Actors Who Guest Starred First Before Joining a Show

[Adamantium]

They either guest starred once and then became a cast member or was a recurring character and then became a cast member. And I mean they guest starred as the character they eventually became a cast member as. So Jon Lovitz of "NewsRadio" doesn't count.

Tony Shalhoub (Antonio Scarpacci of "Wings") - He made a guest appearance in season two. Then he returned on a regular basis in season three, and by the end of that same season he was a fully credited cast member.

Farrah Forke (Alex Lambert of "Wings") - She came in season four on a recurring basis and joined the cast for season five.

Christopher Lloyd (Jim Ignatowski of "Taxi") - He first guest starred in a season one episode. He returned in the second season and became a cast member.

Carol Kane (Simka of "Taxi") - She guest starred in season two, and was recurring in season four. She became a full cast member in season five.

Dave Higgins (Joe of "Ellen") - He first guest starred in episode #8 of the first season. He was in the remainder of the first season, joining the cast in the second season.

Clea Lewis (Audrey of "Ellen") - She guest starred once in season one, was recurring in season two and a cast member beginning in season three.

Andy Hallet (Lorne of "Angel") - He was a recurring character starting with the premiere of season two. He officially joined the cast towards the end of the fourth season.

David Boreanaz (Angel of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") - He was recurring in the first season and joined the cast in the second season.

James Marsters (Spike of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") - He was recurring in season two, absent for all but one episode of season three and made a full cast member during the fourth season.

John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin of "Cheers") - This is a technicality. He appeared in every episode of the first season, but he was billed as a guest star. He officially joined the cast in season two.

Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane of "Cheers") - He first popped up at the Boston bar at the beginning of season three. He officially joined the cast in either the fourth or fifth season.


I know of some more, but I'll save it for other people to post.

[tv star collector]

As I recall, Henry Winkler's "Fonzie" was a very minor character in his first
episode--but, by the time star Ron Howard left Happy Days, Winkler
had top billing.

[JamesG]

Since you mentioned Buffy/Angel there is one more that should be mentioned.

Amber Benson who played "Tara" was first introduced in Season 4 as a love interest for "Willow". She was recurring up until Season 6.

However, on the episode that she got star billing

She was killed off.

[robyrob]

Lori Beth Allen Cunningham (Lynda Goodfriend) first appeared as Ralph's date Kim on Happy Days

and KC Cunningham (Crystal Bernard) first appeared as the "fast girl" Mikki that Jenny spread those rumors about on Happy Days.

[wkomorow]

This is the Urkiel syndrome . Urkiel began as a guest and then became the focus of Family Matters. Technically there is a difference between something like JJ on Good Times, who was one of the cast, vs. someone like Urkiel, who was only supposed to be aa guest on one episode but became a regular character.

[KurtfromPitts]

Ted McGinley guested on a "Married...With Children" ep [albeit in a different role] and a couple of years later became Jefferson.

[70s show watcher]

lisa robin kelly was a recurring guest star on that 70s show the first season and also michael mckean and billy crystal hosted saturday night live first and became cast members later on

[Zoneboy]

George Lindsey was first introduced as Gomer's Cousin, Goober Pyle in the episode "Fun Girls" which originally aired on April 13th, 1964. This was also the first and only time that Gomer and Goober appeared in the same episode. George later became a regular on the series starting with the episode "Goodbye Sheriff Taylor" which aired on November 23rd, 1964.

[megamanj2004]

Originally Posted by KurtfromPitts

Ted McGinley guested on a "Married...With Children" ep [albeit in a different role] and a couple of years later became Jefferson.

I remember the episode he guest starred as a different character!

It was on the S3 or S4 episode where the Bundy kids had something like a dream sequence of what it would be like to be a part of a rich family and Ted played the dad of the rich family.


Can I also add:

Martin Landau as Rolland Hand on M:I: during S1, he was credited as "Special Guest Star" on all eps. he was present on before the producers of M:I negotiated his contract full-time and made him a permanent cast member for S2 and S3.

Herman Wedemyer - Hawaii Five-O: he 1st appeared on the show in S1 not as Duke, but as Lt. Balta. he appeared as Duke sometime in either S4 or S5 as a recurring character before he was added to the cast permanently in S9 as Duke.

Richard Kline - Three's Company: Before he became a permanent cast member, he appeared as Larry in a few early season eps.

Joe Santos as Lt. Becker - The Rockford Files: He appeared in the S1 pilot episode and probably a few S1 eps. before he became a permanent cast member for S2 and beyond.

Daryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson - A Different World: He occasionally appeared in a handful of S1 eps. before he got permanent cast billing for S2 and beyond.

Jada Pinkett - A Different World: She 1st appeared in S4 or S5 and was only credited as "Guest Star" or sometimes as "Featuring" before she permanently got opening credits and cast billing in S6.

Sinbad as Walter Oakes: - A Different World: Like Daryl M. Bell, Sinbad appeared in a few S1 eps. before he got permanent cast billing from S2-S5.

Lou Myers as Vernon Gaynes - A Different World: 1st appeared in S2 before he replaced Mary Alice for S3 and beyond.

Crystal Fox - In the Heat of the Night: appeared during either S4 and/or S5 before she got cast billing in from S6-S8.

[comedyfreak]

Florence Johnston was introduced on The Jeffersons during the first season and didn't become a regular until the 2nd or third season.

[catlover79]

Julia Duffy guest starred on one episode of Newhart in Season 1, and became a regular in the second season.

[TJL]

Harry Morgan guest starred in one episode during season 3 of M*A*S*H as the unhinged General Steele and returned in season 4 as Col Potter after McLean Stevenson left the show.

[TV-aholic]

Barney Miller was bad at this.

Ron Carey (Levitt) and Paul Lieber (Dorsey) both protraied criminals before becoming regulars of the 12th Precinct

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by TV-aholic

Barney Miller was bad at this.

Ron Carey (Levitt) and Paul Lieber (Dorsey) both protraied criminals before becoming regulars of the 12th Precinct

Don't forget Steve Landesberg. He appeared in the Season 2 premiere as a phony priest, and made his first appearance as Arthur Dietrich a few weeks later. Also on Newhart, Larry, Darryl and Darryl also appeared in a couple of first season eps before becoming regulars the next season.

[Dusty's Fan]

Tina Cole appeared a couple of times on My Three Sons as other characters before her permanent role as Katie was introduced. IIRC, one was a b/w appearance and the other in color, both prior to the Douglas family's move to California.

Nancy Stafford appeared as a call girl in season 1 of Matlock before joining the cast as beautiful attorney Michelle Thomas in season 2. Daniel Roebuck also appeared as a different character before becoming a regular late in the series' run.

Mary Jane Croft appeared on I Love Lucy as the woman on the airplane with Lucy returning from Europe (and one other appearance), later becoming a regular in the role of Betty Ramsey on that series.

Alice Ghostley appeared as a bumbling maid on Bewitched before beginning her role as Esmeralda much later on.

Paul Lynde appeared as Sam's driving instructor on Bewitched before beginning his role as Uncle Arthur later.

Also on Bewitched, Bernard Fox appeared as a guy who didn't believe in witches (how to describe?) before beginning his role as Dr. Bombay.