List of television programs in which one character was played by multiple actors

This is a list of television programs in which one character was played by multiple actors. In numerous television programs, producers have cast multiple actors for the part of the same character. This list does not include different actors playing the same character at significantly different ages (as in flashbacks), but it does include actors playing the character continuously as the character ages. Actors are listed in chronological order, where possible. For a list specific to soap operas, see list of soap opera recasts.

A

• The A-Team (1983–1987). Character: Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck. Actors: Tim Dunigan (in the pilot), Dirk Benedict
• Adventures of Superman Character: Lois Lane. Actors Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill.
• The Adventures of William Tell (1950s). Character: Gessler's second in command, Frederick. Actors: Derren Nesbitt (first six episodes), Willoughby Gray (seventh episode), Jack Watling
• All in the Family Character: Gloria Bunker. Actors: Kelly Jean Peters (first pilot), Candice Azzara (second pilot), Sally Struthers. Character: Lionel Jefferson. Actors: D'Urville Martin (pilots), Mike Evans.
• 'Allo 'Allo! Character: Captain Alberto Bertorelli. Actors: Gavin Richards 1987-1989, Roger Kitter 1991. Character: Monsieur Ernest LeClerc. Actors: Derek Royle 1989, Robin Parkinson 1991 - 1992, 2007. Character: Herr Otto Flick. Actors: Richard Gibson 1984 - 1992, David Janson 1992.

B

• Batman. Character: Catwoman. Actors: Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether (1966 film only), Eartha Kitt. Character: Riddler. Actors: Frank Gorshin and John Astin. Character: Mr. Freeze. Actors: George Sanders, Otto Preminger, and Eli Wallach
• Back to You (2007-2008). Character: Gracie Carr. Actors: Laura Marano, Lily Jackson.
• Being Human. Character: John Mitchell. Actors: Aidan Turner, Guy Flanagan (Pilot only). Character: Annie Sawyer. Actors: Lenora Crichlow, Andrea Riseborough (Pilot only). Character: William Herrick. Actors: Jason Watkins, Adrian Lester (Pilot only). Character:Lauren Drake. Actors: Annabel Scholey, Dominique McElligott (Pilot only)
• Bette. Character: Roy; actors: Kevin Dunn and Robert Hays. Character: Rose. Actors: Lindsay Lohan, Marina Malota
• Bewitched. Character: Darrin Stephens. Actors: Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972). Character: Gladys Kravitz. Actors: Alice Pearce (1964–1966), Sandra Gould (1966–1971). Character: Tabitha Stephens. Actors: Cynthia Black (1966), Heidi and Laura Gentry (1966), Tamar and Julie Young (1966), Diane Murphy (1966–1968), Erin Murphy (1966–1972). Character: Louise Tate. Actors: Irene Vernon (1964–1966), Kasey Rogers (1966–1972)
• Blake's 7. Character: Travis. Actors: Stephen Greif, Brian Croucher
• Boy Meets World Character: Morgan Matthews. Actors: Lily Nicksay (1993–1995), Lindsay Ridgeway (1995–2000). Character: Jedidiah Lawrence (Topanga's father). Actors: Peter Tork, Mark Harelik
• The Brady Bunch. Character: Marcia Brady. Actors: Maureen McCormick, Leah Ayres (The Bradys). Jan Brady. Actors: Eve Plumb, Geri Reischl (The Brady Bunch Variety Hour). Cindy Brady. Actors: Susan Olsen, Jennifer Runyon (A Very Brady Christmas).
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Character: Nikki Wood. Actors: April Weeden-Washington, K. D. Aubert

C

• Cadfael. Character: Hugh Beringar. Actors: Sean Pertwee (four episodes), Eoin McCarthy five episodes and Anthony Green for the final three episodes.
• Charmed. Character: Victor Halliwell. Actors: Anthony Denison (one episode), James Read
• Cuckoo. Character: Rachel Thompson. Actors: Tamla Kari (series one), Esther Smith.

D

• Dallas. Character: Miss Ellie Ewing. Actors: Barbara Bel Geddes (1978–1984, 1985–1990) and Donna Reed (1984–1985). Character: Jenna Wade. Actors: Morgan Fairchild and Priscilla Presley. Character: Kristin Stewart. Actors: Mary Crosby and Colleen Camp
• Dark Shadows (1966–1971) Character: Willie Loomis. Actors: James Hall (4 episodes), John Karlen (106 episodes)
• Days of Our Lives. Character: Roman Brady. Actors: Wayne Northrop, Josh Taylor
• Diff'rent Strokes. Character: Maggie McKinney-Drummond. Actresses: Dixie Carter, Mary Ann Mobley.
• Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Character: Colleen Cooper. Actresses: Erika Flores, Jessica Bowman.
• Doctor Who. Character: The Doctor; Actors: William Hartnell (1963–1966), Patrick Troughton (1966–1969), Jon Pertwee (1970–1974), Tom Baker (1974–1981), Peter Davison (1981–1984), Richard Hurndall (1983 - replacement for Hartnell), Colin Baker (1984–1986), Sylvester McCoy (1987–1989, 1996), Paul McGann (1996, 2013), John Hurt (2013) Christopher Eccleston (2005), David Tennant (2005–2010), Matt Smith (2010–2013), Peter Capaldi (2013– ).
  Character: Romana; Actresses: Mary Tamm (1978–1979), Lalla Ward (1979–1981).
  Character: The Master; Actors: Roger Delgado (1971-1973), Peter Pratt (1977), Geoffrey Beevers (1981), Anthony Ainley (1981-1989), Gordon Tipple (1996), Eric Roberts (1996), Derek Jacobi (2007), John Simm (2007-2010), Michelle Gomez (2014).
  Character: Rassilon; Actors: Richard Mathews, Timothy Dalton, Don Warrington (voice).
  Character: Davros; Actors: Michael Wisher (1975), David Gooderson (1979), Terry Molloy (1982-1988), Julian Bleach (2008).
  Character: River Song; Actresses: Alex Kingston, Sydney Wade, Nina Toussaint-White, Maya Glace-Green.
• Due South. Character: Det. Ray Vecchio. Actors: David Marciano, Callum Keith Rennie.
• Dynasty. Character: Steven Carrington. Actors: Al Corley and Jack Coleman. Character: Fallon Carrington Colby. Actors: Pamela Sue Martin and Emma Samms. Character: Amanda Carrington. Actors: Catherine Oxenberg and Karen Cellini. Character: Adam Carrington. Actors: Gordon Thomson and Robin Sachs (Dynasty: The Reunion).

E

• Eight Is Enough (1977–1981). Character: David Bradford. Actors: Mark Hamill (in the pilot), Grant Goodeve

F

• The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Character: Reggie's son-in-law Tom. Actors: Tim Preece (series 1 and 2, 1976–77), Leslie Schofield (series 3, 1978–79). Preece returned to the role for the later series The Legacy of Reginald Perrin.
• The Fresh Beat Band. Characters: Marina. Actors: Shayna Rose, Tara Perry
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Character: Vivian Banks. Actors: Janet Hubert-Whitten (1990–1993) and Daphne Maxwell Reid (1993–1996). Character: Nicky Banks. Actors: Gregory Wheeler, Ross Bagley.
• Frasier (1993-2004). Character: Frederick Gaylord Crane. Actors: Luke Tarsitano, Trevor Einhorn
• Friends Character: Ross' first ex-wife Carol Willick. Actors: Anita Barone (1 episode), Jane Sibbett
• Fringe Character: Michael / Anomaly XB-6783746. Actors: Spencer List (1 episode), Roman Longworth
• Full House. Character: Michelle Elizabeth Tanner. Actors: Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen (contemporaneously due to child labor laws)

G

• Game of Thrones. Character: Daario Naharis. Actors: Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Character: Harry Morton. Hal March, John Brown (actor), Fred Clark, Larry Keating
• Ghost Whisperer. Character: Ned Banks Actors: Tyler Patrick Jones and Christoph Sanders.
• Ghostwriter. Character: Gaby Fernandez. Actors: Melissa Gonzalez, Mayteana Morales. Character: Reggie Jenkins (Jamal's father). Actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Dean Irby. Mr. Frazier (Lenni's father). Actors: Richard Cox, Keith Langsdale.
• Gilligan's Island. Character: Ginger Grant. Actors: Kit Smythe (pilot), Tina Louise, Judith Baldwin (Rescue From Gilligan's Island and The Castaways on Gilligan's Island), Constance Forslund (The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island).
• Grace Under Fire (1993–1998) Character: Patrick Kelly. Actors: Dylan and Cole Sprouse (contemporaneously due to child labor laws). Character: Quentin Kelly Actors: Jon Paul Steuer (1993–1996) and Sam Horrigan (1996–1998).
• Grounded For Life. Character: Dan O'Keefe Actors: Floyd Van Buskirk (2001) and Gregory Jbara (2002-2005)

H

• Hamish Macbeth (1995–1997). Character: Lachlan McCrae, Sr. Actors: Jimmy Yuill (Series 1), Billy Riddoch (Series 2–3)
• Happy Days (1974–1984). Character: Chuck Cunningham. Actors: Gavan O'Herlihy, Randolph Roberts. Character: Dr. Mickey Malph. Actors: Jack Dodson, Alan Oppenheimer.
• Heroes. Character: Hiro Nakamura. Actors: Masi Oka (main actor), Garrett Masuda, Sekai Murashige and Mikey Kawata. The other actors were seen in the same time period with Masi Oka via time travel. Character: Charlie Andrews. Actresses: Jayma Mays, K Callan.
• How I Met Your Mother. Character: Ted Mosby. Actors: Josh Radnor, Bob Saget ("future" Ted Mosby narrating the episodes).

I

• The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) Character: Dr. David Banner/The Hulk. Actors: Bill Bixby(In form of David Banner) and Lou Ferrigno(In Hulk form). Ted Cassidy also did the voice of the hulk.
• Internet Killed Television Character: Alli. Actors: Alli Speed (Years 1-5) and Allie Wesenberg (Year 6-). On a related series before Internet Killed Television featuring Charles Trippy, Alli was portrayed by Ally Rhodes and later on, Alli Speed.

J

• The Jeffersons (1975-1985). Character: Lionel Jefferson. Actors: Mike Evans, Damon Evans. Character: Mr. Whittendale. Actors: Ivor Francis, Jack Fletcher. Character: Allan Willis. Actors: Andrew Rubin, Jay Hammer.

K

• Kasautii Zindagii Kay - The role of Anurag Basu was played by two actors.
• Keeping Up Appearances Character: Rose. Actors: Shirley Stelfox 1990, Mary Millar 1991 - 1995.
• The King of Queens – The role of Kirby Palmer was played by multiple child actors.
• The King of Queens – The role of Major Palmer was played by multiple child actors.

L

• Last Man Standing Character: Kristin Baxter. Actresses: Alexandra Krosney and Amanda Fuller.
• Life Goes On Character: Paige Thatcher. Actors: Monique Lanier (1989–1990) and Tracey Needham (1990–1993).
• Lois and Clark Character: Jimmy Olsen. Actors: Michael Landes (1993–1994), Justin Whalin (1994–1997).
• The Lone Ranger - Character: The Lone Ranger. Actors: Clayton Moore (1949–1951, 1954–1957) and John Hart (1952-1953).

M

• Mad Men Character: Robert "Bobby" Draper. Actors: Maxwell Huckabee, Aaron Hart, Jared Gilmore
• Make Room For Daddy Character: Terry Williams. Actors: Sherry Jackson, Penney Parker
• M*A*S*H Character: Father Francis Mulcahy. Actors: William Christopher, George Morgan
  • Character: Lt. Col. Donald Penobscott. Actors: Beeson Carroll, Mike Henry (American football)
• Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers
  • Character: Tommy Oliver. Actors: Jason David Frank(as a teen) and Michael R. Gotto(as a child).
  • Character: Rocky DeSantos. Actors: Steve Cardenas(as a teen) and Michael J. O'Laskey (as a child).
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  • Character: Trini Kwan. Actors: Audrey Dubois (Power Rangers: The Lost Episode), Thuy Trang
• Monk Character: Trudy Monk. Actors: Stellina Rusich, Melora Hardin. Character: Benjy Flemming. Actors: Kane Ritchotte, Max Morrow. Character: Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck. Actors: Adam Arkin, Tim Curry, Ray Porter.
• The Munsters Character: Marilyn Munster. Actors: Beverly Owen, Pat Priest.
• My Hero Character: Thermoman. Actors: Ardal O'Hanlon, James Dreyfus.
• My Wife and Kids Character: Claire. Actors: Jazz Raycole, Jennifer Freeman. Character: Vanessa. Actors: Meagan Good (5 episodes), Brooklyn Sudano

O

• The Odd Couple Character: Leonard Unger. Actor Willie Aames, Leif Garrett.

P

• Parker Lewis Can't Lose. Character: Parker's mother. Actors: Anne Bloom, Mary Ellen Trainor
• Party of Five. Character: Owen Salinger. Actors: Alexander and Zachary Ahnert, Brendan and Tyler Porter, Andrew and Stephen Cavarno, and Jacob Smith.
• The Partridge Family Character: Chris Partridge. Actors: Jeremy Gelbwaks, Brian Forster
• Pee-wee's Playhouse Character: The King of Cartoons. Actors: Gilbert Lewis (first season), William H. Marshall (subsequent seasons)
• Picket Fences Character: Myrian Wambaugh. Actresses: Ann Morgan Guilbert and Erica Yohn
• Power Rangers Turbo. Character: Divatox and Dimitria. Actresses: Carol Hoyt and Hilary Shepard Turner. Hilary played in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, then replaced Carol after several episodes.
• Private Practice Character: Naomi Bennett. Actors: Merrin Dungey (in the backdoor pilot episode), Audra McDonald

R

• Red Dwarf. Character: Kristine Kochanski. Actors: Clare Grogan, Chloë Annett.
  • Character: Kryten. Actors: David Ross (one episode), Robert Llewellyn.
  • Character: ship's computer, Holly. Actors: Norman Lovett during series I, II, VII and VIII, and Hattie Hayridge in series III to V
• Roseanne (1988–1997). Character: Rebecca "Becky" Conner-Healy; actors: Lecy Goranson (seasons 1-5 and 8), Sarah Chalke (seasons 6, 7, 8 as guest star, 9).
  • Character: David Jacob "DJ" Conner. Actors: Sal Barone (in the pilot), Michael Fishman.
  • Character: Lonnie Anderson. Actors: Josh C. Williams (1988-1989), Luke Edwards (1989), Kristopher Kent Hill (1991-1994).

S

• Saved by the Bell. Character: Derek Morris. Actors: Robert Pine, John Sanderford
• Seinfeld. Character: Frank Costanza (George's father). Actors: John Randolph, Jerry Stiller.
  • Character: Morty Seinfeld (Jerry's father). Actors: Phil Bruns, Barney Martin.
  • Character: Lloyd Braun. Actors: Peter Keleghan, Matt McCoy.
  • Character: Newman. Actors: Larry David (voice only in one episode), Wayne Knight
• Sesame Street. Character: Gordon Robinson. Actors: Garrett Saunders (test pilots), Matt Robinson, Hal Miller, Roscoe Orman.
  • Character: Miles Robinson. Actors: Miles Orman, Imani Patterson, Olamide Faison.
  • Character: Gabi. Actors: Dick Maitland's son (born 1989), Gabriela Rose Reagan, Desiree Casado.
  • Character: David Handord. Actors: Leonard Jackson, David L. Smyrl.
• Shameless. Character: Carl Gallagher. Actors: Luke Tittensor (2004), Elliott Tittensor (2004–present).
• Shazam! Character: Captain Marvel. Actors: Jackson Bostwick, John Davey
• The Six Million Dollar Man - Character: Bigfoot. Actors: André the Giant, Ted Cassidy.
  • Character: Dr. Rudy Wells. Actors: Martin Balsam, Alan Oppenheimer, Martin E. Brooks.
• Split. Character: Carmel. Actors: Anna Zaikin (2009) and Agam Rodberg (2010-2012).
• Stargate SG-1. Character: Dr. Elizabeth Weir. Actors: Jessica Steen (2 episodes), Torri Higginson
• Superboy - Character: Lex Luthor. Actors: Scott Wells (1988-1989) and Sherman Howard (1989-1992). Character: Superboy. Actors: John Haymes Newton (1988–1989) and Gerard Christopher (1989–1992)
• Survivors. Character Lizzie Willoughby. Actors: Tanya Ronder (1975-1976) and Angie Stevens (1977).
• Sweet Valley High. Character: Todd Wilkins. Actors: Ryan Bittle (1994-1996) and Jeremy Garrett (1996-1997).

T

• 'Til Death. Character: Allison Stark. Actors: Krysten Ritter, Laura Clery, Lindsey Broad, Kate Micucci
• That 70's Show. Character: Laurie Forman. Actors: Lisa Robin Kelly, Christina Moore. Character: Pamela Burkhart. Actors: Eve Plumb, Brooke Shields
• Two Guys and a Girl. Characters: Berg's Parents. Actors: Howard Hesseman, Steve Landesberg, Cheryl Ladd, Bo Derek
• True Blood. Character: James. Actors: Luke Grimes, Nathan Parsons

V

• V (1984 TV series). Character: Elizabeth Actors: Jenny Beck and Jennifer Cooke.
• The Vampire Diaries. Character: Silas Actors:Paul Wesley, Raymond Scott Parks, Jason Spisak, Camille Guaty, Jasmine Guy, David Alpay, Candice Accola, Steven R. McQueen, Claire Holt, Ian Somerhalder, Joseph Morgan, Zach Roerig, Marguerite MacIntyre, Matthew Davis and Nina Dobrev.

W

• The Waltons. Characters: John Boy. Actors: Richard Thomas, Robert Wightman
• WKRP in Cincinnati. Character: Mrs. Carlson. Actors: Sylvia Sydney, Carol Bruce.
• The Wonder Years. Character: Kevin Arnold. Actors: Fred Savage, Daniel Stern(adult Kevin narrating the episodes).
• WWE. Character: Randy Orton's wife, Samantha Orton. Actresses: Laura Croft, unknown.
• Wolfblood. Character: Dr. Rebecca Whitewood. Actresses: Effie Woods, Letty Butler

See also

• List of soap opera recasts
• List of actors who have played multiple roles in the same television series

External links

• TV's most memorable recastings