Actors Who Had Guest Roles or Minor Roles on TV Shows Who Became Stars - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

andress_jade · 04-09-2019, 03:25 PM

I think Growing Pains is the best example of how a minor character that showed up near the end of the series became more popular than the main characters . Leonardo DiCaprio showed up in the last season of the show and played Luke, a runaway. The Seavers take him in as their foster child until his father comes back into his life and he goes back with him. Leo became the most well known award winning actor since appearing on Growing Pains and you rarely ever hear about the rest of the cast. They're still around but didn't find the same success after the series ended.

What other examples can you think of?

i29u · 04-09-2019, 05:33 PM

Erin Moran on "Daktari" near the end
Jerry Seinfeld on "Benson"
Ann Jilliann, better known as Ann Jillian, on "Hazel" near the end

treky · 04-10-2019, 12:43 AM

George Clooney on THE FACTS OF LIFE

jimpickens · 04-10-2019, 03:05 AM

?Tom Hanks on Happy Days.

andress_jade · 04-10-2019, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimpickens

?Tom Hanks on Happy Days.

He had also been on Family Ties a couple of times playing Elyse's alcoholic brother.

Edward216 · 04-10-2019, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andress_jade

He had also been on Family Ties a couple of times playing Elyse's alcoholic brother.

You're right. It's been so long since I've seen an episode of Family Ties I'd totally forgotten about that.

Ed.

i29u · 04-10-2019, 05:45 PM

Paul W. Walker in "Throb"; later he stopped using the middle initial
Michelle Pfeiffer in the short-lived sitcom "Delta House"

favoriteshow · 04-11-2019, 07:04 PM

For actresses, a few come to mind:

Marisa Tomei, A Different World (1st season only. Regular, but Lisa Bonet was star then)

Elizabeth Banks, Scrubs (guest starred. Became more high profile in film and Hollywood after Hunger Games).

Michelle Rodriguez, Lost (Became more noticed after Fast and Furious. Tends to comes in action movies).

Hilary Swank, Beverly Hills 90210

Babalu · 04-11-2019, 07:21 PM

Everyone has to start somewhere. Stars had to begin with small parts even if you didn't see them in it.

favoriteshow · 04-11-2019, 07:41 PM

If you include variety shows like SNL, it's a long list of actors. Jennifer Lopez from In Living Color, Steve Carell from Daily Show.

Another sitcom actor:
Chris Pratt, Parks & Recreation
I think Chris Pratt's rise is more unexpected than John Krasinki from The Office, with Parks & Rec not as popular as The Office and Pratt's role of Andy somewhat less important than Jim on The Office. According to wikipedia, Chris Pratt wasn't a regular in the first season as well, but just recurring. Both stars became more fit as their careers advanced, with Chris Pratt losing a lot of weight.

DJM77 · 04-11-2019, 09:00 PM

Brad Pitt - Growing Pains
Melanie Griffith - Carter Country
Mark Hamill - Eight Is Enough (He played David in the pilot episode)

dee2364 · 04-14-2019, 12:01 AM

Jason Gordon-Levitt played DJ's weird friend on an episode of Roseanne. I think his guest appearance was what landed him on Third Rock from the Sun.

Bryan Cranston on Seinfeld as a dentist.

Milla Jovovich played a French foreign exchange student on Married with Children. I was so shocked when I came across that episode again a few years ago and realized it was her.

Edward216 · 04-14-2019, 02:43 AM

If I remember Matthew Perry was in an episode or two of Growing Pains playing Carol's boyfriend before becoming well known on Friends.

Bryan Cranston as an annoying next door neighbor of Doug and Carrie's named Ted Saksky on The King Of Queens before he was on Breaking Bad.

Jonathan Frakes was in one episode of The Dukes Of Hazzard years before he became well known as William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Ed.

icecream · 04-15-2019, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward216

If I remember Matthew Perry was in an episode or two of Growing Pains playing Carol's boyfriend before becoming well known on Friends.

Bryan Cranston as an annoying next door neighbor of Doug and Carrie's named Ted Saksky on The King Of Queens before he was on Breaking Bad.

Jonathan Frakes was in one episode of The Dukes Of Hazzard years before he became well known as William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Ed.

You are correct about Matthew Perry. His final episode his character was killed off because of drunk driving. Bryan Cranston also appeared as Jerry's dentist on Seinfeld before Malcolm in the Middle started. Jonathan Frakes also guest starred on The Waltons as a flame of Erin's.

i29u · 04-15-2019, 09:35 PM

Goldie Hawn on the short-lived "Good Morning, World"
Molly Ringwald who was on "The Facts Of Life" was a pretty big star for a while in the 1980's
Janet Jackson who was on "Good Times" and "Diff'rent Strokes" has done pretty well as a singer

04-09-2019, 03:25 PM	#1
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	Actors Who Had Guest Roles or Minor Roles on TV Shows Who Became Stars I think Growing Pains is the best example of how a minor character that showed up near the end of the series became more popular than the main characters . Leonardo DiCaprio showed up in the last season of the show and played Luke, a runaway. The Seavers take him in as their foster child until his father comes back into his life and he goes back with him. Leo became the most well known award winning actor since appearing on Growing Pains and you rarely ever hear about the rest of the cast. They're still around but didn't find the same success after the series ended. What other examples can you think of?
	__________________ In Memoriam: John Ritter, Hayden Rorke, Sidney Sheldon, Bob Denver, Don Knotts, Andy Griffith, Elizabeth Montgomery, Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, David Angell, Christopher Reeve, Shirley Temple Black, Larry Hagman, Lucille Ball, Patrick Swayze, Robin Williams, Alan Thicke, Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, George Michael, Jim Nabors, John Mahoney, Penny Marshall, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher.

04-10-2019, 12:43 AM	#3
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	George Clooney on THE FACTS OF LIFE
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

04-11-2019, 07:21 PM	#9
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	Everyone has to start somewhere. Stars had to begin with small parts even if you didn't see them in it.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

04-11-2019, 09:00 PM	#11
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,562	Brad Pitt - Growing Pains Melanie Griffith - Carter Country Mark Hamill - Eight Is Enough (He played David in the pilot episode)
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

04-09-2019, 05:33 PM	#2
i29u Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 05, 2004 Posts: 237	Erin Moran on "Daktari" near the end Jerry Seinfeld on "Benson" Ann Jilliann, better known as Ann Jillian, on "Hazel" near the end

04-10-2019, 03:05 AM	#4
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,389	?Tom Hanks on Happy Days.

04-10-2019, 05:45 PM	#7
i29u Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 05, 2004 Posts: 237	Paul W. Walker in "Throb"; later he stopped using the middle initial Michelle Pfeiffer in the short-lived sitcom "Delta House"

04-11-2019, 07:04 PM	#8
favoriteshow Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 08, 2018 Posts: 587	For actresses, a few come to mind: Marisa Tomei, A Different World (1st season only. Regular, but Lisa Bonet was star then) Elizabeth Banks, Scrubs (guest starred. Became more high profile in film and Hollywood after Hunger Games). Michelle Rodriguez, Lost (Became more noticed after Fast and Furious. Tends to comes in action movies). Hilary Swank, Beverly Hills 90210

04-11-2019, 07:41 PM	#10
favoriteshow Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 08, 2018 Posts: 587	If you include variety shows like SNL, it's a long list of actors. Jennifer Lopez from In Living Color, Steve Carell from Daily Show. Another sitcom actor: Chris Pratt, Parks & Recreation I think Chris Pratt's rise is more unexpected than John Krasinki from The Office, with Parks & Rec not as popular as The Office and Pratt's role of Andy somewhat less important than Jim on The Office. According to wikipedia, Chris Pratt wasn't a regular in the first season as well, but just recurring. Both stars became more fit as their careers advanced, with Chris Pratt losing a lot of weight.

04-14-2019, 12:01 AM	#12
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	Jason Gordon-Levitt played DJ's weird friend on an episode of Roseanne. I think his guest appearance was what landed him on Third Rock from the Sun. Bryan Cranston on Seinfeld as a dentist. Milla Jovovich played a French foreign exchange student on Married with Children. I was so shocked when I came across that episode again a few years ago and realized it was her.

04-14-2019, 02:43 AM	#13
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,634	If I remember Matthew Perry was in an episode or two of Growing Pains playing Carol's boyfriend before becoming well known on Friends. Bryan Cranston as an annoying next door neighbor of Doug and Carrie's named Ted Saksky on The King Of Queens before he was on Breaking Bad. Jonathan Frakes was in one episode of The Dukes Of Hazzard years before he became well known as William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Ed.

04-15-2019, 09:35 PM	#15
i29u Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 05, 2004 Posts: 237	Goldie Hawn on the short-lived "Good Morning, World" Molly Ringwald who was on "The Facts Of Life" was a pretty big star for a while in the 1980's Janet Jackson who was on "Good Times" and "Diff'rent Strokes" has done pretty well as a singer