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Madame X · 04-23-2007, 04:29 PM

It is often implied that TV actors are inferior to movie actors. I found it interesting when making a list that there are dozens of notable movie actors who "crossed-over" to TV. I'll just name some. See who else you can come up with!

Lucille Ball
Walter Brennan
Carolyn Jones
Donna Reed
Shelley Winters
Eddie Albert
Fred MacMurray
Buddy Ebsen
Jim Backus

AB · 04-23-2007, 04:46 PM

Jeff Goldblum, from movies to the new tv show Raines.

phoebe7165 · 04-23-2007, 05:16 PM

I remember when "Coach" started on TV and Craig T.Nelson was cast as the lead. I was thinking this was a comedy and I only remember Craig from the Poltergeist movies. He wasn't a comedic actor!! Of course, he pulled it off.

And how about Geena Davis?

waichingliu81 · 04-24-2007, 06:48 AM

lea thompson- back to the future to caroline in the city

Dusty's Fan · 04-24-2007, 10:50 AM

Robert Young (Father Knows Best)
Groucho Marx (You Bet Your Life)

And a few who were perhaps not-so-notable:

Yvonne De Carlo (The Munsters)
Forrest Tucker (F-Troop and Dusty's Trail)
William Frawley (I Love Lucy and My Three Sons)
William Demarest (My Three Sons; he had appeared with Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer")

TJL · 04-24-2007, 11:42 AM

Over the years "Law And Order" featured a lot of actors who were mostly known for thier movie work: Jerry Orbach, Sam Watterson, Michael Moriority, Dennis Farina, Paul Sorvino

James Woods is in "Shark" on CBS.

comedyfreak · 04-24-2007, 11:50 AM

Andy Griffith did No Time For Sargent's then (The Andy Griffith Show).
Agnes Moorhead (Bewitched)
Jim Belushi (According To Jim)
Stephen Collins (7th Heaven)
Barbara Stanwych (The Big Valley)

TJL · 04-24-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

It is often implied that TV actors are inferior to movie actors.

That is true. For many years so called "movie stars" always thought TV was beneath them, but in reality, quite a few movie actors and actresses tried thier hand on the small screen, but couldn't take the long hours of work.

On a typical TV drama lots of times you're working 12 hours or more a day for a good portion of a year; that's a much bigger commitment than working on a movie for a few weeks then taking a good long rest between projects.

waichingliu81 · 04-24-2007, 03:07 PM

another thing to consider also is that with tv, particuarly with a sitcom it lasts for more than 1 season and it takes numerous episodes for situations to be resolved. film for example can last for 2 or 3 hours and that's it. but tv is a much more ongoing process, particuarly with series that has been on tv for 4, 6 or even with frasier, 11 seasons

Madame X · 04-24-2007, 04:40 PM

Ernest Borgnine
Richard Crenna
Shirley Jones
Shirley Booth
Natalie Schafer
Angela Landsbury

catlover79 · 04-24-2007, 07:05 PM

Richard Dreyfuss and Marcia Gay Harden (both Oscar winners) appeared in a drama from a few years back called The Education of Max Bickford. It only lasted one season, however.

Someone also mentioned Agnes Moorehead. Other Bewitched actors who were mainly stage/film actors before the series began are Dick York (My Sister Eileen, Inherit the Wind), David White (The Apartment), Maurice Evans (Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew), Alice Pearce (My Six Loves), George Tobias (Sergeant York) to name but a few.

TJL · 04-24-2007, 07:24 PM

James Caan moved from movies to the small screen for the NBC series "Las Vegas," but has apparently quit the show to go back to movies.

Translation: so he can do a movie then take a year off.

dawsongirl · 04-24-2007, 11:11 PM

Gary Sinise from CSI:NY. He'll forever be Lt. Dan no matter what he does, but he's awesome on CSI:NY.

Kyra Sedgwick- The Closer

Doesn't Holly Hunter have a new show coming on? TNT maybe?

freshprinceofLA · 04-25-2007, 12:52 AM

Mr.T was in a couple of movies before the A-team

BrianB · 04-29-2007, 10:42 PM

Kiefer Sutherland, probably the most successful of any of them right now.

04-23-2007, 04:29 PM	#1
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	From Big Screen to Small Screen It is often implied that TV actors are inferior to movie actors. I found it interesting when making a list that there are dozens of notable movie actors who "crossed-over" to TV. I'll just name some. See who else you can come up with! Lucille Ball Walter Brennan Carolyn Jones Donna Reed Shelley Winters Eddie Albert Fred MacMurray Buddy Ebsen Jim Backus

04-23-2007, 05:16 PM	#3
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	I remember when "Coach" started on TV and Craig T.Nelson was cast as the lead. I was thinking this was a comedy and I only remember Craig from the Poltergeist movies. He wasn't a comedic actor!! Of course, he pulled it off. And how about Geena Davis?
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04-24-2007, 11:42 AM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Over the years "Law And Order" featured a lot of actors who were mostly known for thier movie work: Jerry Orbach, Sam Watterson, Michael Moriority, Dennis Farina, Paul Sorvino James Woods is in "Shark" on CBS.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

04-24-2007, 11:50 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Andy Griffith did No Time For Sargent's then (The Andy Griffith Show). Agnes Moorhead (Bewitched) Jim Belushi (According To Jim) Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) Barbara Stanwych (The Big Valley)
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04-24-2007, 07:05 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Richard Dreyfuss and Marcia Gay Harden (both Oscar winners) appeared in a drama from a few years back called The Education of Max Bickford. It only lasted one season, however. Someone also mentioned Agnes Moorehead. Other Bewitched actors who were mainly stage/film actors before the series began are Dick York (My Sister Eileen, Inherit the Wind), David White (The Apartment), Maurice Evans (Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew), Alice Pearce (My Six Loves), George Tobias (Sergeant York) to name but a few.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-23-2007, 04:46 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Jeff Goldblum, from movies to the new tv show Raines.

04-24-2007, 06:48 AM	#4
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	lea thompson- back to the future to caroline in the city

04-24-2007, 10:50 AM	#5
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,092	Robert Young (Father Knows Best) Groucho Marx (You Bet Your Life) And a few who were perhaps not-so-notable: Yvonne De Carlo (The Munsters) Forrest Tucker (F-Troop and Dusty's Trail) William Frawley (I Love Lucy and My Three Sons) William Demarest (My Three Sons; he had appeared with Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer")

04-24-2007, 03:07 PM	#9
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	another thing to consider also is that with tv, particuarly with a sitcom it lasts for more than 1 season and it takes numerous episodes for situations to be resolved. film for example can last for 2 or 3 hours and that's it. but tv is a much more ongoing process, particuarly with series that has been on tv for 4, 6 or even with frasier, 11 seasons

04-24-2007, 04:40 PM	#10
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	Ernest Borgnine Richard Crenna Shirley Jones Shirley Booth Natalie Schafer Angela Landsbury

04-24-2007, 07:24 PM	#12
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	James Caan moved from movies to the small screen for the NBC series "Las Vegas," but has apparently quit the show to go back to movies. Translation: so he can do a movie then take a year off.

04-24-2007, 11:11 PM	#13
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Gary Sinise from CSI:NY. He'll forever be Lt. Dan no matter what he does, but he's awesome on CSI:NY. Kyra Sedgwick- The Closer Doesn't Holly Hunter have a new show coming on? TNT maybe?

04-25-2007, 12:52 AM	#14
freshprinceofLA The Bosses Senior Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2005 Location: A small town in: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,810	Mr.T was in a couple of movies before the A-team
	__________________ My favorite show is... Who's the boss? #2 Three's Company #3 Moonlighting RELEASE ALL SEASONS OF WHO'S THE BOSS? ON DVD Watch ION at 9:00 to 10:00 I <3 SAMANTHA! RAIDERS SUCK R.I.P. PAC & BIG we miss yall

04-29-2007, 10:42 PM	#15
BrianB Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 9	Kiefer Sutherland, probably the most successful of any of them right now.