14 Actors Whose TV Characters Were So Popular They Got Spin

• TV characters like Grant Show’s Jake Hanson and David Boreanaz’s Angel led to successful spin-off shows like Melrose Place and Angel.
• Kate Walsh’s Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy paved the way for her own show, Private Practice, created by Shonda Rhimes.
• Characters like Matt LeBlanc’s Joey Tribbiani from Friends and Philip Glenister’s DCI Gene Hunt from Life on Mars found success in their own spin-off series.

Every TV fan knows that sometimes one show just isn’t enough to contain a character’s brilliance. Spin-offs offer beloved personalities a place to shine on their own—and often create cultural phenomena in the process. From comedic icons to unforgettable reality personalities and dramatic law enforcement leads, we’re taking a look at TV’s most memorable characters who earned their own shows, complete with exclusive images and insightful backstories.

Grant Show

Grant Show’s portrayal of Jake Hanson in Beverly Hills, 90210 was so captivating that he earned a spot as the lead in Melrose Place. The drama launched on Fox in the summer of 1992 as a direct offshoot of the network’s teen hit, as The show’s transition from guest star to central character proved how a single role can anchor an entirely new TV universe

David Boreanaz

David Boreanaz made his mark as the mysterious vampire Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, before taking the lead in his own series, Angel. The series, created by Joss Whedon, aired between 1999 and 2004 and followed a centuries-old vampire in pursuit of redemption.

Kate Walsh

Kate Walsh became an instant fan favorite as Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy, her charismatic presence led directly to Private Practice. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the 2007 spin-off followed Addison’s move to a wellness practice in Los Angeles and ran for six seasons.

Ryan Hansen

Ryan Hansen‘s hilarious take as Dick Casablancas on Veronica Mars earned a cult following, leading to his own spin-off, Play It Again, Dick. The digital series consisted of eight episodes and featured much of the original Veronica Mars cast.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Mark-Paul Gosselaar‘s character Zack Morris graduated from Saved by the Bell and segued seamlessly into Saved by the Bell: The College Years. He wasn’t alone, though, as his Saved by the Bell costars Tiffani Thiessen, Dustin Diamondand Mario Lopez also joined the spin-off.

Jason Beghe

Jason Beghe took on the memorable role of Sergeant Hank Voight in Chicago Fire, before leading the ensemble in the action-packed spin-off, Chicago P.D., starting in 2014. The series revolved around Voight, who first appeared on Chicago Fire as a corrupt cop before taking charge of the Intelligence Unit.

James Spader

James Spader was a standout as attorney Alan Shore on The Practice. The end of The Practice didn’t mark the end for Spader’s morally ambiguous lawyer, whose popularity earned him a fresh start at another Boston law firm on Boston Legal.

Dann Florek

Dann Florek‘s Captain Donald Cragen maintained law and order on the original Law & Order before taking command in the iconic spin-off, Law & Order: SVU. Premiering in 1999, Law & Order: SVU featured Florek’s character as the head of the newly created Manhattan Special Victims Unit.

Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse

Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse found fame as Zack Martin and Cody Martin in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, which spun off into The Suite Life on Deck, taking the twins to high-seas adventures. The series followed the twin brothers as they attend a semester-at-sea program on the S.S. Tipton.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc charmed the world as Joey Tribbiani in Friends, eventually taking center stage in his own show, Joey. Just months after Friends concluded its decade-long run, the NBC spin-off premiered in September 2004. The sitcom followed the aspiring actor as he made his mark in Hollywood, seeking fame, love and laughs.

Philip Glenister

Philip Glenister‘s tough-talking performance as DCI Gene Hunt first took center stage in Life on Mars, then blazed his way into the sequel, Ashes to Ashes. Picking up immediately after Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes focused on completing the lingering narrative threads.

Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammer in the role of Dr. Frasier Crane began as a supporting fixture in the world of Cheers, but soon enough, he had an entire show with Frasier. The series, which launched in 1993 and ran into 2004, was centered on the character Frasier after he returned to Seattle to live with his father and work as a radio psychiatrist.

Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk cemented his legacy playing sleazy yet charming lawyer Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad. He delved into Jimmy McGill’s complicated backstory in Better Call Saul, which debuted in 2015 and collected 53 Emmy nominations over its six-season run.

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