Actors We Want To See On The Next Season Of Dancing With The Stars
Every season, fans await the list of new "Dancing with the Stars" contestants with anticipation. And every season, there are some big hits (pretty much any gymnast or boy bander) and huge misses (Sean Spicer, anyone?). While we do not work in the casting department for the show, that has not stopped us from developing a solid list of potentials for that next mirrorball trophy. Based upon who has been cast in the past, we think these 14 actors would be the perfect fit.
For this list, we focused on actors specifically (versus other professions in entertainment) and opted for people who we could potentially see joining the show -– so, no, we are not suggesting mega-stars like Brad Pitt or Gwyneth Paltrow (except for Tiffany Haddish, because she would be that good). We also tried to play into some of "Dancing with the Stars" favorite archetypes, like the aging teen heartthrob, the television legend, and the ex-Disney child star. But most of all, we chose people that we think could light up the dance floor with not just their feet, but also their personalities. Here is our list of actors that we would love to see on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars."
Tori Spelling
Tori Spelling is so perfect for "Dancing with the Stars" that it is almost unbelievable that she has yet to appear on the reality show. After all, many of her "Beverly Hills, 90210" castmates have appeared, including Ian Ziering (who played Steve Sanders) in Season 4, Jennie Garth (Kelly Taylor) in season five, and Shannen Doherty (Brenda Walsh) in Season 10. Spelling's on-screen love interest Brian Austin Green –- who played David Silver opposite her Donna Martin -– is currently on the show, dancing with his real-life lover Sharna Burgess. Spelling seems like the next in line, unless someone out there is rooting for Gabrielle Carteris (Andrea Zuckerman) instead.
Beyond the "Beverly Hills, 90210" factor, Spelling would be great on the show because she is a natural ham who has grown up in Hollywood. She has been in front of the camera since she was a child, when she used to appear on father Aaron Spelling's shows, like "Fantasy Island" and "T.J. Hooker." She is also no stranger to reality television, having appeared as "The Unicorn" character on "The Masked Singer in 2019, and on "Celebrity Show Off" in 2020 (not to mention the multiple reality shows she has had focused on her own life and family). Plus, she has enough kids to fill up a large cheering station in the audience. Best of all, her last acting credit (per IMDB) is "High School Crimes and Misdemeanors" in 2020, so she clearly isn't picky with her projects.
Deidre Hall
Deidre Hall is a daytime television legend, which makes her the perfect fit for "Dancing with the Stars." If she were to join the show, Hall would join the long list of soap opera actors who have competed, including Lisa Rinna ("Days of Our Lives") in Season 2, Cameron Mathison ("All My Children") in Season 5, and Antonio Sabato Jr. ("General Hospital") in Season 19. In fact, the very first season of "Dancing with the Stars" was won by a soap opera actress – Kelly Monaco, of "General Hospital" fame.
And sure, at 73 years old, Hall is older than most of the other soap stars who have competed -– Susan Lucci is a year older than Hall, but was only 62 when she competed in Season 7 –- but "Dancing with the Stars" loves a senior citizen. Past contestants over 70 have included Florence Henderson (Season 11), Mary Wilson (Season 28), Geraldo Rivera (Season 22), and Patti Labelle (Season 20). Heck, the late, great Cloris Leachman was 82 when she competed back on Season 7. Hall has played Marlena Evans on "Days of Our Lives" for more than 40 years, so we think it's time for a new challenge.
Courteney Cox
In thirty seasons of "Dancing with the Stars," there has never been a "Friends" star on the cast, and sure, we get it, because none of them really need the money, but what about doing it purely for the challenge? While we would take any "Friend," we would most love to see Courteney Cox on an upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars." That is, if she can find the time in between appearing in the newest "Scream" film, her other acting endeavors, and counting all of her millions.
Cox is musical in nature, as evidenced by videos she has posted on Instagram where she plays the piano, so we bet she has at least some rhythm. Not only that, but Cox should also have an inside scoop of how the whole process works, given that her ex-husband David Arquette competed on Season 13 of "Dancing with the Stars." When he performed in the premiere, Cox and her daughter popped up in the audience to cheer him on (per Glamour), so perhaps he can someday return the favor. Or Jennifer Aniston can come instead –- we are fine with that.
Lacey Chabert
Former child actors are a staple on "Dancing with the Stars," and they have been since the beginning of the show. Tatum O'Neal –- who won an Oscar at age 10 –- was the first big former child actor back in Season 2, but there have been many that followed. This has included "Malcolm in the Middle" himself, Frankie Muniz (Season 25), and married couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega of "Spy Kids" and "Big Time Rush" fame, respectively (both on Season 21). One now-adult child actor we would love to see featured on the show is "Party of Five" star Lacey Chabert.
Chabert has been working steadily in Hollywood for the majority of her life, both in front of the screen in projects like "Mean Girls" and as a successful voice actor. She is now perhaps best known for her Hallmark channel television movies, especially those in "The Crossword Mysteries" series. If Chabert were to join an upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars," she would be following in the footsteps of former contestant Danica McKellar, another child star who now does a ton of Hallmark movies. That's not bad company now, is it?
Christopher Knight
We have already mentioned that "The Brady Bunch" matriarch Florence Henderson competed on "Dancing with the Stars," but she is not the only "Brady" to have had her time in the ballroom. In Season 23, Maureen McCormick -– the actress who portrayed Marsha Brady -– competed with Artem Chigvintsev and ended up in eighth place. Since Henderson also came in eighth, we think that it is about time that an actor from "The Brady Bunch" make a real play for the trophy. Enter Christopher Knight, who played middle son Peter Brady on "The Brady Bunch."
Knight is now in his 60s, and has stayed out of the limelight according to his IMDB. Furthermore, Knight has a whole lot of reality television experience – including "A Very Brady Renovation," "The Surreal Life," (where he met his one-time wife Adrianna Curry), and "My Fair Brady," the show that he and Curry had for three seasons on VH1. Knight has also appeared on "Celebrity Family Feud," "Celebrity Food Fight," "Celebrity Ghost Stories," and "Celebrity Circus," which leads us to believe that he would not pass up any possible chance to be in front of a camera.
Andrea Barber
As a former child star, Andrea Barber already fits the mold for a "Dancing with the Stars" contestant. But the added fact that she is from the "Full House" family of actors only solidifies how perfect she is for the series. Barber played Kimmy Gibler on "Full House" and its spin-off "Fuller House," and now that the latter has ended, she has the time to dance. Kimmy Gibler has always had a vibrant personality –- and clothing! -– but Barber is somewhat of a mystery compared to the other "Full House" stars who have received more media coverage. It would be nice to get to know her through "Dancing with the Stars."
Besides, "Full House" has a long history on "Dancing with the Stars," beginning with Season 19, when Candace Cameron Bure (D.J. Tanner) and partner Mark Ballas came in third place. Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tanner) was the next to perform back in Season 22, and Barber's "Fuller House" husband Juan Pablo Di Pace even competed in Season 27. Since we are not going to get John Stamos or an Olsen twin on "Dancing with the Stars," Barber seems like our safest bet for the next actor from the fullest house in TV history.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
There are so many reasons why Mark-Paul Gosselaar would be a great "Dancing with the Stars" contestant, starting with the fact that he was a teen sitcom star in the late '80s and early '90s, which the show loves. Gosselaar would join the ranks of other teenage stars from that era, including "Blossom" heartthrob Joey Lawrence (Season 3), "Family Matters" geek Jaleel White (Season 14), and Alfonso Ribeiro –- Carlton on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" –- who won the show in Season 19.
Gosselaar was a full-on teenage pinup back in the day, much like Joey Lawrence, which means he would likely draw in a similar crowd to Lawrence, Joey McIntyre (Season 1), James Van der Beek (Season 28), and every other male contestant who at one point had posters in Tiger Beat, Bop, or Teen Beat magazines. "Saved by the Bell" alumni have also traditionally done well on the show- – Mario Lopez came in second on Season 3 and Elizabeth Berkley-Lauren came in sixth on Season 17. And while Gosselaar may not have the natural dancing chops of Lopez or Berkley-Lauren, we are sure they could give him some pointers.
Josie Totah
Mark-Paul Gosselaar is not the only cast member from the "Saved by the Bell" reboot that we want to see cast on "Dancing with the Stars." We would also love to see someone from the younger generation of stars, such as actress Josie Totah. Totah plays cheerleader Lexi on the new "Saved by the Bell," and at only 20, already has a long acting resume. Totah first rose to fame on the Disney Channel show "Jessie," so her casting would put her on a long list of Disney child actors who have appeared on "Dancing with the Stars." This includes Milo Manheim ("Zombies") in Season 27, Jake T. Austin ("Wizards of Waverly Place) in Season 23, Skai Jackson (also of "Jessie") in season 29, and Zendaya in Season 16, when she was on Disney's "K.C. Undercover."
Since Totah identifies as a transgender woman, her casting would also allow for increased diversity on "Dancing with the Stars." Transgender representation has been limited, save for Chaz Bono's Season 13 appearance. It is about time that a transwoman enters the competition, and we are rooting for it to be Totah. Plus, Totah could bring some youth to the show, which is always a benefit.
Chris Carmack
On "The O.C.," Chris Carmack's character Luke Ward uttered "Welcome to the O.C., b***," which is perhaps one of the most memorable lines that has ever come from a teen television show. Now, years later, we want to see Carmack welcome himself to the dance floor and compete for the mirrorball trophy, much like his "The O.C." co-star Mischa Barton did back in Season 22. Judging by all of the shirtless scenes he has done on "Grey's Anatomy," where he currently appears as Dr. Atticus Lincoln, Carmack is in as tip-top shape now as he was back when he played surfer Luke in the early aughts. He's also got some rhythm, as he demonstrated when he played country singer Will Lexington on "Nashville."
Another bonus for Carmack's casting is that there has never been a "Grey's Anatomy" actor on "Dancing with the Stars," neither during nor after their tenure on "Grey's." Plus, Carmack is a full-on hunk, and attractive men around his age are common on "Dancing with the Stars." He could easily fill the same slot as past competitors like Gilles Marini (Season 8), William Levy (Season 14), and Jesse Metcalfe (Season 29). Marini and Levy did quite well on the show, which speaks to not just their skill, but also the types of people who actually vote.
Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish is the biggest star on our list in terms of her current bankability and box office appeal, but we still feel like "Dancing with the Stars" could work for her. Comedians have a very long history of appearing on the show, particularly in recent years. This has included other big-name female comedians like Margaret Cho (Season 11), Nikki Glaser (Season 27), and Sherri Shepherd (Season 14), as well as a couple of male comedians such as Adam Carolla (Season six) and Drew Carey (Season 18).
Haddish is bigger than all of those other names, so her appearance would be a risk. However, the amount of infectious fun and pure joy that she brings to any stage makes us hope that one day she signs on to "Dancing with the Stars." Haddish also tends to break into dance often – like when she started an appearance on Stephen Colbert's show with a dance-off (via Vulture) or celebrated a number one movie with a few moves. This makes us believe that perhaps she would even enjoy formal instruction (at the very least, we know that we would enjoy it).
Jason Biggs
If you have not yet checked out Jason Biggs on social media, do yourself a favor and head over to his Instagram now. The man is hilarious, and we think he could bring that goofy sense of humor to the dance floor if he were cast on a future season of "Dancing with the Stars." If you need more convincing, just check him out dancing shirtless on "The Ellen Show" back in 2013. Biggs is a goofball of the best variety, even with his shirt on.
While Biggs has popped up on episodes of "The Bachelorette" and "The Masked Singer," he has never competed on a reality show before, which makes him ripe for the picking. He could easily follow in the footsteps of his "American Pie" co-star Shannon Elizabeth, who danced with Derek Hough in Season 6, or other stars who were movie staples in the late 1990s and early 2000s, like James Van Der Beek (Season 28), Melissa Joan Hart (Season 9), and Denise Richards (Season 8).
Chord Overstreet
Actors from FOX's musical comedy "Glee" are always great options for contestants on "Dancing with the Stars," since they all have an inherent sense of musicality. Some, like Emmy winner Darren Criss, are far too big now for the show to book them, and sadly, a number of other "Glee" actors have died in recent years. Nonetheless, there are plenty of alum that could work, and our vote goes to Chord Overstreet, who played Sam Evans from season two until the end of the series.
Previous "Glee" contestants have had a mixed reception on "Dancing with the Stars." Amber Riley, who played Mercedes Jones on "Glee," was the winner of Season 17 with her dancing partner Derek Hough. On the other hand, Heather Morris -– who played Brittany S. Pierce and who was once a backup dancer for Beyonce (per Billboard) -– only came in eighth place back in Season 24. We would love to see how a male "Glee" contestant would fare and while our first choice is Overstreet, we would gladly settle for Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike Chang), or Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel). Even Matthew Morrison — who played annoyingly cheerful teacher Will Schuester — would be fine.
Tony Danza
With his work on "Taxi" and "Who's the Boss?," Tony Danza is nothing short of a television legend. That is why he would be a fantastic fit for "Dancing with the Stars," the show where TV legends go when the acting parts are slim. In fact, Danza's "Taxi" co-star Marilu Henner has appeared on the program herself, coming in sixth place back in Season 23. No "Who's the Boss?" stars have yet to dance, but how cool would it be to see Danza's TV relatives Judith Light and Alyssa Milano in the audience? We could only hope.
One reason we think Danza would do well on the show is because of his innate charm. The older television stars that make it far on "Dancing with the Stars" are the ones with lots of personality, like "Cheers" star Kirstie Alley in Season 12 (who made it to second place). Other TV legends –-such as "Rhoda" star Valerie Harper (Season 17), "Three's Company" actress Suzanne Somers (Season 20), and "Cheers" know-it-all John Ratzenberger (Season four) – have done less well, but perhaps Danza's professional boxing background and natural athleticism (via ESPN) could help him out in the competition.
Tyler Blackburn
Every once in a while, the casting team on "Dancing with the Stars" finds a television show they like and then cast a large number of actors from said show. They have done it with "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Full House," and "The Real Housewives" franchise, and they have done it with "Pretty Little Liars," a show that was extremely popular with teenagers and young adults (the show ran from 2010 – 2017). If "Dancing with the Stars" does go back to the "Pretty Little Liars" well, we hope they consider Tyler Blackburn as the next contestant.
If he were to join the show, Blackburn would be joining the ranks of his former co-stars Brant Daugherty (Season 17), Sasha Pieterse (Season 25), and Janel Parrish (Season 19). He is a big enough star to have a substantial social media following (8.5 million followers on Instagram, for instance) but not so big that it would not make sense for him. Blackburn is also openly bisexual, which would give "Dancing with the Stars" the perfect opportunity to finally have a male contestant pair with a same-sex partner. While JoJo Siwa is currently dancing in a same-sex pair, no gay or bisexual man that has appeared on the show has ever done so. We think it's time.