View Full Version : Cctors that Guest Starred as a Different Character Before Becoming a Regular


icecream
01-06-2015, 01:25 AM
An episode of Barney Miller just aired that had Ron Carey as a guest star who was chased down a sewer. He would become a regular as Officer Carl Levett, the short uniform guy. On the same show Steve Landesburg guest starred as a priest before landing the role of Detective Arthur Dietrich. And on Bewitched Paul Lynde played a driving instructor for Samantha before becoming her Uncle Arthur.

Yong Fang
01-06-2015, 07:07 AM
Harry Morgan played an insane General before becoming Colonel Potter.

Jack Dodson was actually another character on The Andy Griffith Show before he was Howard Sprague.

Kasey
01-06-2015, 09:46 AM
An episode of Barney Miller just aired that had Ron Carey as a guest star who was chased down a sewer. He would become a regular as Officer Carl Levett, the short uniform guy. On the same show Steve Landesburg guest starred as a priest before landing the role of Detective Arthur Dietrich. And on Bewitched Paul Lynde played a driving instructor for Samantha before becoming her Uncle Arthur.
Alice Ghostley played a maid in S2 before joining as Esmerelda in S6 and Bernard Fox played a witch hunter in S2 before returning as Dr. Bombay in S3.

robyrob
01-06-2015, 10:42 AM
on Happy Days:

Linda Purl played Richie's girlfriend in a few early season episodes before coming back as Fonzie's girlfriend Ashley

SitcomsOffline
01-06-2015, 11:24 AM
Peri Gilpin (who played Roz on Frasier) guest starred as a journalist on the episode of Cheers when Frasier wanted to see what would happen if Woody ran for political office...

Bonniegirl
01-06-2015, 12:23 PM
Randi Oakes guest starred on Chips as Kim, who was in a female car theft ring. ( She even stole Ponch's Firebird) ! Than she became a regular on the show the very next season as Officer Bonnie Clark !

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMHVlbgCnqxMktkI7uTsmUqEO1tZQ0Rwx_8BotUuaSTJUL04F0

Mace Dolex
01-06-2015, 02:27 PM
Diff'rent Strokes:

Mary Ann Mobley played Arnold's grade school teacher in season 2 only to come back for season 8 replacing Dixie Carter as Maggie McKinney.

Bonniegirl
01-06-2015, 02:51 PM
Mike Minor guest starred on Petticoat Junction as Dan Plout , Selma Plout's son, Season 2 Mother of the bride. He than of course joined the cast in Season 4 as Steve Elliott.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDF5HAK11nb8zqP-_YLsdMSiPS7ZW1A4CCWbARLGeb3dEgnJwL

JamesG
01-06-2015, 06:08 PM
On "Three's Company", Jordan Charney played Larry's boss at the used-car lot, Mr. Layton, before becoming Jack Tripper's boss Mr. Angelino.

70s show watcher
01-06-2015, 08:21 PM
kelli giddish guest stared on svu as an assult victim before becoming a regular

Sal
01-06-2015, 11:25 PM
On "The Andy Griffith Show"'s pilot episode, which was in Season 7 of "Make Room For Daddy", Frances Bavier played Mayberry citizen Henrietta Perkins. When the series began, she was re-cast as Aunt Bee.

Edward216
01-11-2015, 04:37 AM
Here's two for the series Law And Order. In season 1 or 2 S. Epatha Merkerson guest starred as the mom of a very young murder victim before she got the long running role of Lieutenant Van Buren. And actor Jerry Orbach guest starred in one episode as a defense attorney before he was given the role of Detective Lenny Briscoe, one of my favorite cops ever.

Ed.

Edward216
01-11-2015, 05:06 AM
I remembered another for Law And Order. Annie Parisse who was on for about a season as one of the assistant district attorneys in the later seasons first guest starred in an episode as a female stripper who is questioned during a murder investigation.

Ed.

icecream
01-11-2015, 05:13 PM
Here's two for the series Law And Order. In season 1 or 2 S. Epatha Merkerson guest starred as the mom of a very young murder victim before she got the long running role of Lieutenant Van Buren. And actor Jerry Orbach guest starred in one episode as a defense attorney before he was given the role of Detective Lenny Briscoe, one of my favorite cops ever.I would like to see the Jerry Orbach defense attorney episode, sounds interesting!

robyrob
01-11-2015, 07:29 PM
on Happy Days:

Linda Purl played Richie's girlfriend in a few early season episodes before coming back as Fonzie's girlfriend Ashley


Lynda Goodfriend first appeared as Ralph's date Kim before she returned to play Richie's girlfriend Loribeth.

Crystal Bernard first appeared as Mikki, a girl that someone spread a rumor that Fonzie had gotten pregnant before returning to play K.C. Cunningham

Ohio8
01-11-2015, 09:43 PM
Lynda Goodfriend first appeared as Ralph's date Kim before she returned to play Richie's girlfriend Loribeth.

Crystal Bernard first appeared as Mikki, a girl that someone spread a rumor that Fonzie had gotten pregnant before returning to play K.C. Cunningham

Jenny P. was the one who spread the rumor.

FuriosityShell
01-11-2015, 11:20 PM
Ted McGinley played Peggy's husband in an alternate universe on Married...With Children before coming back two seasons later as Marcy;s husband, Jefferson D'Arcy.

Ohio8
01-12-2015, 12:54 AM
Ted McGinley played Peggy's husband in an alternate universe on Married...With Children before coming back two seasons later as Marcy;s husband, Jefferson D'Arcy.

It was the 1990 Christmas episode "It's a Bundyful Life."

Edward216
01-12-2015, 02:05 AM
Yeah I think so too catsrule, I'm not sure if I've ever seen that episode and I'm a big fan of Law And Order. But it was on for 20 years and there's a lot of episodes so maybe I've seen it and just don't remember it.

Ed.

DJM77
01-13-2015, 01:16 PM
Joseph C Phillips made a guest appearance as a different character before he was Martin on The Cosby Show.

70s show watcher
01-16-2015, 04:17 AM
I would like to see the Jerry Orbach defense attorney episode, sounds interesting!I would like to see that one too

Edward216
01-22-2015, 12:58 AM
I just learned this one tonight while watching a show about the series run of the sitcom Home Improvement. Debbie Dunning appeared in a season 1 episode in a scene in a restaurant where she plays a woman who recognizes Tim Taylor and comes over to his table and asks for his autograph. Her character had a ridiculously long last name LOL. Starting in season two she'd play Heidi the "Tool Time" girl for the rest of the show's run after the original Tool Time girl Pamela Anderson left the show. Debbie Dunning was much better on the show in my opinion.

Ed.

Mace Dolex
01-22-2015, 01:37 AM
On CHiP's in its 6th season officer Bobby Nelson (Tom Reilly) was in a 5th season episode as a different character.

IllinoisTVFan
01-22-2015, 03:33 AM
Jon Wellner of CSI played another role before joining that show. Full disclosure: I've never seen him in the show, I looked it up months ago because I was a college classmate of his.

I'm not 100% of this but didn't Buck Taylor play another character before joining Gunsmoke as Newly?

MacLeaper
01-22-2015, 04:09 PM
Dana Elcar portrayed Andy Colson in the pilot episode of "MacGyver" before coming back in the Season 1 episode "Nightmares", portraying Pete Thornton, who became MacGyver's boss at the DXS and later at the Phoenix Foundation in Season 2 on throughout the rest of the series.
Pete was a recurring character in Season 1, but by Season 2, Dana Elcar was added as part of the main cast and stayed there through the rest of the show.

Frenky
01-22-2015, 05:11 PM
Jennifer Bini Taylor as Chelsea from TAAHM actually played different character before becoming Charlie's fiancee.

Ryan Chamberlain
01-22-2015, 05:40 PM
Sam Anderson played a bank teller in an early episode of Perfect Strangers before he went on to become Balki's boss Mr. Gorpley.

jehobden
01-22-2015, 07:42 PM
On LA Law, A Martinez played a friend of Victor Sifuentes who was executed in the gas chamber in Season 5, then he came back to life as a lawyer with the firm for Seasons 7 & 8.

MacLeaper
01-23-2015, 02:18 PM
Jennifer Bini Taylor as Chelsea from TAAHM actually played different character before becoming Charlie's fiancee.

What's TAAHM?

DJM77
01-23-2015, 03:36 PM
What's TAAHM?

Two and a Half Men

andress_jade
01-24-2015, 05:04 PM
In the King of Queens, Nicole Sullivan played a character that worked in a baby store. Carrie went in there to buy stuff for the baby she and Doug were expecting (but lost later). She came back in the next season playing Holly.

ThomasE
01-26-2015, 05:34 AM
Little House On The Prairie:

Matthew Laberotaux played a young Charles Ingalls then came back later as Charles Ingalls' and Caroline's adopted son, Albert.

MacLeaper
01-26-2015, 01:18 PM
Originally Posted by MacLeaper

What's TAAHM?


Two and a Half Men
__________________

Thanks.

bmasters9
01-26-2015, 03:04 PM
The pilot of MacGyver had Dana Elcar as another character named Andy Colson; this was before Dana became MacGyver's boss Pete Thornton.

scrapple
01-27-2015, 09:15 PM
On "Everybody Loves Raymond" , the guy who became Ray's friend Gianni originally appeared as a cable company repairman who caught Frank stealing cable services.

treky
01-28-2015, 01:14 AM
on GREEN ACRES Sid Melton played a plumber in the 2nd or 3rd episode before being cast as Alf Monroe.

McGillicuddy
01-28-2015, 07:25 PM
I Love Lucy

Elizabeth Patterson played Mrs. Wiloughby in season 1's "The Marriage License" before later becoming Mrs. Trumbell.

Kathryn Card played Minnie Finch in season 3's "Fan Magazine Interview" before later becoming Mrs. McGillicuddy, Lucy's mother.

Mary Jane Croft played Mrs. Bigsby in "Return Home From Europe" before later becoming Westport neighbor, Betty Ramsey.

Ohio8
01-28-2015, 08:42 PM
All in the Family:
Allan Melvin was a cop in "Archie Bunker Goes to Jail" before he became Barney Hefner.
Vincent Gardenia was in the swingers episode, then played Frank Lorenzo.

Gomer Pyle: William Christopher was in two episodes as two different characters before he become Pvt. Lester Hummel.
Hogan's Heroes: Howard Caine was in two episodes, then he became Major Hockstetter.

M*A*S*H" Allan Arbus was Milton Freedman in "Radar's Report." Later he played Major Sidney Freedman, M.D.
Roseanne/Johnny Palecki was Kevin Healy in one episode. Then he became David Healy.

treky
01-29-2015, 02:14 AM
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW-Allan Melvin played an old Army buddy of Robs in the first season episode HARRISON B. HARDING OF CAMP CROWDER, MISSOURI before later replacing Marty Ingalls as Sol Pomerantz. (when Ingalls played him, his last name was PomeROY.

Adamantium
01-29-2015, 09:20 AM
On NewsRadio Jon Lovitz appeared in two separate episodes ("Our Fiftieth Episode" & "Jumper") as two separate characters (Fred & Mike Johnson) before joining the cast in the fifth (final) season as a new character (Max Louis), replacing the late Phil Hartman.

Ohio8
01-30-2015, 06:16 PM
The Odd Couple: Pamelyn Ferdinand was in "Bunny is Missing Down by the
Lake." She then became Edna Unger #1.

Ohio8
01-30-2015, 06:19 PM
Sanford & Son. Eric Laneuville was in "Ebenzer Sanford," and later on he became Daniel Anderson.

Heidi Dawn
01-31-2015, 11:19 AM
Prior to becoming a semi-regular during season 7 of Love Boat, then promoted to a regular at the beginning of season 8 when Lauren Tewes was fired, Ted McGinley played 2 different characters before being cast as Ashley 'Ace' Evans.

Before being cast as Judy McCoy, Patrica Klous played 2 different characters on Love Boat in season 5 and 7.

caladon
01-31-2015, 01:52 PM
Wendy Schaal made two appearances on Fantasy Island before being cast as Julie the next season.

jayman75
02-03-2015, 05:05 PM
The Golden Girls

Harold Gould played Rose's first serious boyfriend, Arnie. Later in the series Harold played Miles Webber, Rose's real boyfriend... who was in the Witness Protection Program, and his real name was Nicholas Carbone!

caladon
02-04-2015, 03:37 AM
Anita Gillette played Quincy's wife as two different character's. First as his late wife Helen Quincy in the episode "Promises To Keep," then three years later became Dr. Emily Hanover who became engaged to and later married Quincy in a 2 part episode.

Bonniegirl
02-10-2015, 02:19 PM
On Green Acres, Fran Ryan played a lady who along with her hubby and six children were staying at the Douglas's house that Mr. Haney rented out while the Douglas's were in Washington DC! Than in a later season Fran was casted as Doris Ziffel after Barbara Pepper passed away. ( RIP Barbara)

This ep. was on today! It was really funny!

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRt8YodY1p8cXqJ6LTYrzHCiZkRqWk5FpPeo6ZraSw3SnQiM3cS