From Laugh Tracks to Oscar Nods: Sitcom Stars Who Dominated Film

Famous actors you forgot started on TV!

Is there a difference between TV and movie stars? Sitcom actors vs. dramatic or action movie heroes? TV celebrities vs. romcom heroines? While a cultural move to streaming content has collapsed the gap between TV and movie acting, in the past many actors were dominant in one or the other medium. Some of your favorite actors and actresses might be well-known for a particular movie or character, a franchise that defines them in popular culture. But so many celebrities who are famous for making films got their start, or were also known for, TV sitcoms. We put together a list of artists who owe some of their careers to primetime comedy!.

Robin Williams, Mork & Mindy

Before he was inspiring students to stand up and pledge “Oh captain, my captain”, struggling with facial prosthetics as Mrs. Doubtfire, entertaining parents and kids alike as a cartoon genie, and providing therapy to Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams appeared on a sitcom in the 1970s called Mork & Mindy. 

Alan Alda, M*A*S*H 

You’d think Alan Alda would be best known for his role on M*A*S*H, but his career has been so prolific that it’s hard to believe that one of the most successful TV sitcoms of all time wasn’t it. Alda started on the show early in his career, but went on to appear in over 35 TV shows and made-for-TV movies as well as 35 movies. He wrote and appeared in The Four Seasons around the same time M*A*S*H was on the air, but went on to appear in Crimes & Misdemeanors, The Object of My Affection, Bridge of Spies, What Women Want, and more. His role in the Leonardo DiCaprio/Martin Scorcese flick, The Aviator, earned him his only Oscar nomination. His work on TV, however, earned him 21 Emmy nominations, 5 of which he won.

Tom Hanks, Bosom Buddies

It’s hard to get folks to completely agree on anything, but it’s safe to say that one thing most people agree on is that Tom Hanks is an international treasure. While he has many TV credits, he has been in over 70 movies. We know him as Forrest Gump, a FedEx worker stranded on an island, an astronaut whose mission to the moon is thwarted by disaster, even Walt Disney. But before he was one of the most famous movie stars of all time, he co-starred in a sitcom called Bosom Buddies, which aired from 1980 to 1982. Afterward, he appeared in guest roles on Taxi, Happy Days, and Family Ties in the early 80s. Over the next few years of that decade, he appeared on the big screen in Splash, The Money Pit, Bachelor Party, Turner & Hooch, Joe Versus the Volcano, The ‘Burbs, and of course: Big. The 1990s would be the decade he achieved mega-movie star status with blockbuster movies like Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Toy Story, That Thing You Do, Saving Private Ryan, You’ve Got Mail, The Green Mile, and many, many more from the 2000s through today.

Will Smith, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Will Smith didn’t start out as an actor per se. He actually gained fame as a rapper under the name–you guessed it–The Fresh Prince. He moved into acting when the TV series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, was created around him as the star in the 1990s. When the show ended, he went on to take on movie roles–some of them very serious characters that were so different from his TV show persona. He starred in films like Independence Day, Men in Black, Wild Wild West, Hitch, Ali, Enemy of the State, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Pursuit of Happyness and Aladdin. For his role in King Richard, he won his first Academy Award.

Michael J. Fox, Family Ties

You might know Michael J. Fox for his activism for Parkinson’s Disease research and awareness through his Michael J. Fox Foundation. Or you might know him for the Back to the Future franchise, which is iconic in every way. But one of his most successful roles was playing Alex P. Keaton on the 1980s smash hit sitcom, Family Ties. The role earned Fox 3 Emmy Awards, and when he arrived on the big screen as Back to the Future’s Marty McFly, he became a bonafide movie star. Fox didn’t end his relationship with TV though; he returned to the sitcom format in the 1990s starring in Spin City. 

Jennifer Aniston, Friends

Jennifer Aniston is one of the most globally well-known actresses in television, due to her iconic role as Rachel Green on Friends. She won both an Emmy and Golden Globe Award for her work on one of the most successful shows on TV. Aniston successfully transitioned to film, starring in a range of romantic comedies and dramas, including The Object of My Affection, Along Came Polly, He’s Just Not That Into You, Marley & Me, The Break-Up, Office Space, and Cake, for which she received critical acclaim. In recent years, she has returned to TV with The Morning Show, earning another Emmy nomination.

Steve Carell, The Office

Steve Carell rose to prominence as a comedian correspondent on The Daily Show before gaining widespread fame for his role as Michael Scott, the bumbling but lovable boss, on the megahit sitcom The Office. The role earned him a Golden Globe Award and multiple Emmy nominations, making him a comedy icon. Carell transitioned to film, starring in a mix of blockbuster comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Anchorman, and Crazy, Stupid, Love, as well as critically acclaimed dramas such as Foxcatcher, for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Growing Pains

Leonardo DiCaprio is a name that is absolutely synonymous with “movie star.” As a young teen, he rose to fame as a heartthrob with an emotional yet comedic role on the sitcom Growing Pains. He had previously had a role on the drama series Parenthood (1990) and guest roles on shows like Roseanne and Santa Barbara. Shortly after sitcom stardom, his role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? earned him respect as a gifted dramatic actor. In the later half of the 1990s he starred in Romeo + Juliet before his most iconic role yet, that of Jack Dawson in the mega blockbuster, Titanic. Known for his intense performances and collaborations with acclaimed directors, DiCaprio has starred in a wide range of critically acclaimed films, including Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Inception, Catch Me If You Can, and The Revenant, for which he won his first Academy Award after several nominations. His ongoing partnership with director Martin Scorsese in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and The Departed further solidified his reputation as one of Hollywood’s finest actors.

Mila Kunis, That ‘70s Show

Mila Kunis was still technically a child when she began her career appearing as Jackie Burkhart on the popular sitcom That ‘70s Show. Her sharp timing and charismatic performance was undeniable, and later became vital to her success as a film actress. Her iconic roles in movies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Friends with Benefits, and the Bad Moms franchise showcase her quick wit and comedic prowess. But she soon proved comedy wasn’t her only strong suit: she has a knack for intense drama as well, as evidenced by her role in Black Swan, which earned her several award nominations. 

Sandra Bullock, Working Girl

Before she was Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock’s early career began in television. She secured a role in the short-lived sitcom Working Girl, a TV adaptation of the popular film of the same name. Although the show only lasted one season, it gave Bullock her first significant role, showcasing her comedic talent and screen presence. She appeared in various TV guest spots and small roles, after that, until her big break on the big screen came opposite Keanu Reeves in Speed. She quickly became one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars with hits like The Net, While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats, Practical Magic, Miss Congeniality, and The Proposal. Bullock won critical acclaim and an Oscar for her dramatic role in The Blind Side, and continued to balance box office success and critical praise with films like Gravity and Bird Box.

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