Were there any sitcom actors who played a role that was way older than themselves?

The only ones I can think of right now are Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo and Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper. They were both excellent!

A lot of actors occasionally dressed as older people, like Lucy & Ethel, and the Brady parents, but I am looking for the ones for which being old was their main role.

Irene Ryan as "Granny" on The Beverly Hillbillies. While she was about to turn 60 when beginning the role, she was still playing a significantly older character.

Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie, she was 2000 years old but looked 20 something. She looked good for a 2000 year old! LOL! :lol:

What about Samantha on Bewitched? Wasn't her character significantly older than she looked? :confused:

richard crenna was 26 when he started playing high schooler walter denton on our miss brooks on tv and he had played the role on radio for several years before that

Redd Foxx played the "Over 60" Fred Sanford on S&S when actually he was only in his early 50's and Whitman Mayo who played the "Over 60" Grady was only in his early 40's.

I think on growing pains they made maggie (joanna kerns) older than Jason (Alan Thicke) when in reality I believe that Alan Thicke is like 6 yrs older than Joanna Kerns.

John Amos played an older character to seem like he was older than Esther Rolle who was more than ten years older than John was.

Frank Caddy who played Sam Drucker in Petticoat and Green Acres was only in his 40's was playing a character who was in his 60's.

Kenneth Waller was only 53 when he playes Old Mr Grace in Are you Being Served. Abe Vigoda was in his fities during Barney Miller and Fish.

Tony Ranndal played Felixes father 3 times on "THE ODD COUPLE" and Jack Klugman played Oscars father once.
Dick Van Dyke played Robs grandfather once on "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW".
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore played the older Rob & Laura Petrie once in a sketch on "THE MARY TYLER MOORE HOUR"-a short lived show she had after her sitcom.
(the sketch is on one of the DVD sets of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW)

Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie, she was 2000 years old but looked 20 something. She looked good for a 2000 year old! LOL! :lol:

What about Samantha on Bewitched? Wasn't her character significantly older than she looked? :confused:
Yes, Samantha was several centuries older than Darrin. That was established way back in Season 1, in an episode entitled "Eye of the Beholder". That was such a beautiful, sweet episode. :love:

When Taxi debuted in 1978, Marilu Henner (Elaine Nardo) was 26 years old and her character, a divorced mom with 2 kids, had to be 5-10 years older. I think I read where they dressed her older and Ms. Henner emulated her sister, who was about 10 years older than her in real life.

Melissa Gilbert was supposed to be a grown up Laura Ingalls, married and a school teacher. But to me she looked like a little girl playing dress up.:rolleyes:

Gary Burghoff played Radars mother once on MASH.

Richard Sanders played Les Nessman's mother on WKRP, and Bronson Pinchot also played Balki's mother on Perfect Strangers. I believe in both cases they were both one-shots. :lol:

Melissa Gilbert was supposed to be a grown up Laura Ingalls, married and a school teacher. But to me she looked like a little girl playing dress up.:rolleyes:

How old was Melissa at that point?

Bea Arthur played Dorothy's grandmother in a flashback once on The Golden Girls.

Wilford Brimley was 52 when he played the much older Gus Witherspoon in Our House.

Robert Reed and Florence Henderson played Mike and Carol's grandparents.

what about Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Robert Hegyes, Ron Palilio, and John Travolta on WELCOME BACK, KOTTER? They were all in their 30s during the run of that show, and were playing teenagers.

Kim Fields was 9 years old playing a 12 year old Tootie on the Facts of Life.

Nancy Mckeon was 13/14 years old playing a 16 year old Jo Polniaczek on the Facts of Life.

Al Lewis was only in his early 40's when he played Grandpa on "The Munsters". In fact Yvonne DeCarlo who played his daughter "Lilly" was actually a year older than Al in real life.

what about Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Robert Hegyes, Ron Palilio, and John Travolta on WELCOME BACK, KOTTER? They were all in their 30s during the run of that show, and were playing teenagers.
I don't think they were in their 30's. I do remember an article saying Robert was around age 24 and married when he started the show and he was the oldest. I thought John was around 21. Did the show last about 5 years??

I don't think they were in their 30's. I do remember an article saying Robert was around age 24 and married when he started the show and he was the oldest. I thought John was around 21. Did the show last about 5 years??

The boys were all in their 20's when the show started in 1975. Ron Pallilo was the oldest at 26. Lawrence Hilton Jacobs was 23. John Travolta was 22. Robert Hegyes was 24. Marcia Strassman was 27.Gabe Kaplan was 30 .

Well, glad we got that cleared up.

Henry Winkler was in his 30s playing a twentysomething hood who hung out with a bunch of twentysomethings portraying teenagers.