Actors who were regulars then in bit parts then in recurring role in same show

[24/7 reruns]

On Burns and Allen Hal March went from a regular role (the first Harry Morton) to bit parts and finally in a recurring role as Harry Mortons real estate partner Casey.

Are there other actors who went from a regular role to bit parts to recurring role in the same show in the same order?

[icecream]

Originally Posted by 24/7 reruns

On Burns and Allen Hal March went from lead role (the first Harry Morton) to bit parts and finally in a recurring role as Harry Mortons real estate partner Casey.

Are there other actors who went from lead to bit parts to recurring role in the same show in the same order?

Hal March was just in a supporting role as Harry Morton. Only leads on Burns and Allen were George and Gracie.

[24/7 reruns]

Originally Posted by icecream

Hal March was just in a supporting role as Harry Morton. Only leads on Burns and Allen were George and Gracie.

I see your point. I'll correct my post.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by 24/7 reruns

On Burns and Allen Hal March went from a regular role (the first Harry Morton) to bit parts and finally in a recurring role as Harry Mortons real estate partner Casey.

Are there other actors who went from a regular role to bit parts to recurring role in the same show in the same order?

This is a pretty tough challenge, I can't match it exactly but I'll throw a few names out there and you can judge how close I got.

Roy Roberts:

During the first season of Petticoat Junction he had a regular part as railroad executive Norman Curtis, the part was reduced to recurring in season 2 (1 appearance) and season 4 (2 appearances), in season 7 episode 24 he had a bit part as a Game Warden named Horton Hughes.

Carl Reiner:

Alan Brady didn't become a regular character until the final season when Carl appeared in 8 episodes. Prior to that he was recurring and in the first three seasons he was only seen from the back. He played a variety of minor characters some seen, some unseen (radio announcer, announcer at the Diamond Club for example) Yale Sampson in season 2, Sergei Carpetna in season 3.

These aren't great matches but it something.

[stevea]

^Wasn't Carpetna the the artist who painted Laura in the nude (she wasn't, but that's what he painted)?

The Sampson role, I'm not familiar with.