I may have telegraphed my findings here by posting a picture of Ted Danson as “Sam,” in Cheers, atop this column. There have been many actors who have developed enduring characters in two different TV series during their careers. But the list of those who have crafted three acclaimed characters is a much shorter list. Just what, exactly, is the criteria to earn “enduring,” or “acclaimed” status, you might ask? My column, my rules.
The Rule of Three research team has unearthed the following details regarding those actors who have logged at least two memorable TV show roles:
Fred Gwynne - now, you’re probably too young to remember this actor’s first key role (hell, I’m too young to remember it!), but in the early 1960’s Fred starred as Francis Muldoon, a cop, in the sitcom, Car 54, Where Are You? Later in the 1960’s, Gwynne was featured as Herman Munster, in the sitcom, The Munsters. Late in his career, Gwynne was the southern judge, who asked the question, “Mr. Gambini, what is a ‘yeut’?” of Joe Pesci’s character, in My Cousin Vinny, but of course he doesn’t earn credit for that role here, because, we’re dealing only with TV show characters (by the way, I’m not convinced that “yeut” is the proper way to spell the word used above, because, after all, it’s a made-up word - perhaps it should be “yoot” (spelled like “boot”), or “yute” (spelled like “cute”) - in the end, I settled on “yeut” (spelled like “Aleut”).
Dick Van Dyke - as a longtime fan of The Dick Van Dyke Show, it’s a given that I would recognize Dick Van Dyke for his role as Rob Petrie in that show, but also for appearing as Dr. Mark Sloan, in a TV drama series entitled, Diagnosis: Murder, a show which I don’t remember watching, but which apparently ran for nine seasons, so. . .One of the things I have wondered about is: Why did Rob Petrie refer to his wife, more than once, as, “Laurie?” Did Van Dyke struggle with memorizing his lines, or was he drunk on those occasions? Just asking. . .
Mary Tyler Moore - speaking of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Laura (or, Laurie) Petrie was portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore, who went on to star in her own sitcom a few years later, as Mary Richards, in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Is it a coincidence that these two stars utilize one more name than is typical in American society? Other than serial killers, I mean. The Rule of Three works in mysterious ways, my friend.
Bob Newhart - Newhart, who deployed the more standard, two-name format during his career, starred in three eponymous sitcoms (the names of the show were eponymous, but the characters he played were not - I’m not sure why I’m prattling on about this - perhaps I simply like to hear the word eponymous), but I can only give him credit for two: The Bob Newhart Show, and Newhart - a later incarnation, Bob, was too short-lived to be memorable. In the first sitcom, Newhart portrayed Bob Hartley, a Chicago psychologist; in the second, he played Dick Loudon, a Vermont innkeeper. The finale of the second series contains a classic bit of TV history - Newhart awakens in bed in the morning with Suzanne Pleshette, who played his wife, Emily, in the first series; Newhart, in character as Bob Hartley, shares with Emily the strange dream he has had in which he was an innkeeper in Vermont - comedy gold! I have additional fondness for Bob Newhart’s long career trajectory (he’s now 92-years-old), because he began his professional career as an accountant in Chicago, and I began my professional career as an accountant in Chicago, so, there’s hope for me yet.
Jack Klugman - who can forget Klugman’s run in The Odd Couple, as inveterate slob (and, incidentally, a sports columnist for a New York City newspaper), Oscar Madison? . He followed that up with a role as Dr. Quincy, in the TV drama series, Quincy, M.E., which proved that you can sell a TV series about virtually any profession, in this case about a medical examiner. There’s hope for me, and Bob Newhart, yet - coming soon to your favorite streaming service: The Accountant. As an aside (in my unofficial role as film reviewer), the Klugman performance which stands out to me is in the classic film, 12 Angry Men.
Ed Asner - the (somewhat arbitrary) rules I have adopted in developing this particular column should preclude an actor portraying the same character in two different series, but Asner’s Lou Grant, in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, went on to a job with a newspaper publisher in the drama series, Lou Grant, after being fired by WJM-TV in Minneapolis. Who, in their right mind, would take a job in newspapers, after working in TV? Both great TV shows, but the second one was built on an implausible premise.
Kelsey Grammer - Grammer falls in the same category as Ed Asner, as he replicated his psychiatrist role (Frasier Crane) in Cheers in a spinoff series, called Frasier. The difference here is that Frasier became a radio talk show host, and had no apparent interest in working for a newspaper - sound career decision, Frasier!
Tom Selleck - Tom Selleck was cool as Thomas Magnum, in the 1980’s TV series, Magnum, P.I. He has also appeared in the long-running hit series, Blue Bloods, as police commissioner, Frank Reagan. If Selleck doesn’t qualify as an iconic actor, at least his moustache does.
Tony Danza - Taxi’s Tony Banta traded in his cab for a housekeeping gig, as Tony Micelli, in Who’s the Boss? At least he got to keep his first name at every stop; he looks like a Tony, no?
Adam West - the word used to describe the 1960’s Batman TV show was always, “campy,” and it fit - remember: “Kapow!” and “Boff” and “Blam” - the colorful popup graphics attached to the fight scenes? That was Adam West, as millionaire Bruce Wayne, and his alter-ego, Batman. Now you might think that the rules in place here would discount the voiceover work that West did for Family Guy, as the voice of the screwball mayor of Quahog, Rhode Island, named Adam West, but Seth MacFarlane is a recognized genius, and Adam West deserves this credited role.
Peter Scolari - this actor might be lesser-known than the other actors I have highlighted above, but Scolari played Henry (a/k/a Hildegarde) Desmond in Bosom Buddies (opposite Tom Hanks!), in the early 1980’s, and a few years later secured the role of Michael Harris in the already-mentioned, Newhart. How was the multi-talented Scolari able to play two roles (seemingly of two different genders), in the same TV show, you might ask? My editor does not permit me the space in this column to detail for you the quite-convoluted plot machinations which drove this comedy gem - you’ll have to Google it yourself.
I’ve grown tired of this exercise, so I can only imagine your waning level of interest. Therefore, in the interest of achieving a quick conclusion, I’m going to combine the remaining actors into one, long, rambling bullet, in the style of Billy Joel’s, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” - in fact, perhaps you should cue that track (attached here), as you pound your way through that overstuffed bullet:
Andy Griffith (The Andy Griffith Show & Matlock); Larry Hagman (I Dream of Jeannie & Dallas); Bill Daily (I Dream of Jeannie & The Bob Newhart Show); Danny DeVito (Taxi & It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia); Gavin MacLeod (The Mary Tyler Moore Show & The Love Boat); Ted Knight (The Mary Tyler Moore Show & Too Close for Comfort); Michael Landon (Bonanza & Little House on the Prairie & Highway to Heaven (alright, technically that’s three, but I’m kinda’ on the fence about Highway to Heaven)); Pernell Roberts (Bonanza & Trapper John, M.D.); James Garner (Maverick & The Rockford Files); Buddy Ebsen (The Beverly Hillbillies & Barnaby Jones); Bea Arthur (Maude & The Golden Girls); Betty White (The Mary Tyler Moore Show & The Golden Girls - how could she not log at least two iconic roles? She’s been acting for 120 years)); Raymond Burr (Perry Mason & Ironside); Carroll O’Connor (All in the Family & In the Heat of the Night); Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle & Breaking Bad); David Duchovny (The X-Files & Californication); Alyson Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer & How I Met Your Mother); Ed O’Neill (Married. . .with Children & Modern Family); Don Knotts (The Andy Griffith Show & Three’s Company); Johnny Galecki (Roseanne & The Big Bang Theory); Ron Howard (The Andy Griffith Show & Happy Days); Harry Morgan (Dragnet & M*A*S*H); and Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser & How I Met Your Mother) - whew!
Alright, you say, very impressive - two key roles in the course of (in many cases) very long acting careers. But, can’t there be someone, somewhere, who has recorded three of these roles. First, I would ask you: Did you not see the photo posted atop this column? And, second, here’s my take on Ted Danson (and, perhaps a surprise nomination, or two, not clearly telegraphed above):
Ted Danson - Danson’s performance as Sam Malone in Cheers is quite memorable. His role as Dr. John Becker, in the TV show, Becker, is respectable. He also played a character named Michael, for The Good Place. I think that earns Ted the elusive trifecta of iconic TV show roles. The jury is still out on his current show, Mr. Mayor. And, I cannot give him credit for his recurring role as a fictionalized version of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm - rules are rules. But, Danson has definitely earned the “Three.”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Julia (I’m a bit intimidated regarding how to address someone who hyphenates - is it Ms. Louis-Drefyus, or Ms. Dreyfus, or JLD?) performed brilliantly as Elaine Benes, in Seinfeld. She went on to play the role of Christine Campbell, in The New Adventures of Old Christine, and then as Vice President Selina Meyer, in the quirky comedy Veep. That’s right, a triple-threat! Take that, Ted Danson. Like Ted, she also appeared as a version of herself in Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, but we’ve already set that aside.
William Shatner - Star Trek spawned a group of followers, nicknamed, “Trekkies,” so it would be difficult to ignore the contributions made to TV mythology by that TV show. Shatner was the captain of that show’s spaceship, so he definitely gets credit for that role. Another series in which he starred was, T.J. Hooker, in the 1980’s, as a police sergeant, in the title role. And, his work as Denny Crane, in Boston Legal earns him the right to claim the third leg of the three-legged stool which has been crafted here. If you really want to see Shatner exercising his acting chops, check out the well-known “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” episode of The Twilight Zone - you may never want to fly again.
So, there you have it - the definitive list of multi-pronged actors who’ve earned their stripes. I knew that my having wasted way too much time watching TV over the years would come in handy someday - you’re welcome!
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