Name sitcoms or shows where a character is replaced by a brother, sister, cousin or other relative, because of the departure, temporary absence or passing of an actor (This is usually a better option than bringing in someone to play the same character)


Three's Company - Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) replaced by cousin Cindy (Jenilee Harrison)
Designing Women - Suzanne (Delta Burke) replaced by cousin Allison (Julia Duffy)
Designing Women - Charlene (Jean Smart) replaced by sister Carlene (Jan Hooks)
Charlie's Angels - Jill Munroe (Farrah Fawcett) replaced by sister Kris (Cheryl Ladd)
Facts of Life - Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) replaced by sister Beverly Ann (Cloris Leachman)
Family Affair - Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot) replaced temporarily by brother Nigel (John Williams)
Bewitched - Mrs. Kravitz (Alice Pierce) replaced temporarily by sister-in-law, Harriet (Mary-Grace Canfield)
Little House On The Prairie - Nellie (Allison Arngrim) replaced by adopted sister Nancy (Allison Balson)

Newhart - Leslie was replaced by Stephanie

The Dukes of Hazzard - Bo and Luke were placed by Coy and Vance, who in turn were replaced by...Bo and Luke

Charmed - Rose McGowan was brought onto the show as "Paige Matthews"; the adopted youngest sibling of the Halliwell sisters.

This was due to Shannon Doherty leaving.

Uncle Jack Marshall replaced his brother Rick Marshall as family patriarch in the third season of "Land of the Lost".

The Love Boat - Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes) replaced by sister Judy (Pat Klous)
Dennis the Menace - Mr. George Wilson (Joseph Kearns) replaced by brother John (Gale Gordon)
Dennis the Menace - Mrs. Martha Wilson (Sylvia Field) replaced by sister-in-law, Eloise (Sara Seeger)
Happy Days - Pinky Tuscadaro (Roz Kelly) replaced by sister Leather (Suzi Quatro)
My Three Sons - Bub O'Casey (William Frawley) replaced by brother "Uncle" Charlie (William Demerest)

Empty Nest-The character of Barbara Weston played by Kristy McNichol was replaced by her younger sister Emily played by Lisa Rieffel in season 5.

The Andy Griffith Show - Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) replaced by Cousin Goober (George Lindsay)
Maverick - Bret Maverick (James Garner) replaced by cousin Beau (Roger Moore)

The Andy Griffith Show - Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) replaced by Cousin Goober (George Lindsay)
Maverick - Bret Maverick (James Garner) replaced by cousin Beau (Roger Moore)
the "MAVERICK" replacment was because James Garner was suing Warner Bros. at the time-a move that was unheard of back then. At the time there was an unwritten law in Hollywood that you just let "the big boys" alone and let them do their job.

The Andy Griffith Show - Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) replaced by Cousin Goober (George Lindsay)


Not really. Goober and Gomer were both introduced in the 1963-64 season, Gomer actually as a pseudo replacement for Floyd, at least from the perspective of the creative team.

If Mary Grace Canfield filling in for Alice Pearce counts, then so would the earlier occasion of Jack Albertson taking the place of Larry Keating on Mr. Ed, playing the brother (and sudden house-guest) of Edna Skinner's Kay.

Living Dolls--when the handwriting was on the wall for this show's demise, Michael Learned jumped ship and the last handful of episodes starred her character's sister, played by Marion Ross.

McMillan & Wife became McMillan when Susan St James left, but Nancy Walker left at the same time. While the Commissioner became a widow on the show, he did still have a housekeeper, played by Martha Raye as Agatha--Mildred's sister.

Happy Days-When Richie left the show he was replaced by cousin Roger and when Joanie and Chachi got their own show they were replaced by Roger's brother Flip and Joanie's cousin K.C.

Valerie/The Hogan Family - Valerie Hogan (Valerie Harper) replaced by sister-in-law, Sandy (Sandy Duncan)

on Newhart, the original maid Leslie Vanderkellen is replaced in the second season by her cousin, Stephanie Vanderkellen.

on Newhart, the original maid Leslie Vanderkellen is replaced in the second season by her cousin, Stephanie Vanderkellen.
Interesting! Julia Duffy replaced a character on 2 sitcoms, as a cousin. On Newhart she replaced Jennifer Holme's character, Leslie, as Stephanie Vanderkellen, and went on to be the better known of the two. On Designing Women she replaced Delta Burke's character, Suzanne, as Allison Sugarbaker, but this replacement was not sucessful. Her character was dropped after one season.

Neither of these went as planned, but they are noteworthy:

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis: Maynard G. Krebs was very, very briefly replaced by his cousin Jerome Krebs (played by Michael Pollard). But the replacement proved unnecessary, as Bob Denver (Maynard) was classified 4F when drafted and able to return immediately.

Bonanza: Adam Cartwright was to be replaced by his cousin Will Cartwright, played by Guy Williams. But Adam (Pernell Roberts) stayed on another season, and Will was written out of the series after a handful of episodes.

[QUOTE=TDRyan]Not really. Goober and Gomer were both introduced in the 1963-64 season, Gomer actually as a pseudo replacement for Floyd, at least from the perspective of the creative team.

Technically, you're right, but in a way I think he replaced Gomer, in that his role was expanded after Nabors left, and maybe he was originally introduced in anticipation of Nabors spinning off to Gomer Pyle.

On The Jeffersons, Jay Hammer (Alan Willis) was brought in for season 5 to replace Jenny Willis, his sister, although he was really used as a replacement for Lionel. When Mike Evans came back to play Lionel in season 6, Jay Hammer was written out.

Newhart - Leslie was replaced by Stephanie

The Dukes of Hazzard - Bo and Luke were placed by Coy and Vance, who in turn were replaced by...Bo and Luke
Coy and Vance - those names still make most Dukes fans erupt into anger. :mad: :eek: :lol:

Mama's Family - Bubba Higgins replaced his cousins Buzz & Sonja Harper

George Lopez - Veronica Palmiero replaced her cousin Carmen Lopez