Watching an old TV show can lead to some pretty strange discoveries, especially when a familiar face turns up playing someone completely different. One season, an actor might be a minor criminal or an awkward date. A few episodes later, they’re back as a new character, sometimes with a much bigger role. Certain shows barely bothered to hide it, while others changed the actor’s hairstyle and hoped viewers wouldn’t notice. It’s particularly funny when the same performer eventually becomes part of the main cast. These weren’t always deliberate jokes or clever plot twists. Sometimes, television simply liked an actor enough to hire them again. Here are 15 shows that had no problem recycling familiar faces.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Brought Queen Latifah Back as Someone Else
Queen Latifah first played demanding actress Marissa Redman, who hired Hilary as her assistant. She returned as Dee Dee, a woman Will dates.
1. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Brought Queen Latifah Back as Someone Else
Queen Latifah first played demanding actress Marissa Redman, who hired Hilary as her assistant. She returned as Dee Dee, a woman Will dates.
2. Sex and the City Gave Justin Theroux Two Different Boyfriends
Justin Theroux appeared as Jared, a writer Carrie briefly dated in Season 1. He returned the following season as Vaughn Wysel, another writer with some unfortunate personal problems.
3. Game of Thrones Promoted a Lannister to King
Dean-Charles Chapman appeared as Martyn Lannister in Season 3. The following season, he returned as Tommen Baratheon, taking over the role of Cersei’s youngest son.
4. Doctor Who Had Already Met Peter Capaldi
Peter Capaldi played Caecilius, a Roman citizen, in the 2008 episode “The Fires of Pompeii.” Five years later, he was introduced as the Twelfth Doctor.
5. Married… With Children Recycled Marcy’s Husband
Ted McGinley played Norman Jablonsky, Peggy’s husband in an alternate reality. The following season, he joined the regular cast as Marcy’s new husband, Jefferson D’Arcy.
6. The X-Files Couldn’t Stop Hiring Terry O’Quinn
Terry O’Quinn appeared as police lieutenant Brian Tillman in Season 2, then returned years later as the mysterious Shadow Man. Neither character was John Locke.
7. Deadwood Killed One Character and Hired the Actor Again
Garret Dillahunt played Jack McCall, the man who murdered Wild Bill Hickok. After McCall’s story ended, Dillahunt returned in Season 2 as geologist Francis Wolcott.
8. Community Turned an IT Employee Into a Consultant
Paget Brewster first appeared as Debra Chambers, Greendale’s IT administrator. She returned as Frankie Dart, the consultant hired to bring some order to the college.
9. Barney Miller Gave James Cromwell Four Different Jobs
James Cromwell appeared as a police sergeant, an energy department representative, a corporate employee, and a stress researcher. Apparently, the precinct kept meeting people with his face.
10. Beverly Hills, 90210 Gave Denise Dowse a Different Career
Denise Dowse first appeared as college professor Harriet Welkman. She later became a familiar face at West Beverly Hills High as Vice Principal Yvonne Teasley.
11. Seinfeld Let Christa Miller Date George Twice
Christa Miller played Ellen, whose encounter with George ruined his chance at a bra salesman job. She later returned as Paula, George’s girlfriend who drew an unflattering doodle of him.
12. The Office Apparently Forgot Its Own Graphic Designer
Nelson Franklin appeared in “Job Fair” as a graphic designer offering Pam career advice. He later returned as Nick, Dunder Mifflin’s frustrated IT employee.
13. Angel Brought Sean Gunn Back as a Demon
Sean Gunn first played Mars, a spa manager helping a demon princess. A few episodes later, he returned as Lucas, a completely different demon.
14. Veronica Mars Gave James Jordan Two Very Different School Jobs
James Jordan first appeared as Lucky, a troubled janitor at Neptune High. He later played Tim Foyle, a teaching assistant and rival to Veronica.
15. CSI Brought Michael Cudlitz Back Seven Seasons Later
Michael Cudlitz played corrupt police officer William Spencer in Season 2. He returned in Season 9 as Josh Barston, a contractor involved in another murder investigation.
