The list is short, IMO.
Not talking about performers who have been in two (or more) long-running series, otherwise Johnny Galecki or Kaley Cuoco would make the list (and I like them both) nor am I talking about people who've played an iconic role in one series and the lead in another, otherwise Alyson Hannigan would make the list (also like her).

Bob Newhart - Robert Hartley and Dick Loudon
Mary Tyler Moore - Laura Petrie and Mary Richards
Bill Cosby - Alexander Scott and Cliff Huxtable

and if you stretch the definition (just) a little

James Garner - Bret Maverick and Jim Rockford
Avery Brooks - Hawk and Benjamin Sisko

My guess is that some of the people here will come with a few more, but the end list will still be short, maybe 10 or 15 actors long.

Any others?

Lucille Ball -- Lucy Ricardo, Lucy Carmichael, Lucy Carter

Robert Young - Jim Anderson, Dr. Marcus Welby

Andy Griffith--Andy Taylor, Ben Matlock
Ron Howard--Opie Taylor, Richie Cunningham
Larry Hagman--Tony Nelson, J.R Ewing

Lucille Ball -- Lucy Ricardo, Lucy Carmichael, Lucy Carter

Robert Young - Jim Anderson, Dr. Marcus Welby

Thought about Lucille Ball, but, while they have different names, they were essentially the same character.

As for Robert Young, while he was the lead in both series, I don't believe the characters were iconic.

Andy Griffith--Andy Taylor, Ben Matlock
Ron Howard--Opie Taylor, Richie Cunningham
Larry Hagman--Tony Nelson, J.R Ewing

Andy Griffith - While Andy Taylor qualifies, Ben Matlock doesn't.

Ron Howard - maybe.

Larry Hagman - No. Tony Nelson doesn't qualify. J.R. definitely does.

Andy Griffith - While Andy Taylor qualifies, Ben Matlock doesn't.

Ron Howard - maybe.

Larry Hagman - No. Tony Nelson doesn't qualify. J.R. definitely does.

If Alexander Scott and Hawk qualify then Ben Matlock qualifies. Matlock is much more recognizable than either of those.

Even though I never liked him, Michael Landon has to be on the list for 3 characters: Little Joe, Charles Ingalls, and Jonathan Smith. He might be the only one to have 3.

Avery Brooks - Hawk and Benjamin Sisko


I’ve never heard of Avery Brooks, Hawk, or Benjamin Sisko. Every other name mentioned in here thus far I recognize.

I guess it depends on how you judge. Robert Young won primetime Emmys for both series.

It'd be interesting to do a poll on all these.

I’ve never heard of Avery Brooks, Hawk, or Benjamin Sisko. Every other name mentioned in here thus far I recognize.

Nor have I.

If you polled Lucille Ball's or Andy Griffith's multiple roles, I'd bet they'd both win over James Garner or Avery Brooks.

I’ve never heard of Avery Brooks, Hawk, or Benjamin Sisko. Every other name mentioned in here thus far I recognize.Avery Brooks was the star of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine playing Captain Benjamin Sisko. not familiar with Hawk

Avery Brooks was the star of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine playing Captain Benjamin Sisko

Is he iconic?

At least I've heard of Deep Space Nine.

I finally found Hawk--it's A Man Called Hawk, and ran for 13 episodes in 1989. I'd hardly call that an iconic role.

Carroll O'Connor for Archie Bunker in All in the Family and Bill Gillespie on In the Heat of the Night. He was the only actor the win Emmy's for outstanding lead best actor for both comedy and drama categories.

Carroll O'Connor for Archie Bunker in All in the Family and Bill Gillespie on In the Heat of the Night. He is the only actor the win Emmy for outstanding lead best actor for both comedy and drama categories.

That's why i was irritated about Robert Young. He won lead actor Emmys for both Father Knows Best and Marcus Welby MD.

That's why i was irritated about Robert Young. He won lead actor Emmys for both Father Knows Best and Marcus Welby MD.

I agree with you. Robert Young had two very different iconic roles. Marcus Welby even hit number one in the ratings.

Although he only appeared in one episode of the Twilight Zone, and most people couldn't tell you the character name in the script, I think just about everybody thinks about "the guy in the Airplane" when you mention The Twilight Zone so I'd say that qualifies William Shatner (plus TJ Hooker, just as a bonus)

Not everybody was a fan of the original series "Battlestar Galactica", but at the time the series was in first runs, if you showed them a picture of Commander Adama, they'd tell you what show it was...so I'd add Lorne Greene to the list as well (assuming that "popular" and "iconic" are not necessarily the same thing).

Harry Morgan? You play those 5 notes for anybody who was alive in the 1960s, and his dead pan face comes immediately into focus....and then there is Sherman Potter

I'm thinking Fred Gwynn, too. show anybody a picture of him in a police uniform, and I bet very few would miss it.

Martin Milner......ditto

I wanna say Dennis Weaver too....little borderline...but I think most people identified McCloud as a cult hero of sorts, at least at the time....plus Gunsmoke


How about Pernell Roberts? I never really cared about Trapper John, but I recall scads of people who never missed an episode...plus Adam Cartwright

At least I've heard of Deep Space Nine.

I finally found Hawk--it's A Man Called Hawk, and ran for 13 episodes in 1989. I'd hardly call that an iconic role.

A Man Called Hawk is a spin off of Spencer For Hire where Brooks originally played the character.

I think Brooks is more well known for Star Trek than Spencer For Hire though.

Although he only appeared in one episode of the Twilight Zone, and most people couldn't tell you the character name in the script, I think just about everybody thinks about "the guy in the Airplane" when you mention The Twilight Zone so I'd say that qualifies William Shatner (plus TJ Hooker, just as a bonus)

Not everybody was a fan of the original series "Battlestar Galactica", but at the time the series was in first runs, if you showed them a picture of Commander Adama, they'd tell you what show it was...so I'd add Lorne Greene to the list as well (assuming that "popular" and "iconic" are not necessarily the same thing).

Harry Morgan? You play those 5 notes for anybody who was alive in the 1960s, and his dead pan face comes immediately into focus....and then there is Sherman Potter

Probably achieving iconic status requires popularity. Popularity is included in this definition:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/iconic

Ahhh, man......:D

How about Tom Select for Magnum and Frank Reagan? Blue Bloods will probably be remembered as the last quality network drama unless network TV pulls a major comeback. Others shows have been on longer, but they don't have top tier casts and their writing stinks.