Actors Who Starred In Back To Back Hit TV Shows

There's a lot of chatter about the end of the era of the movie star these days, and many arguments supporting whichever side of the fence a particular fan may be on are rooted in validity. But while our criteria for determining a movie star's influence is pretty much set in stone, the things that define a TV star are a little bit more complicated. For an actor to be considered a TV star then they have to be the lead actor in a show that's critically acclaimed and attracts a lot of fans. Depending on the nature of the actor and the show, a few awards could make a difference. 

As such, the bar for being a TV star, especially in this era, which might still qualify as "The Golden Age of Television," is high. But some TV stars manage to go beyond a single career-making part and have more than one leading role in hit TV shows; once in a while, they'll get two in a row.

Let's take a deep dive into such unicorns in the TV world and how they managed such a feat. Here are the actors that managed to pull off back-to-back hit shows.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' popularity was at an all-time peak in the 2000s, following a nine-year stint on "Seinfeld." When the show's eventual ending aired, it cracked the top three most-watched finales of all time, putting Louis-Dreyfus' influence at its peak. Understandably, she was spoiled for choice when deciding on her next project.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Louis-Dreyfus stated that she was handed a script for "The New Adventures of Old Christine" by Warner Bros., and after liking what she saw, she met with the show's creator, Kari Lizer, who used to be a writer on "Will & Grace," and they clicked immediately. Louis-Dreyfus remembers the show's set fondly since it was mostly run by women, and she considered that working environment pleasant. In the show, Christine, a recently divorced mother, hilariously struggles to reintegrate into society. Louis-Dreyfus was recognized as one of the funniest women in television and went on to win another Emmy for the series.

However, it was Louis-Dreyfus' next show that introduced her to a whole new generation. She portrayed Selina Meyer, a perennial presidential candidate, in HBO's political satire "Veep." For nearly a decade, the show's succinct portrayal of political corruption and incompetence was a force in pop culture. Louis-Dreyfus has been consistent throughout her career, and it would not be surprising if she had another television smash sometime in the future.

Joshua Jackson benefited from the rise in popularity of teen-focused television in the 2000s when he was cast in the WB's megahit "Dawson's Creek." But after the series ended, he managed to land a part in the J.J. Abrams-produced "Fringe." The show followed the father-son scientist team of Peter (Jackson) and Walter Bishop (John Noble) as they worked with FBI agent Olivia (Anna Torv) to solve mysteries involving a parallel universe.

Later, Jackson stated that the father-son relationship was what drew him to the role. The study of that dynamic was initially subtle, but as the show progressed, it became increasingly overt, culminating in the final season when Walter admits that his son, Peter, is his greatest achievement. By the time Season 3 premiered, the New York Times had already named "Fringe" one of the top 10 shows on television.

Jackson stayed in the television medium after "Fringe" concluded and followed it up with Showtime's drama "The Affair." The show was notable for its effective use of the Rashomon effect in depicting two middle-aged couples dealing with unfaithful spouses. When asked about his time on the show, Jackson stated that now that he's a father in real life, he'd struggle to play a father who had lost his child. Seemingly, Joshua Jackson's trick for consistently securing these renowned roles appears to be growing with the roles he chooses.

Edie Falco spent the majority of her early career as a struggling actor. Even back then, she drew the attention of powerful Hollywood producers, such as Tom Fontana, who said of Falco's natural approach to acting, "She's an actress unadorned by embroidery." She landed a role in Fontana's HBO prison drama "Oz," and caught the eye of David Chase, who was about to reshape the television landscape forever with "The Sopranos." Throughout the landmark series, Carmela Soprano revels in the lifestyle provided by the monstruous, nihilistic actions of her husband Tony (James Gandolfini), but occasionally struggles with the ethical and moral implications — especially when Tony's infidelity becomes a factor. After winning a whole bunch of awards with "The Sopranos," Falco — who has characterized herself as a "worker bee" – jumped into her next job as the title character in "Nurse Jackie." Jackie is a nurse whose struggle with addiction is the focus of the show. Falco immersed herself in the material with great success, earning her yet another Emmy for her efforts.

Keri Russell burst onto the scene with "Felicity," a series that was curtailed by a ludicrous reaction to a hairstyle change. So Russell did what any rational person would do with her next major project — make sure it's a show that allows her to alter her hairstyle virtually every week.

"The Americans" stars Russell and Matthew Rhys as two Russian KGB spies disguised as a suburban couple during the Cold War. She stayed in the political arena after the series ended in 2018, but with a somewhat lighter tone than her work on "The Americans." In "The Diplomat," Russell plays Kate Wyler, the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. Wyler's job is high stakes, complicated, and supremely stressful, but she scans a little more down to earth, and commits considerably fewer assassinations, than Russell's character from "The Americans." "The Diplomat" has already been renewed for a second season.

Jeremy Allen White began his career as Lip Gallagher in the American version of the British hit drama "Shameless." He honed his skills on the show and quickly became one of its standout performers, but after 11 seasons, he found the show to be stale. "I'm not sure if shows are meant to go that long," he told GQ. "There was a period where I stopped feeling like an actor and I started feeling like I was just here to do this show."

Little did White know that his next role in Christopher Storer's "The Bear" would end his doubts about his status as an actor. The series follows Carmy (White) as he returns home to Chicago to resurrect his family restaurant after creating a reputation for himself as a chef in New York. The show became an instantaneous smash after release. Because of that one-two punch, Jeremy Allen White is now a big-name actor, whereas just a few years ago he was doubting his acting abilities altogether.

Pedro Pascal is a graduate of New York University's Tisch prestigious School of the Arts, where many other Hollywood heavyweights have studied. He appeared as a guest star in shows such as "The Mentalist," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and several other network TV shows before landing a prominent role in "Game of Thrones" and becoming a star in his own right.

After becoming a series regular for the first time in "Narcos," he eventually advanced to being a lead when Jon Favreau offered him the main part in the "Star Wars" universe-set series, "The Mandalorian." The show's creators were enthused about the cutting-edge special effects that would be used in the show, and audiences were equally interested in the Mandalorian's endearing father-figure bond with Grogu.

After astounding excursions through the Netflix and Disney landscapes, it was time for Pedro Pascal to return to HBO in the television adaption of the hit videogame "The Last of Us." The show went on to achieve remarkable ratings and critical acclaim, making Pascal one of the rare performers who have appeared in two popular shows simultaneously.