Nowadays, it’s quite typical for actors to switch between films and television, particularly with the emergence of limited series and the last fifteen years of high-quality TV. Even one of cinema’s most renowned stars, Meryl Streep, has dabbled in television recently, having appeared onBig Little Lies and Only Murders in the Building. However, this was not always true.
Previously, it was much more typical for television celebrities to stay within the realm of TV and for movie stars to remain in cinema. As a result, it was remarkable and significant when an actor managed to transition from television to film, particularly when they achieved the status of a top Hollywood star. Here are ten actors who successfully made the shift from network television to the film industry.
Jennifer Aniston
Even now, Jennifer Aniston is most recognized for her portrayal of Rachel Green inFriends.However, since her tenure on the famous NBC series, Aniston has emerged as a prominent film actor. In fact, it wasn’t untilThe Morning Show aired in 2019for Aniston to return to television as a main cast member.
Since her time on Friends, Aniston has appeared in films such asHe’s Simply Not That Interested In You, Just Go With It, Horrible Bosses, and more. Her next project, however, will return to television. Aniston is set to appear in Apple TV+’sI’d Be Glad If My Mom Diedbased on Jennette McCurdy’s book.
George Clooney
Prior to becoming Danny Ocean, and before winning an Oscar, George Clooney was a prominent television actor, gaining recognition as one of the main stars inER. The medical drama was not the first emergency room-themed show that Clooney appeared in; he also served as a recurring guest star in a series titledE/R.
ERthe second-longest continuously aired primetime medical television seriesin the United States, having lost toGrey’s Anatomy. Today, Clooney’s days as a medical TV star are behind him. He is now much more recognized for his roles in theOceans Eleven movies, as well as Gravity and Up In The Air.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis gained widespread recognition after playing the role of Jackie Burkhart inThe ’70s Show. Famously, Kunis was just 14 years oldWhen she tried out for the Fox sitcom, the show was only looking for actors 18 years or older, but the brunette lied about her age to get the part. In the end, she was ideal for the role of Jackie, so her age wasn’t an issue.
Kunis has not abandoned televisionentirely, even though she is now a famous actress. Since season 2, Kunis has provided the voice for Meg inFamily Guy, a job she continues to hold today. However, the majority of Kunis’s current work is certainly in movies. She can be seen inBad Moms, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Four Good Days, The Spy Who Left Me, and more.
Will Smith
Today, we associate Will Smith with his contributions toI Am Legend, The Pursuit of Happiness,and King Richard.He’s also famous for his Oscar-related mishap, whenSmith slapped Chris Rockto make a joke about his wife. As a result of the incident, Smith stepped down from the Academy and has been prohibited from attending Oscar events for a decade.
However, prior to all that, Smith was on everyone’s television as the main character inThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Smith had minimal acting experience when he took on the lead role in the NBC series. Initially known as a rapper,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airestablished Smith as a prominent figure in Hollywood and opened doors for his acting career.
Steve Carell
Of course, many people recognize Steve Carell for his portrayal of Michael Scott on NBC’sThe Office. The syndicated program continues to be broadcast on Comedy Central nearly every day. However, since his tenure on the mockumentary, Carell has emerged as a true Hollywood actor.
Carell has appeared in several films that remained true to his comedic style, includingThe 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. He has also, however, expanded into real-life stories and dramas, including several Academy Award-winning films.Carell himself received an Oscar nomination for Foxcatcher, and he starred in the acclaimed film,The Big Short.
Bruce Willis
Today, we perceive Bruce Willis asDie Hard. Nevertheless, the action star nearly declined his most famous role because of his work in television.Willis was not the initial selection to headlineDie Hard; Actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson were approached initially but turned down the opportunity to be part of the movie.
Willis was interested in the role, but nearly declined because of his contract on the show.Moonlighting.Fortunately, filming was suspended because of his co-star’s pregnancy, allowing Willis enough time to appear inDie Hard. Today, Willis has left the acting profession., but in the years that have passed sinceDie Hard, he has primarily focused on film rather than television.
Melissa McCarthy
Due to her thriving film career, it’s sometimes easy to forget that Melissa McCarthy first gained recognition for portraying Sookie, a chef at the local inn and the best friend of the show’s main character.Gilmore GirlsThe television drama series enjoyed a successful run, spanning seven seasons on The WB and The CW. McCarthy also appeared in the Netflix miniseries,Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
Since Gilmore Girlsended in 2007, McCarthy has gained much greater recognition for her contributions to cinema, especially forBridesmaids, Identity Thief, and the female version ofGhostbusters. McCarthy hasn’t abandoned television, however, having appeared inMike & Molly,which earned her an Emmy.
Kristen Bell
Fans of Frozenmay not have been aware that Kristen Bell initially began her career on network television as the lead character inVeronica Mars. The suspenseful drama centered around Bell, a young private investigator who tackles cases for her fellow students while attempting to uncover the truth behind her closest friend’s death.Veronica Marsopened the door for programs such asHigh Potential and Elsbeth.
Unlike certain A-list Hollywood colleagues, Bell has maintained her television career while also excelling in film. She, similar to Kunis, was inForgetting Sarah Marshall and Bad Moms, but Bell also starred in NBC’sThe Good Placeas well as Netflix’s present success,Nobody Wants This.
Jamie Foxx
Certainly, today he’s an Oscar and Grammy-winning artist, but Jamie Foxx didn’t begin his career as a film actor. Initially, he was a regular cast member on Fox’sIn Living Color.His achievement there resulted in a self-titled television series on The WB,The Jamie Foxx ShowThe program itself wasn’t a major success, but it served as a starting point for Foxx’s career.
What a journey it has been!Foxx received an Academy Award for his performance as the main character inRay, and was nominated forCollateral. He was the namesake protagonist in the Academy Award-winning film.Django Unchained, which he appeared in with Leonardo DiCaprio and award-winning Christoph Waltz.
Foxx has not been involved in much television since achieving A-lister status in Hollywood. Nevertheless, he has not completely left the medium behind. Foxx serves as the host of the Fox game showBeat Shazam. He also developed two recent television series:Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! and Alert: Missing Persons Unit.
Michelle Williams
Perhaps the most surprising inclusion on this list, Michelle Williams was previously a television star before becoming a multi-Oscar-nominated sensation. Williams appeared in all six seasons ofDawson’s Creek, although today we are more familiar with her forManchester by the Sea, Brokeback Mountain,and The Greatest Showman.
She continues to engage in television work, primarily in limited series.Williams has recently been nominated for an Emmy.for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Film for her performance inDying For Sex on Hulu.
