Underrated sitcom actor/actress???

[mstewart]

Here is my list to begin with:
Michael Gross (Family Ties). His deadpan delivery is LOL.

Nancy Dussault (Too Close for Comfort). Excellent sitcom actress but unfortunately on Too Close for Comfort she did not fully display her acting abilities. I was glad they gave her opportunities to sing.

Shelley Fabares (The Donna Reed Show and Coach) She is a good comic actress. Coach did not give her many opportunities to display her comic abilities. On One Day at A Time she was hilarious as Francine Webster. She played that part to a science. Far different from the previous roles she played.

There is more to come.

[factsoflife]

That is an aboslutley great list.

[hawaii five-o]

I agree with Shelley Fabares.

[Brian]

I think Bob Newhart is underrated.

[hawaii five-o]

Gavin McLeod, He was the only actor from MTM not to win an emmy.
Fred MacMurray, He made it look too easy.
Donna Reed, A pioneer for women on TV.
Desi Arnaz, Most people forget how much he helped Lucy's career.

[edoug]

Ed O'Neill He played one of least likable characters in television history and you liked him anyway.
Stacy Keach as Ken Titus same as Ed O'Neill.

[GoldenFamilyTies]

Meredith Baxter-Birney - Everyone always says how she's such a good drama actress, but she's also top-notch at comedy too!!

[mstewart]

Originally posted by GoldenFamilyTies
Meredith Baxter-Birney - Everyone always says how she's such a good drama actress, but she's also top-notch at comedy too!!

You are talking to a fan of Meredith's since Bridget Loves Bernie and that was back in 1972. Also, when my crush on her began. Did you ever watched her series Family with Sada Thompson, James Brodrick and Kristi McNichol??? She was outstanding in that series and when episodes that featured her the show moved in a quite a powerful way. She played the oldest daugher, Nancy Lawrence-Maitland. The character was a single mom with a two year old son. She divorced her husband when she caught him in bed with another woman. She gave that character strength and turn her into a victim but a victorious woman. Nancy went on to law school and got a career. Eventually Nancy and her son moved out of her parents guest room into their own apartment.

Unfortunately for her on Family Ties they did not give her a chance to fully shine once it became The Michael J. Fox show. It would had been great to see storylines dealing with Steven and Elyse's relationship. I love watching them as a couple. They were quite compatible as TV husband and wife. Didn't mean to go on and on.

[71dude]

Richard Kline - Three's Company
Peter Boyle - Everybody Loves Raymond
Martin Spanjers - 8 Simple Rules
Jeremy Suarez - Bernie Mac
Bebe Neuwirth - Cheers
Marvin Kaplan - Alice
Betty Garrett - All in the Family, Laverne & Shirley
Marla Gibbs - The Jeffersons
Brice Beckham - Mr. Belvedere
Mark Addy - Still Standing

[TJL]

There are two great supporting actors out there who steal every scene they are in in thier respective shows:

Kurtwood Smith, "That 70's Show"
John C. McGinley, "Scrubs"

;)

[Adamantium]

Thomas Haden Church - Played Lowell Mather on "Wings".

Joe Rogan - Played Joe Garrelli on "NewsRadio".

Anthony Tyler Quinn - Played Mr. Turner on "Boy Meets World".

David Schramm - Played Roy Biggins on "Wings".

[Dragonflies]

Will Friedle who played Eric Matthews on Boy Meets World, he has such comedic timing, I have never laughed harder at anyone onscreen than when he's on my screen as Eric. He made the scripts funnier IMO!

actress-Crystal Bernard, she's so amazing but never gets any credit for being so funny :)

[David]

underrated actor- Richard Kline
underrated actress- Joyce Dewitt

[dandelion wine]

Kurtwood Smith - That 70s Show

Richard Kline - Three's Company

Justine Bateman and Michael Gross - Family Ties

Marla Gibbs - The Jeffersons

[greenlaser5555]

Justine Bateman is the last person who should be listed as underrated. Marc Price is not only underrated, but unpopular as well. Would Marc Price ever be a Jason Bateman? God no.

[~*Emma*~]

Underrated Actresses: Jennifer Esposito, Justine Bateman,

Underrated Actors: Barry Bostwick, Michael Gross, DAVID CROSS!!! (the man is BRILLIANT! That episode where he was in Just Shoot Me was HILARIOUS!)

[~*Emma*~]

OH! OH! Another one! Kevin Corrigan -- Uncle Eddie on Grouned for Life. He is one of my new favourite ever sitcom characters. THE GUY IS TERRIFIC!!!

[Dean Winchester]

I agree with Shelley Fabares, she's had success in the 50's, 60's (Donna Reed was late 50's/early 60's), 70's (Mary Hartman Mary Hartman), 80's (One Day At A Time) and 90's (Coach) on television yet nobody ever seems to realize just how long she's been around and how many hits she's been in. Plus, she continued to look amazing on ODAAT and Coach.

[Mikado]

Virginia Lee ( Get Smart , M*A*S*H )- Barbara Feldon ( 99 on Get Smart )- Sally Struthers ( She was much deeper as Gloria than she gets credit for )- Mako ( Japanese actor who played several guest parts on M*A*S*H inc a Chinese Dr who makes a prisoner exchange on a bridge )- Desi Arnaz ( Lucy was good, but he really made ILL believeable ) Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton ( Made Dagwood and Blondie come to life for over 15 years )<Singleton was also the voice of Jane Jetson

[Number 9 Dream]

Kurtwood Smith - That 70s Show

Richard Kline - Three's Company

[dlemond]

John C. McGinley as Dr. Cox on Scrubs.

Not only should he have been nominated for an Emmy by now, but he should have won one.

[Mikado]

John C. McGinley as Dr. Cox on Scrubs.

Not only should he have been nominated for an Emmy by now, but he should have won one.
Ted ( TV show shark jumping expert ) 's Brother??

[factsoflife]

There are so many underrated sitcom actors and actresses its not even funny...


heres a few:

Kim Fields- As Tootie on "The Facts Of Life" she was just a kid, but grew into a young adult and did so with the most talent i've seen a child actor have ever. and on "Living Single" she was a WOMEN... this lady should be working today and should also have an Emmy by now.

Debra Messing- Everyone that mentions will and grace raves about Karen and Jack, who are great, but eveyone always seems to overlook Debra Messing, this women is a comic genuis and deserves more attention than she gets.

Cybill Shepherd- From "Moonlighting" to "Cybill" she has always been great and this women never gets the attention she deserves.

[dlemond]

Ted ( TV show shark jumping expert ) 's Brother??

They are not related.

[factsoflife]

I'm a fan of Will & Grace, but find Karen annoying, and Grace somewhat boring. Although lately both of them have been growing on me. Anyways, the men on that show are definitely the funniest part.


Well i agree that grace can be boring, but Debra Messing is definetly a good actress and vastly undderrated.

[Sean Snow]

David Cross and Will Arnett from Arrested Development

[badbrainsfan]

I agree with Shelley Fabares, she's had success in the 50's, 60's (Donna Reed was late 50's/early 60's), 70's (Mary Hartman Mary Hartman), 80's (One Day At A Time) and 90's (Coach) on television yet nobody ever seems to realize just how long she's been around and how many hits she's been in. Plus, she continued to look amazing on ODAAT and Coach.

Well at least Shelly Fabares is way more popular than Clare Carey (The Coach's Daughter). What has Clare done for her career? And was she ever on the red carpet like Shelly was?

[Mikado]

They are not related.
TY..but man...they DO look alike...especially around the eyes

[Mikado]

Well at least Shelly Fabares is way more than Clare Carey (The Coach's Daughter). What has Clare done for her career? And was she ever on the red carpet like Shelly was?
I remember her on a TV interview , talking about how much she hated the whole "teen idol" thing, and sitting in the recording studio, croaking her way through Johnny Angel ( she said she wasn't that great a singer ), and being shocked when she heard the final ( well produced ) result " That wasnt MY voice..." :lol:

[Dean Winchester]

Well at least Shelly Fabares is way more than Clare Carey (The Coach's Daughter). What has Clare done for her career? And was she ever on the red carpet like Shelly was?

well, Clare only was on one show, Shelley did four hit series (meaning she appeared on even more hit series' than Michael Landon or Lucille Ball) and even had a #1 single in the early 1960's yet seems to be rather underappreciated considering she had a television career that lasted 40 years and was always a dependable name on shows.

[badbrainsfan]

well, Clare only was on one show, Shelley did four hit series (meaning she appeared on even more hit series' than Michael Landon or Lucille Ball) and even had a #1 single in the early 1960's yet seems to be rather underappreciated considering she had a television career that lasted 40 years and was always a dependable name on shows.
Ugh! More like three. Clare was on two other shows like So Little Time in 2001, and Point Pleasant in 2005. However, they were cancelled after one season for low ratings, and she did not have any good roles for those shows. So Clare Carey is not only underrated, she is definitely not popular, and definitely not rich.

[m campbell]

For me it would be Cathryn Damon.

[factsoflife]

Katherine Helmond.

[TheHappyBurgerMeister]

Justin Berfield (Malcolm in the Middle)

Will Friedle (Boy Meets World)

[troopoleon8897]

Laurie Metcalf

[Tweety]

My choices for most underrated would be:

1) Edward Platt ("Chief" from "Get Smart")
2) Frank Sutton (Sgt Carter from "Gomer Pyle")
3) Suzzane Pleshette - Bob Newhart Show
4) Isabelle Sanford - The Jeffersons
5) Vivian Vance - I Love Lucy


Posted by others earlier:
Ed O'Neil
Michael Gross


There are lots of others but I can't think of them right now...shows how underrated they were...

[factsoflife]

definetly Judith Light, Dixie Carter and especially Annie Potts and Jean Smart.

[greenlaser5555]

Ugh! More like three. Clare was on two other shows like So Little Time in 2001, and Point Pleasant in 2005. However, they were cancelled after one season for low ratings, and she did not have any good roles for those shows. So Clare Carey is not only underrated, she is definitely not popular, and definitely not rich.
I don't like badbrainsfan, but have to agree with his post.