As an actor, it’s easy to get stuck in a TV gig. It’s a comfortable job that can last as long as the numbers are up, but when they start to drop, a rude awakening awaits . Some people don’t respect TV actors as “real” actors, so it’s hard to break into movies, which makes it tempting to just coast through training until the end. After all, when a TV star sets their mind to it, they’re destined for bigger things, and leaving often doesn’t end well.
As a result, “I can think of many examples of actors and actresses leaving their shows and never having a career afterward,” user mapuches_on_fire told r/askreddit, “But I can’t think of any examples where it worked out for them, but I’m sure there are many.”
They then asked, “What actors left their TV show to pursue bigger projects… and it actually worked?”
Growing Pains
Porter’s wagoner show
Person of interest
House
Shameless
Three’s Company
Party Down
Sam & Cat
Bones
Happy Days
Er
Neighbors
Doctor Who
Downton Abbey
Nots landing
What the 70s show
Cuckoo
All my children
The electric company
Moonlight
