All-Time Best TV Character

[terorizer]

Some friends and I started wondering about this not long ago, because of the Generation gaps, and the reincarnation t.v. shows afford - you know like how folks born in the 80's think Scott Baio is "Charles in Charge", when we ALL know he's Chachi from "Happy Days!" But you catch my meaning right? Has to be an actor/actress who's forever, or at least unanimously associated with one t.v. character, although they portrayed at least one other character on a SUCCESSFUL t.v. series, thus affording the possibility of a generational discrepancy.

First the real toughies:

Michal Landon - Little Joe from Bonanza? Pa Ingalls from "little House" or the angel on "Highway to Heaven"? Pick 'em
Lee Majors - "Big Valley"?, "Six Million Dollar Man"? or "Fall Guy"?
Robert Urich - "S.W.A.T"?, Dan Tanner from "Vega$" or Spenser for Hire?

The don't laughs:

Robert Blake - Mickey from the "Little Rascals/Our Gang" or "Baretta"?
Shannen Doherty - "Our House"? "90210"? or "Charmed"?

Disqualifications:

I have to disqualify Bob Newhart for playing himself in 5 shows! :- )

Ok, so my finalists are Barbara Eden as "Genie" which I really think can't count because there was never another "successful" show, but c'mon it's Genie! Cliff Huxtable (I don't care about "I Spy", "Fat Albert", "Picture Pages", "Cosby Mysteries" or "Cosby", he's CLIFF! *sigh* alas, I appoint Captain Kirk, though TJ Hooker and the Priceline.com commercials put up a fight, he'll always be James T.

That's what I can think of off the top of my head, what do you have? Of course, there's no wrong answers here, it's just funny to think that some folks ACTUALLY believe Don Johnson is the guy from "Nash Bridges", like Sonny Crockett never existed or something!

 

[execmail77]

A most obvious choice...

Heather Locklear!

Sammy Jo from Dynasty at the same time as her TJ Hooker role. Then she reappeared on that 90210 spin off (whatever it was called), and then most recently on Spin City.

 

[tklr5150]

It begins and ends with Costanza.

 

[Limeoutsider]

The dude who played Mr Cunningham on Happy Days, and the Fonz, Henry Wrinkler (Can I say Justin Timberlake for MMC and Star Search? )

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

I'm not sure this qualifies....but how about Micheal J. Fox on Family Ties and later in the 90s on "Spin City"?
Unless he played the same character.....I never watched "Spin City".

Weren't The Fonz and Mr. Cunningham on the same show? Or maybe I'm thinking of "Chico and the Man"
Or "Mr. T and Tina"


Drew

 

[desdemona]

The Fonz (Henry Winkler) and Mr. Cunningham (Tom Bosley) were both on Happy Days. Tom Bosley also went on to star in Father Dowling Mysteries which was quite amusing in itself.

Well, since you're mentioning real roles/reversals, how about Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing on Dallas and Major Anthony Nelson on Genie?

Personally, I always liked Kate Jackson. From her role as Sabrina (the smart one) on Charlie's Angels to Amanda on Scarecrow and Mrs. King, she was one tough cookie/homemaker wanna be.

 

[Traveler]

I really enjoyed Carol O'Connor in All in the Family,and enjoyed him in In the Heat of the Night.😉 😉


You still owe me

 

[venray]

I also have to go with Barbara Eden....and she did have another show..Harper Valley PTA...though I don't know if it qualifies as successful.....Another of my favs is Scott Bakula (quantum Leap and Enterprise) and for my off the wall nomination....Patrick McGoohan
for The Prisoner and Secret Agent.


Ven

 

[Mitchell]

All time best TV characters to me without a doubt, were Archie Bunker and JR Ewing. Even though one was a prejudiced guy and another an evil Texas oilman, one has to look at the impact both those characters, the actors who played them, and the shows had on TV history. In 71 when All in the Family went on, there seemed to be no way they would spotlight such a prejudiced character, and he made TV history. Archie was not always likable, but he represented an example of change in TV. People would tune in to see what outrageous thing he would say next. Same goes for JR Ewing. While it is not always pleasant to see a guy who stabs everyone in the back like JR did every week, he also represented an example of change in TV. They spotlighted a character who was greedy, had no scruples in marriage or relationships, would cheat on his wife, cheat his family in business, and cheat his business associates, and yet everyone kept watching for 13 years. As I said, while these characters may not have been likable, I say they were the best because of the way they were portrayed, the job Larry Hagman and Carroll o Connor did in portraying them, and the impact they and their shows had on TV history. Oh and by the way, in case people dont know, I have Larry Hagman's autobiography, and he and Carroll O Connor have been close friends for over 40 years, both before and after Archie and JR. I think it is ironic that the two men who played probably the most impactful characters in TV history are such close friends, even before and after the characters they made so famous have come and gone.

Mitch

 

[Dave2112]

This one's easy.

Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson.

Not the same guy, you say? Pish-posh. Watch the shows...one's yellow, one's white. End of differences. 😀

 

[The Pianist]

Not having too much experience with old T.V. I'd have to say Hawkeye and co from M*A*S*H* and Maxwell Smart from Get Smart.

 

[milagros317]

Athough it was imported from Britain, it was a huge hit on American television in the 1960's. The female lead, forever associated with the character she played was:

Diana Rigg as Mrs. Emma Peel in "The Avengers".

At the age of 15, I was in love with her. 😀

 

[BellaRisa]

Has to be an actor/actress who's forever, or at least unanimously associated with one t.v. character, although they portrayed at least one other character on a SUCCESSFUL t.v. series, thus affording the possibility of a generational discrepancy.

My vote? Michael Richards as the freaky butler on Marble Head Manor, which was reasonably successful, and of course Kramer.

Runner up: Kim Fields as Tootie from the Facts of Life if you're a '70's baby, or Regine from Living Single if you came way after that.

Also, Howard Hesseman as both Johnny Fever of WKRP and the Head of the Class teacher. Come to think of it, gotta mention Tim Reid as Venus Flytrap AND the dad on Sister Sister. I HATE that show but it's considered very successful and these children have no clue who Venus was.

Honorable mention: Kermit the Frog as Roving Reporter Kermit T. Frog from Muppet Newsflash, and as the director of the Muppet Show.

Bella

 

[terorizer]

Bea Arthur (sp) - Maude or Dorothy?

I REALLY did consider Carol O'conner, but I didn't think All in The Family was as popular with the under 25 folk as "Cosby Show" or even "Star Trek" as far as syndication goes.

And if Bella can bring up Kim Fields, I can bring up Ted Lange as Isaac "Love Boat" and I think Junior from "That's my Momma" - Though I would be remiss if I didn't point out Kim was also on "Baby I'm Back" starring the future Lamont "Don't call me big dummy" Sanford. Honest folks, I don't watch this much television... arcain, useless trivia just enters my mind and won't come out!!

 

[Krokus]

Stone Cold Steve Austin .....and thats the bottom line.

 

[BellaRisa]

Stone Cold Steve Austin .....and thats the bottom line.

Who has Stone Cold portrayed in tv shows?

 

[Krokus]

I consider Monday night raw to be a "show" ....so there.

 

[aphrael]

alan alda in m*a*s*h hands down.

 

[execmail77]

Ted Danson-- Cheers' Sam Malone will forever outshine not only Becker, but most other TV characters played by anyone else.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

Alright, I'm confused, are we doing t.v. personalities who have done a couple roles in their career, or just greatest t.v. personalities?

If it's just greatest, then here's my list:

Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton (The Honeymooners)
Gomez Addams (The Addams Family)
Felix Unger and Oscar Madison (The Odd Couple)

and honorable mentions to the casts of "Cheers", "Newhart", and "Seinfeld", cause they're all great and I'm getting typers cramp!

Drew

 

[WallStreet]

You guys have brought up several examples of actors who have done more than one series. But who has played more different characters than any other actor?
Answer: The patron saint of shark jumping, Ted McGinley.
The best character Ted ever played was Jefferson Darcy, but he was by no means an all time great.

All Time Greats in the male category are:
Homer Simpson
Adam West as Batman
Mr Spock
Higgins from Magnum PI
Vince McMahon

Female list:
Mrs Peel
Eartha Kitt as Catwoman (purrrrrfect)
Wrangler Jane from F Troop
Jessica Alba as Dark Angel (I like young girls too)

Anyone who disputes my list doesn't know what they are talking about, and should have they're televisions confiscated.

 

[BellaRisa]

I consider Monday night raw to be a "show" ....so there.

Oh me too hon, I'm not a wresting fan but I **LOVE** Stone Cold! But Tero is asking for great TV people that played more than one character so that different generations would know them as different people, so I'm asking if Stone Cold ever played other people on other shows.

Did he?

Bella

 

[red indian]

None of you septics know it yet but..........

.......there really is no contest on this one, the clear winner is "David Brent" in "The Office" played by Ricky Gervase.A true comedy classic. I gather from the papers that a U.S. TV company has bought the rights to the "format" so you will probably have Bill Cosby in the lead role who will turn the show in to the usual dogs breakfast of cloying sentimentality and naieve, patronising political lecturing.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

Wasn't Stone Cold in the "Six Million Dollar Man", Bella?
Oh no, that's right, he played Murray Slaughter on "Mary Tyler Moore".

Drew

 

[WallStreet]

Stone Cold Steve Austin portrayed detective Jake Gage on the Don Johnson show Nash Bridges.