy in 2007. Field also won an Emmy for the TV movie Sybil and another for a recurring role in ER in 2001.

Pages: 1 2