Either one shot or recurring.

For example:

-On One Day At A Time, Pat Harrington, Schneider, was also Panzini in an episode

-On Bewitched, Elizabeth Montgomery, Samantha, was also occasionally Serena

-On Friends, David Schwimmer, Ross, was also Russ in an episode

Barbara Eden: Jeannie, Jeannie 2
Fred MacMurray: Steve, Angus
Patty Duke: Patty & Cathy
Carolyn Jones: Morticia, Ophelia
Max Baer: Jethro, Jethrene

The Brady Bunch
Christopher Knight-Peter & Arthur
Robert Reed-Mike & Judge Brady
Florence Henderson-Carol & Connie
Ann B. Davis Alice & Cousin Emma


The Monkees
Davey Jones
Peter Tork
Mickey Dolenz
Mike Nesmith

All 4 Monkees Did this through the entire Series.

Fred Gwynn played both Charlie and Johann on the Munsters.

Gary Burghoff, Richard Sanders, John Inman, and Vicki Lawrence played their own mothers on MASH, WKRP, Are You Being Served?, and Mama's Family, respectively. Larry Storch was his own grandma on F Troop.

Speaking of main cast members playing a dual role, I just thought of something: Has there ever been a scenario where a main cast member plays a dual role, and the characters that the person plays are both main characters?

Speaking of main cast members playing a dual role, I just thought of something: Has there ever been a scenario where a main cast member plays a dual role, and the characters that the person plays are both main characters?Yes. Patty Duke played the main two roles on The Patty Duke Show for three seasons.

Linda Lavin (Alice) also played Debbie Walden, Vera's landlady.

Tina Louise - Ginger Grant and Eva Grubb
Carl Betz - Alex Stone and his own dad
Don Adams - Maxwell Smart and KAOS imposter
Bob Denver - Gilligan and Russian Spy

In 1967, there was the sitcom The Second Hundred Years where Monte Markham played both Luke and Ken Carpenter. The show lasted only one season.

Unfortunately I haven’t gotten to see the show in a loooonnnnggg time but I remember Just The Ten Of Us

All the main Characters portrayed themselves in a fantasy sequence.

Coach Lubbock-Bill
Elizabeth-Deborah
Marie-Heather
Cindy-Jamie
Connie-JoAnn
JR-Matt
Sherry-Heidi

The Character Wendy was having the Fantasy dream. So Brooke actually played Wendy.


Growing Pains did the same thing.

Jason-Alan
Maggie-Joanna
Mike-Kirk
Carol-Tracey
Chrissy-Ashley
Kate-Chelsea

The Character Ben was having the dream sequence but everyone kept calling him Jeremy.

In the Mama’s Family episode “Mama’s Cousin” Vicki Lawrence plays Mama and also plays Mama’s rich cousin.

On Family Matters Jaleel White played the roles of both Urkel and Stefan.

On Friends, Lisa Kudrow, Phoebe was occasionally her twin sister Ursala.

In an Odd Couple episode Jack Klugman and Tony Randall were also Oscar’s father and Felix’s father (Thought Alan Brady’s Hair might toss that one in here)

In an Odd Couple episode Jack Klugman and Tony Randall were also Oscar’s father and Felix’s father (Thought Alan Brady’s Hair might toss that one in here)

I always try to leave something for others.

Tony also played his own grandfather. Consistent with the show's usual impeccable timeline, Dad may well have been older than Grandpa.

Going back to the 1950s, on The Bob Cummings Show (aka Love That Bob), Cummings played Bob Collins and in several episodes, portrayed Grandpa Collins.

In the Mama’s Family episode “Mama’s Cousin” Vicki Lawrence plays Mama and also plays Mama’s rich cousin.

I immediately thought of that one. In a later episode she also plays the ghost of her mother. The mother is even funnier than Thelma.

I just thought of another one. In yat another episode she plays the younger version of Mama.

I immediately thought of that one. In a later episode she also plays the ghost of her mother. The mother is even funnier than Thelma.

I just thought of another one. In yat another episode she plays the younger version of Mama.

Yes, I knew there were others, but couldn’t think of them off the top of my head.

Martin Lawrence played a bunch of different characters on the show Martin. Including

Sheneneh
Mama Payne
Roscoe

And many others.

I think I remember Bea Benaderet, Blanche, playing her mother on a Burns and Allen episode. This would have to be the earliest, or one of the earliest, examples of this, right?

-On One Day At A Time, Pat Harrington, Schneider, was also Panzini in an episodeOne role for him is irritating enough. They should have had Valerie play dual roles instead.

One role for him is irritating enough. They should have had Valerie play dual roles instead.

It was a callback to a character he did in the ’50s and ‘60s, Guido Panzini. He did him in such shows as McHales Navy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., talk shows of that era, record albums, and maybe night clubs.

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I think I remember Bea Benaderet, Blanche, playing her mother on a Burns and Allen episode. This would have to be the earliest, or one of the earliest, examples of this, right?

Yes, the Donna Reed show where Carl Betz plays Alex and his cantankerous father, was later, probably around 1964.

Probably Lucille Ball or Eve Arden would have tried it on earlier TV if someone had thought of it.

McHale's Navy: Ernest Borgnine doubled as McHale's cousin Giuseppe. Tim Conway doubled as British Gen. Smythe-Pelly.

Not yet mentioned:
Leonard Nimoy played both Mr. Spock and "evil counterpart" Terran Mirror Spock (bearded) in an episode of Star Trek: TOS.

On Soap Richard Mulligan, Burt, played an alien version of himself.

Surprisingly Soap never did the soap opera trope of evil twin, although if it lasted another year or so they probably would have eventually gotten around to it.

dont forget Charles in Charge Charles n Chazz

On Bonanza, Michael Landon and Dan Blocker played 2 lookalike outlaws in an episode along with their regular characters -- Little Joe & Hoss.

On a My Three Sons episode, Don Grady played 2 roles - Rob Douglas & Douglas Frasier.
Correction to an earlier post: Fred MacMurray played both Steve Douglas and Fergus McBain Douglas -- not "Angus" -- on several My Three Sons episodes.

On Three's Company, Jack Tripper also played his cousin from Texas to fool Mr. Furley.

Lucille Ball did some grotesque Hollywood impressions of real actors by using cheap masks. I think Lucy was trying to fool one of her near-sighted friends. Ethel would do quick introductions and Lucy would do her deep voice "yep" impersonations.

On Roseanne, John Goodman, Dan, was an adult D.J. in therapy

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2021-05/5/17/asset/94036a0af5b2/sub-buzz-8291-1620234102-25.jpg

On one episode of Full House, John Stamos who played Jesse, also played a sleazy cousin of Jesse's visiting from Greece who had the hots for Becky. He played the role with a bad Greek accent and a fake moustache. I'm sorry but I don't remember the name of the cousin that John Stamos was doubling as. But I'm sure somebody else will.

Ed.

Linda Lavin (Alice) also played Debbie Walden, Vera's landlady.

She also played a Robert Goulet impersonator.

Betty White on A Date With the Angels she play Vickie Angel and singer named Honey
In The Jackie Gleason Show on a Honeymooners skit Jackie plays Ralph and him self. Art Carney played Ed and himself. And Joyce Randolph played Trixie and other characters as well.
In Sanford and Son Red Fox played Fred Sanford and himself
In The Doris Day Show Doris played Doris Martin and herself
On Father Knows Best Ellinor Donahue played Betty and Donna Stuart
On Batman Adam West played Bruce Wayne and Batman, Burt Ward played Robin and Dick Grayson, Yvonne Craig played Barbara Gordon and Batgirl. Plus other actors had multiple roles on the show.
In Superman George Reeves played Clark Kent and Superman

On Soap, Jay Johnson played both Chuck and Bob Campbell (and it is prominently displayed in credits that way)

On my Three Sons Son Grady /Robbie played a sleazy look a like of himself, who people at his college thought was him and gave him the cold shoulder, even was slapped by some girls ! The character was played by Don Grady but the voice was Mike Minor's / Steve from Petticoat Junction. :eek:It was so funny hearing Steve's voice coming from Robbie!:lol:

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Knight Rider

David Hasselhoff plays Garthe as well as Michael Knight.

The car KITT also plays the role of nemesis KARR.

On one episode of Full House, John Stamos who played Jesse, also played a sleazy cousin of Jesse's visiting from Greece who had the hots for Becky. He played the role with a bad Greek accent and a fake moustache. I'm sorry but I don't remember the name of the cousin that John Stamos was doubling as. But I'm sure somebody else will.

Ed.

It was Stavros.

I was going to say Conrad Bain in "The Van Drummonds" episode, but it was his identical twin brother Bonar as Mr. Drummond's cousin Anna Van Drummond.

Dana Plato played her son Hans in a dual role.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZDZjYjBiMWQtMDZiYy00ODMxLWJmNTYtNWZmNTgxN2I1Mjk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTM3MDMyMDQ@._V1_.jpg

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDEzNDQ0OTM5MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDMwOTU1MTE@._V1_QL75_UX190_CR0,5,190,281_.jpg

The following old thread at Sitcoms Online includes some of the names we're looking for here, although others were not "Main Cast":

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=398200

Maura Tierney had a one-off guest spot on "Law & Order" back in 1991.
She returned in 2024 as Lt. Jessica Brady.

Fred Gwynn played both Charlie and Johann on the Munsters.

Gary Burghoff, Richard Sanders, John Inman, and Vicki Lawrence played their own mothers on MASH, WKRP, Are You Being Served?, and Mama's Family, respectively. Larry Storch was his own grandma on F Troop.

Larry Storch had multiple roles on F Troop. - Cpl. Randolph Agarn, Carmen, Dmitri Agarnoff, Gaylord Agarn, Granny Agarn, Lucky Pierre Agarniere, Pancho Agarnado 'El Diablo

On Sgt. Bilko Phil Silvers played multiple roles- Phil Silvers: MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko, Felix Bilko, Herbert Penfield III, MSgt. Ernest T. Bilko, Major Joshua Bilko, and himself

I was going to say Conrad Bain in "The Van Drummonds" episode, but it was his identical twin brother Bonar as Mr. Drummond's cousin Anna Van Drummond.

Dana Plato played her son Hans in a dual role.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZDZjYjBiMWQtMDZiYy00ODMxLWJmNTYtNWZmNTgxN2I1Mjk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTM3MDMyMDQ@._V1_.jpg

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDEzNDQ0OTM5MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDMwOTU1MTE@._V1_QL75_UX190_CR0,5,190,281_.jpg

On Maude Conrad Bain and his Identical twin Bonar was casted as Aurthur Harmon and Arnold Harmon

On The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet -

Ozzie played - Ozzie Nelson, Ozzie, Father George Nelson

Harriet played - Harriet Nelson, Harriet, Mother Ethel Nelson

David played - Dave Nelson, David Nelson, Dave, David, Young Uncle Alfred

Ricky played - Rick Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Rick, Ricky, RIck Nelson, Young Ozzie

Jack Wagner played - Soda Clerk, Waiter, Announcer, Barber, Counterman, Photographer, Radio Announcer, Alley Proprietor, Art Instructor, Attendant, Bob, Bowling Attendant, Bowling Buddy, Boxing Match TV Announcer, Cab Driver, Captain Salty, Car Salesman, Caterer, Clerk, Desk Clerk, Don, Dr. Hatfield, Drivers License Clerk, Druggist, First Fireman, Football Announcer, Groom, Guide, Hotel Clerk, Husband on TV, Maitre d', Mr. Humphrey, Mr. Wagner, Mr. Walker, Pitchman, Policeman, Rock Collector, Salesman, Sporting Goods Clerk, Sports Announcer, Sports Store Clerk, Store Clerk, Student, The Clothing Salesman, The Radio Announcer, The Stranger, The Sunshine Club TV Announcer, The Television Announcer, Travel Bureau Clerk, Trophy Salesman

Connie Harper played - Miss Edwards, Connie, Partygoer, Party Guest, Connie Edwards, Lady in Crowd, Restaurant Patron, Sorority Girl, Usherette, Club Member, Lady at Restaurant, Lodge Guest, Malt Shop Patron, Malt Shop Worker, Mother, Sorority Member, Waitress, Woman, Alice, Backyard Spectator, Ballroom Patron, Beautiful Girl, Billiard Girl, Bowling Alley Patron, Bus Station Passerby, Butch's wife, Club Woman, Connie Harper, Counter Girl, Customer, Dancer, Fight Patron, Flower Shop Girl, Girl at Dance, Girl at Stable, Girl in Market, Lady dancing at nightclub, Librarian, Library Patron, Mrs. Livingston, Necktie Customer, Neighbor, Nurse, Passerby, Receptionist, Sales Girl, Sorority Sister, Spectator, Wedding Guest, Woman in Crowd, Woman with dark glasses at Art Show

Frank Cady played - Doc Williams, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Mathews, Claims Adjustor, Sporting Good Salesman, The New Neighbor

Actually most every actor who appeared in more than one episode had multiple roles according to IMDb. I guess you had to do that when putting out 14 seasons/436 episodes.

On various shows by Jackie Gleason George Petrie played multiple roles.