http://screen.answers.com/television/8-sitcom-sidekicks-who-never-made-it-big?param4=fb-us-de-entertainment&param1=null&param2=null&param5=null&param6=null#slide=1
Very interesting.

I'm trying to remember any sitcom sidekicks that have made it big; the only one coming to mind is Bob Denver (remember Maynard G. Krebs?). It seems being a sidekick is the number one way of getting typecast.

I'm trying to remember any sitcom sidekicks that have made it big; the only one coming to mind is Bob Denver (remember Maynard G. Krebs?). It seems being a sidekick is the number one way of getting typecast.


How about these people? You might have heard of them:


Don Knotts (Barney Fife)
Art Carney (Ed Norton)
Bruce Lee (Kato from "The Green Hornet")
Mary Tyler Moore (Laura Petrie)
Tom Hanks ("Bosom Buddies")
Jason Bateman ("Silver Spoons")
Tim Conway (Ensign Charles Parker "McHale's Navy")

George Burns was Gracie Allen's straight man, which meant he acted like a sidekick and let her handle the comedy.

Speaking of Bob Denver, his "Gilligan's Island" co-star Jim Backus also had a sidekick role in his younger days, acting as Joan Davis' husband in "I Married Joan".

Robin form batman TV series

http://screen.answers.com/television/8-sitcom-sidekicks-who-never-made-it-big?param4=fb-us-de-entertainment&param1=null&param2=null&param5=null&param6=null#slide=1
Very interesting.
This page is waaaayyyy to slow, so forget it. It took about three minutes just to get past the first celebrity Jenna Van Oy, so I clicked out.

Tom Hanks ("Bosom Buddies")


Tom Hanks was not a "sidekick" in Bosom Buddies. He was a star of the show same as the other Bosom Buddy guy who played the role of Henry.

Jenna Von Oy -Blossom
Andrea Barber - Full House
Sean O'Neal -Clarissa Explains It All
Dustin Diamond -Saved by The Bell
Alfonso Ribeiro - Fresh Prince
David Hyde Pierce -Frasier
Josh Saviano -The Wonder Years
David Coulier -Full House

Willie Ames - Charles In Charge

Last I read about him he turned to Christianity and did a superhero video of a character called Bibleman to teach kids about religion. He's was also I think on Celebrity Fitness on VH -1.

Tommy Smothers the character was too dumb and niave to be without his brother Dick.......

Although, in real life, I have read that Tommy is actually more mature the leader of the two and Dick is the one who is flighty.

Jenna Von Oy -Blossom
Andrea Barber - Full House
Sean O'Neal -Clarissa Explains It All
Dustin Diamond -Saved by The Bell
Alfonso Ribeiro - Fresh Prince
David Hyde Pierce -Frasier
Josh Saviano -The Wonder Years
David Coulier -Full House


Actually David Hyde Pierce is very successful in theatre, he's already won a Tony award so he's still making it big, just not in TV acting. ;)

answers.com isn't that reliable.

Art Carney won an Oscar for Harry and Tonto in 1975.