Don’t Mess With A Good Thing
In Hollywood, actors come and go faster than a rebooted SpiderMan. But some performers have found their niche, donned the same costume (sometimes literally), and kept playing a single character so long, it basically became their second skin. Whether it's in sci-fi epics, daytime dramas, or beloved children's programming, these legends of longevity stuck around for the long haul—and we’re here for it.
Leonard Nimoy
Few actors are as inseparable from their character as Leonard Nimoy is from Spock. Nimoy first raised a logical eyebrow in 1966 with Star Trek: The Original Series, and he continued to play the half-Vulcan science officer through six feature films, animated series, and J.J. Abrams’ reboot. By the time he passed the ears to Zachary Quinto, Spock had become a pop-culture institution—thanks in no small part to Nimoy’s decades-long dedication.
Mariska Hargitay
Since 1999, Mariska Hargitay has been solving crimes and breaking hearts as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Over two decades later, she’s not just the longest-running female character in primetime TV history—she’s the emotional center of a show that’s outlasted most of its contemporaries and spin-offs.
Law & Order: SVU | Best of Olivia Benson, Peacock
Chandra Wilson
As Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy, Chandra Wilson has been holding down the surgical fort since 2005. That’s a lot of scalpels, speeches, and surviving Shonda Rhimes’s dramatic twists. Through natural disasters, hospital mergers, and more medical emergencies than anyone could reasonably endure, Wilson has remained the heart (and moral compass) of the series.
8 Times Miranda Bailey Stole the Spotlight in Grey’s Anatomy, Cinemaclipsai
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman first popped claws as Wolverine in 2000’s X-Men, and nobody—not even a healing factor—could have predicted he’d still be at it nearly 25 years later. From sideburns to tank tops, Jackman has turned Logan into a cinema icon, culminating in his gritty swan song in Logan (2017)…until he was pulled back in for Deadpool 3. Once Wolverine, always Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine | Official Trailer | In Theaters July 26, Marvel Entertainment
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe was just 11 when he first donned round glasses and shouted “Expecto Patronum”. Playing Harry Potter from The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) through The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011), he literally grew up on screen. Although he’s moved on to weirder and wilder roles, Potter will always be the Boy Who Lived—and the boy who aged a decade on camera.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 & 2 | Official Trailer, Harry Potter
Tom Cruise
Ethan Hunt doesn’t age—and apparently, neither does Tom Cruise. Since 1996, Cruise has been sprinting across rooftops, hanging off planes, and performing dangerous stunts as the superspy in the Mission: Impossible series. With more sequels than your average superhero franchise and stunts that could make a Cirque du Soleil performer queasy, Cruise shows no signs of slowing down.
Fran Brill
Children of the '70s and beyond might not know Fran Brill’s name, but they definitely know her voice. As the puppeteer behind Sesame Street’s Prairie Dawn and Zoe, Brill brought sweetness and sass to the screen from the early 1970s to the 2010s.
Fran Brill aka Zoe from Sesame Street, Ericka Cotton
Jamie Lee Curtis
The undisputed scream queen first screamed her way into our lives as Laurie Strode in Halloween (1978). But Jamie Lee Curtis didn’t stop there. She returned in sequel after sequel, ultimately reclaiming her crown in the reboot trilogy (2018–2022). Laurie’s evolution from babysitter to battle-hardened survivor wouldn’t have worked without Curtis’s commitment to the role over four decades.
Halloween (1978): Michael Myers Stalks Laurie, Binge Society
Paul Julian
You may not know Paul Julian’s face, but you’ve definitely heard his voice. Julian was the man behind the iconic call of the Road Runner. He recorded that chirpy sound effect once in 1949—and thanks to Warner Bros. recycling those beeps until the early 2000s, Julian unintentionally played the Road Runner for over 50 years. Now that’s efficient voice acting.
Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker may have only appeared in a few Star Wars films over the decades, but Mark Hamill’s other iconic role lasted even longer: the Joker. Starting with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, Hamill voiced the villain across animated shows, movies, and video games—becoming the definitive Joker voice for an entire generation.
Mark Hamill - Joker Laugh, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭
Anthony Daniels
When Anthony Daniels said “I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations,” he wasn’t kidding. He’s the only actor to appear in every single mainline Star Wars movie, from 1977 to The Rise of Skywalker in 2019—plus spin-offs, shows, and even video games. Basically, if there’s a droid talking with a British accent in the galaxy far, far away, it’s him.
Anthony Daniels Behind the Scenes Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars Coffee
Dave Goelz
A true Muppet legend, Dave Goelz has been bringing Gonzo to life since 1976. That’s nearly 50 years of daredevil chicken-loving weirdness. Goelz’s work has spanned The Muppet Show, countless films, and reboots. Gonzo may be “whatever,” but Goelz is definitely the real deal.
Gonzo the Great: A Career Retrospective | Disney+, Disney Plus
Ellen Burstyn
Ellen Burstyn took a terrifying detour back into character when she reprised her role as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist: Believer (2023), fifty years after she starred in the 1973 horror classic. Whether you see it as nostalgia or pure commitment, Burstyn brought serious gravitas to a franchise that still gives audiences chills.
The Exorcist: Believer (2023) - The Demon Stabs Chris' Eyes Out Scene | Movieclips, Movieclips
Caroll Spinney
Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch were more than just puppets—they were Caroll Spinney’s legacy. He portrayed both characters from the premiere of Sesame Street in 1969 until his retirement in 2018. That’s nearly 50 years of helping kids learn letters and life lessons, all while wearing a beak or living in a trash can.
Caroll Spinney, Sesame Street puppeteer who played Big Bird, dies at 85, CBS Mornings
Kathryn Beaumont
In the 1950s, Kathryn Beaumont voiced both Alice in Alice in Wonderland and Wendy in Peter Pan. Decades later, she returned to voice them again for various Disney projects, including Kingdom Hearts and other media well into the 2000s. It's rare Disney sticks with the same voice, but Beaumont was practically royalty.
Mel Blanc
The “Man of a Thousand Voices” gave life to Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and dozens of others for nearly 50 years. From the 1930s until his passing in 1989, Mel Blanc was the vocal engine of Warner Bros.’ animation dominance. His range was so legendary that even hospitals knew to call him “Bugs” when he was in a coma— ad he responded.
Mel Blanc Yelling For Around 8 Minutes, Looney Tunes Songs
Frank Welker
If there's a cartoon animal, robot, or ghost in your memory banks, chances are Frank Welker voiced it. Most notably, he’s been voicing Fred in Scooby-Doo since 1969—over five decades! He also took over as the voice of Scooby himself in the 2000s, effectively making him the entire Mystery Machine crew.
How Voice Actor Frank Welker Created Voice Of Scooby-Doo’s Fred, Garfield & More | PeopleTV, People
Burt Ward
Burt Ward will always be Robin—the Boy Wonder with a “Holy [Insert Word]!” for every occasion. He first donned the tights in the 1966 Batman TV series and continued voicing Robin in animated shows and specials into the 2010s. That’s enough sidekick action to qualify him for his own utility belt.
Exclusive: Burt Ward Spills 'Batman And Robin' Secrets | Studio 10, Studio 10
Kelsey Grammer
Dr. Frasier Crane made his first appearance on Cheers in 1984 and followed it up with a record-breaking 11-season solo run in Frasier. That’s two decades of radio psychiatry, sherry sipping, and sibling squabbles. And with a new revival series arriving in 2023, Grammer extended Frasier's reign even further—total runtime: nearly 40 years.
Kelsey Grammer celebrates 40 years of playing Dr. Frasier Crane, CBS Mornings
Peter Falk
Peter Falk’s rumpled trench coat and glass eye became the trademarks of Lieutenant Columbo, a character he played from 1968 to 2003. That totals over three decades of faux-clueless questions and genius sleuthing. “Just one more thing,” indeed.
Columbo | Top 4 Most Searched For Clips of ALL TIME, Peacock
Susan Lucci
As Erica Kane on All My Children, Susan Lucci reigned as daytime royalty for 41 years. From 1970 to 2011, Lucci’s performances spanned marriages, catfights, and enough plot twists to make a telenovela blush. She was nominated for 21 Daytime Emmys before finally winning in 1999—proving persistence pays off both on and off screen.
Susan Lucci wins her first Daytime EMMY® Award, BHB PR
Rachel Ames
Rachel Ames was a mainstay on General Hospital as Audrey Hardy, a role she played from 1964 to 2007 (with guest spots as late as 2015). That’s over 50 years in the same soap hospital—making her not only a long-serving actress but also arguably the most dependable fictional nurse in history.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Helen Wagner
Helen Wagner delivered the first line of As the World Turns in 1956 and kept playing Nancy Hughes until 2010. That’s 54 years—the longest run of any actor in the same television role. She wasn’t just part of the show, she was its heartbeat. Fittingly, she kept the world turning until nearly the very end.
James Earl Jones
Even if you’ve never seen Star Wars, you know James Earl Jones’s voice. The baritone thunder that gave Darth Vader his terrifying gravitas debuted in 1977 and echoed all the way through 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. That’s over 40 years of heavy breathing and ominous pronouncements. (Bonus: He also voiced Mufasa in both the original Lion King and its 2019 remake).
Watch James Earl Jones Voice Mufasa BTS in The Lion King (Flashback), Entertainment Tonight
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