Top 20 TV Stars Who Became Too Big For Their Show
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Stars Who Outgrew Their TV Show. For this list, we’ll be looking at the actors who started with smaller TV roles before making it into the A-list category. We’re including stars who stayed with their shows during their run, but whose successes moved up the scale during or after their run. Which star’s popularity do you think transcended their shows? Let us know in the comments.
#20: Bruce Willis
“Moonlighting” (1985-89)
When the average person thinks of Bruce Willis, they usually think of his role in “Die Hard.” Willis is recognized among the action icons of Hollywood, but the actor initially got his start next to Cybill Shepherd in “Moonlighting.” The mystery-comedy series sees the pair as detectives who use quirky methods to solve crimes. The chemistry between Willis and Shepherd served as the main hook for the series, but the former struck “Die Hard” gold around the fourth season. The movie was just a stepping stone for a big career, which also meant that “Moonlighting’s” days were numbered. After the show’s conclusion, Willis would go on to deliver memorable hits like “The Sixth Sense,” “Pulp Fiction,” “12 Monkeys,” and more to cement himself as a leading star.
#19: Ashton Kutcher
“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)
It’s hard to ever forget Michael Kelso and his trademark “Burn!” While his stint on “That ‘70s Show” remains evergreen, Ashton Kutcher kept himself in clear view with movies like “Dude, Where’s My Car?”, “The Butterfly Effect,” and as the host of “Punk’d.” With “That ‘70s Show” being an ensemble effort, Kutcher was able to focus on other projects before graduating into the big leagues. Because of this, Kelso bid goodbye early in the final season. The actor saw further roles in movies like “The Guardian” and “What Happens in Vegas” before replacing Charlie Sheen in “Two and a Half Men.” To his credit, he did return for “That ‘70s’” finale, and he also made a cameo in “That ‘90s Show.”
#18: Michelle Williams
“Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003)
After multiple Oscar nominations, as well as an Emmy and two Golden Globe wins, it’s difficult to think of a time when Michelle Williams was part of a teen drama cast. The actress got her break as Jen Lindley in “Dawson’s Creek” and she stayed with the show through its entire run. However, her career has since been defined by dramas like “Brokeback Mountain,” “Manchester by the Sea,” and the lead role in “My Week with Marilyn.” Her time on “Dawson’s Creek” is now seen as the starting point for what is a critically acclaimed career on the big screen.
#17: John Travolta
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“Welcome Back, Kotter” (1975-79)
Thanks to John Travolta, disco and musicals were brought to life with the successes of “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease.” The actor experienced superstardom while continuing to appear in “Welcome Back, Kotter.” This sitcom features Travolta in the role of a troublemaking high school student. During its run, he first broke through the big screen in the Stephen King adaptation “Carrie.” But the actor still saw “Welcome Back, Kotter” through its four seasons. It wouldn’t be decades until Travolta returned to the small screen – by then, his musical legacy continued to inspire fans to get their groove on. Despite suffering a period of decline, he roared back to the A-list with “Pulp Fiction” for a career resurgence.
#16: Johnny Depp
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“21 Jump Street” (1987-91)
Watching Johnny Depp in the “21 Jump Street” film was a fun surprise. But decades earlier, it was the TV series that garnered him the status of a teen icon. The actor was the poster boy for the crime drama before leaving by the fourth season. By then, “Edward Scissorhands” got Depp the big screen recognition he needed. Films like “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and “Ed Wood” then established him as a leading man. Of course, it was the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise that propelled him to worldwide fame, as Jack Sparrow became a pop culture mainstay. With many other popular characters like Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, and Gellert Grindelwald in the bag, Depp’s “Jump Street” days are now the beginning of a celebrated filmography.
#15: Ariana Grande
“VICTORiOUS” (2010-13) & “Sam & Cat” (2013-14)
Rather than her acting career, Ariana Grande’s rise to the top came from her musical success. After getting her start in the Nickelodeon series “VICTORiOUS” as the lovably ditzy Cat Valentine, Grande briefly headlined its spin-off “Sam & Cat.” However, the simultaneous release of her albums “Yours Truly” and “My Everything” exploded in popularity. And just like that, starring in a Nickelodeon sitcom seemed minute in front of an ever-growing singing career. With each album becoming a smash hit, the sky’s the limit for the former Cat Valentine. Grande’s acting may have taken a backseat, but she’s still had time for onscreen appearances in shows like “Scream Queens,” along with the big-screen adaptation of “Wicked.”
#14: Adam Driver
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“Girls” (2012-17)
Among the most versatile actors in recent years, Adam Driver has starred in dark dramas, action thrillers, and big-budget blockbusters. The actor first gained wider attention for playing Kylo Ren in the “Star Wars” Sequel Trilogy. But Driver’s streak of critical praise began with HBO’s “Girls,” which he appeared in for its entire tenure. Impressively, Driver was on “Girls” during the releases of hits like “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Silence,” “Logan Lucky,” as well as during his “Star Wars” role. In the face of so much big-screen acclaim, mainstream audiences can’t be faulted for being unaware of the HBO series. Since its conclusion, Driver has gone on to carve a bigger legacy with well-received performances in “Marriage Story” and “House of Gucci.”
#13: Jason Segel
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“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
Neil Patrick Harris' Barney Stinson might get most of the love, but Marshall knocked it out of the park. “How I Met Your Mother” managed to last for nine seasons without someone from the main cast dropping out. Three years into the show's run, however, Jason Segel wrote and starred in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, a raunchy comedy that earned 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and established Marshall as a bankable actor. Proving to be a hit on the small and big screen, Jason landed roles in “Despicable Me”, The Muppets revival, and “The Five-Year Engagement”.
#12: Katherine Heigl
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“Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-)
Heigl became a household name for her role as Izzie Stevens in “Grey’s Anatomy.” She remains the only regular cast member from the medical drama to win an Emmy for the show. Her star was shining brighter than ever, as Heigl led box office successes like “Knocked Up,” “27 Dresses,” and “The Ugly Truth.” At the time, she was also the only member of the series to consistently appear on TV and cinema. While her “Grey’s Anatomy” tenure is remembered for the controversy it circulated, with Izzie quickly written off the show, Heigl usually remained the lead star in her subsequent films and TV shows, including Netflix’s “Firefly Lane.”
#11: Dan Stevens
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“Downton Abbey” (2010-15)
From Yorkshire to 18th century France, this English actor's talent is timeless. “Downton Abbey” captured the hearts of viewers from around the world, partially due to Dan Stevens' captivating performance as Matthew Crawley. Previously known for his stage work, Stevens gave the historical period drama three seasons before leaving to try something new. At first, the gamble did not pay off, with 2014's “The Guest” being the actor's biggest film; but, Stevens reached superstardom with Disney's live-action “Beauty and the Beast”.
#10: Woody Harrelson
“Cheers” (1982-93)
The character of Woody Boyd was created after the death of previous “Cheers” bartender, Coach, played by Nicholas Colasanto. However, Woody Harrelson won audiences over with his boyish charm and would remain with the sitcom for eight further seasons. Near the show’s end, Harrelson showed his acting chops in “White Men Can't Jump,” which kickstarted his film career. 1994’s “Natural Born Killers” reconfirmed his place in cinema, as Harrelson wowed with his against-type performance. The actor has since expanded his horizons, appearing in action comedies like “Zombieland” and franchise movies like “The Hunger Games” and “Planet of the Apes.” Not too bad for someone who got his start tending bar at Cheers.
#9: Chris Pratt
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“Parks and Recreation” (2009-15; 2020)
Nothing can replace Mouse Rat, but Guardians of the Galaxy is a close second. Chris Pratt started off as a sidekick on the TV drama “Everwood”, before landing a part on “Parks and Recreation”. While Andy always brought the laughs, many were taken by surprise when Pratt was cast as Star-Lord in James Gunn's superhero blockbuster. “Guardians of the Galaxy” and Pratt's performance received near universal praise, instantly turning the TV actor into one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Pratt appears in the Jurassic World trilogy as well as in Marvel's Infinity War; so, Andy – and Pratt – is here to stay.
#8: Jennifer Aniston
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“Friends” (1994-2004)
As the faces of one of the most successful shows of all time, the sitcom's entire cast is pretty much set for life. While all six “Friends” landed roles outside of television, Jennifer Aniston is the only one to completely outshine the series that made her famous. Due to a string of lucrative romantic comedies, including “Office Space” and “The Break-Up”, Aniston established herself as a reliable comedic actress capable of holding her own alongside any other celebrity. Putting aside Aniston's film career, the media has always kept tabs on her private life, ensuring the actress is known for more than just Rachel.
#7: Donald Glover
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“Community” (2009-15)
Writer, actor, and rapper – Childish Gambino is the full package. Prior to landing the role of Troy Barnes on “Community”, Donald Glover paid his dues as a writer on “30 Rock”. While no stranger to the camera, Troy was Glover's first big acting role, which lasted for the next five years. In the meantime, the actor released two albums under the pseudonym of Childish Gambino. Preferring to focus on his own work, Glover created and starred in “Atlanta”, a highly acclaimed comedy-drama that won multiple Emmys. As Childish Gambino, he also took home a Grammy for “Redbone”, dialing up his fame factor another notch.
#6: George Clooney
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“ER” (1994-2009)
A bankable movie star and proven producer today, George Clooney got his big break when he was cast as “ER”'s Dr. Doug Ross. The role led to a couple of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and for five years, Clooney juggled a busy television and film schedule, including the films “Out of Sight” and “From Dusk till Dawn”. In 1999, Clooney made his final appearance as a full-time cast member and set his sights on Hollywood. Within a couple of years, the charismatic actor was sharing the silver screen with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts in “Ocean's Eleven”.
#5: Will Smith
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“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
Music, TV, and film – there is nothing Big Willie cannot do. By the time The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air hit the scene, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince had already released three full-length albums. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Smith's larger-than-life personality and charisma survived the transition to the small screen, transforming the rapper into a household name. After conquering music and TV, the film industry was the next logical step, with “Independence Day” and “Men in Black” cementing Will Smith as an A-list celebrity.
#4: Michael J. Fox
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“Family Ties” (1982-89)
Who else can say they became a werewolf and a time-traveler in the same year? Michael J. Fox is synonymous with the '80s, and worked on multiple TV series before landing the role of Alex P. Keaton on “Family Ties”. Soon thereafter, Steven Spielberg and “Back to the Future” came knocking, propelling Fox into the big leagues. The sci-fi classic proved an instant hit and spawned two sequels, although Michael J. continued to appear on “Family Ties”. Once Alex P. Keaton's days were done, for a while, Fox focused on film before returning with acclaim to the small screen in “Spin City”.
#3: Melissa McCarthy
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“Mike & Molly” (2010-16)
The energetic actress had been in the business for over a decade when Mike & Molly started its run. Within three years, Melissa McCarthy went from a relatively unknown actress to one of TV and film's leading comedic talents. After her star-making performance in “Bridesmaids”, McCarthy would go on to work repeatedly with director Paul Feig, with leading roles in “The Heat”, “Spy”, and the 2016 “Ghostbusters” remake. Despite being one of the most in-demand talents in Hollywood, McCarthy remained committed to “Mike & Molly”, lasting a full six-seasons before the sitcom called it a day.
#2: Steve Carrell
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“The Office” (2005-13)
The Dana Carvey Show lasted for seven short episodes but managed to gift the world two future stars. Alongside Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell went on to perform on “The Daily Show” before securing the beloved role of Michael Scott on the US version of “The Office”. While the mockumentary struggled through its first season, Carell's performance in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” drew more attention to the series. For around seven years, Carell balanced a film and TV career, before finally retiring the character of Michael Scott. Since then, the comedian has branched out into different genres, including an Academy nominated turn in “Foxcatcher”.
#1: Robin Williams
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“Mork & Mindy” (1978-82)
The incomparable Robin Williams delighted fans for decades with his high-energy brand of comedy. Williams is also known for delivering heartfelt dramatic performances in films like “Dead Poets Society,” “Awakenings,” and “Good Will Hunting.” What some might overlook is that Williams got his start playing an alien from Mars in “Mork & Mindy.” Part of the “Happy Days” franchise, Mork went on hilarious adventures in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. In addition to his rising stand-up career, Williams was seen in popular films like “Popeye” and “The World According to Garp” while “Mork & Mindy” was still on-air. After the series’ cancellation, Williams never looked back, entertaining viewers with classic characters like Peter Pan, Ramon and Lovelace, Theodore Roosevelt, and everyone’s favorite Genie.
