Movie Actors Who Have Successfully Transitioned to TV

[AJBopp]

For a long time, there has been a clear divide between movie actors and TV actors. Currently there is a train of thought that TV (or more accurately episodic - which can only be represented in a medium more immediate than cinema) provides the greater opportunity for character development and expression. Who's done it best?

[Hybrid]

Hey, at least give me credit for inspiring this!

Anyways...

Peter Dinklage comes to mind. He appeared in various movies, often was memorable but minor (like in Elf), before becoming Tyrion Lannister in GoT where he became truly distinguished as a whole.

[AJBopp]

Hey, at least give me credit for inspiring this!

Credit to Hybrid for inspiring this!

[AJBopp]

My vote would go to John Lithgow

[AndrewCrossett]

Burt Reynolds. Maggie Smith.

[Kirby101]

James Spader
Doris Day

[Jim Kelly]

If you go far enough down an actor's IMDb page, you find that most of them started out in TV roles--as with Burt Reynolds and Maggie Smith. So for most of them it's a successful return to TV from whence they came.

Brandon Routh started out in TV roles, before getting his lucky break to become Superman in the movies--a role that he should have been able to play for many years on the big screen. But that was not to be, still he had several other movie roles. And he's successfully returned to TV in a few different series.

[batnbreakfast]

The former Bond villain Sean Bean in his later years as Eddard Stark. I love that character.

Ed Harris and Anthony Hopkins in the bleak show Westworld

[Geraldofrivia]

Matthew McConaughey, Brandon Routh. A lot of Marvel actors will get in list because of Disney plus.

[j9ac9k]

Paul Giamatti. Went from "Private Parts" to acclaim in movies like "Sideways" then tore it up on tv in "John Adams" and "Billions."

[Immortal Weapon]

Danny Devito thanks to Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

[Jim Kelly]

The really impressive thing to me is the great actors from Hollywood's Golden Age that went to the small screen later in their careers.

Fred MacMurray became the wise head of the family on MY THREE SONS. And Barbara Stanwyck was the matronly rancher on THE BIG VALLEY. But once upon a time, they were silver screen icons.

Shirley Partridge on THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY was the enchanting Shirley Jones from some of my favourite 1950s musicals. Rock Hudson was the star of MCMILLAN & WIFE. Doris Day headed up THE DORIS DAY SHOW. Donna Reed had THE DONNA REED SHOW. Debbie Reynolds had THE DEBBIE REYNOLDS SHOW.

The most shocking was when Henry Fonda decided to do TV and headed up THE SMITH FAMILY--that series didn't last long, but that Fonda would dare to anchor a television series at all was remarkable.

[j9ac9k]

Danny Devito thanks to Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Well, he's more back and forth since he started in "Taxi"

Same with Kevin Spacey - started in an amazing role in "Wiseguy", hit it huge in movies, then ended in "House of Cards"

[Howard Allan]

Danny Devito thanks to Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Danny was in Taxi before he became known for movie roles.

[TriggerWarning]

Kevin Bacon in the Following

Brandon Routh went from Superman in the movies to Ray Palmer on TV (and now as Superman as well).

Dominic Monaghaun bounces back and forth

Many others.