Dual Domain Legends
Most actors dream of finding success in just one medium, yet this elite group conquered two. They built foundations on television shows that took over our hearts, then constructed cinematic empires that dazzled our imaginations.
Jamie Foxx
Before winning an Oscar, Jamie Foxx honed his comedic talents on the sketch show In Living Color from 1991 to 1994. Working alongside future stars like Jim Carrey and the Wayans brothers, Foxx developed his uncanny impressions and characters that would later serve his dramatic transformations.
Twentieth Century, In Living Color (1990-1994)
Jamie Foxx (Cont.)
His own sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show, ran for five successful seasons. The leap from comedy to drama seemed improbable until Foxx delivered a mesmerizing performance as Ray Charles in 2004's Ray. This rightly won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
The Jamie Foxx Show - Handbrake Compilation Pt. 1 by SDApples1
Bruce Willis
A struggling 30-year-old actor, when cast as David Addison in Moonlighting (1985–1989), earned both a Golden Globe and an Emmy. All thanks to Bruce Willis's charismatic detective work. The series's witty banter and his relationship with co-star Cybill Shepherd made Willis a household name.
ABC Circle Films, Moonlighting (1985–1989)
Bruce Willis (Cont.)
His life changed when he landed the role of John McClane in Die Hard. During this time, Willis was still filming Moonlighting. What was initially considered a risky casting choice, putting a TV comedy actor in an action film, resulted in one of cinema's most enduring franchises.
Twentieth Century, Die Hard (1988)
Michael J Fox
The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 1991 at just 30 years old created a poignant second chapter in Fox's extraordinary career. While the devastating news came at his commercial peak, Fox continued acting for years before sharing his condition publicly. He showed remarkable courage under intense scrutiny.
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Michael J Fox (Cont.)
His openness pushed him into becoming one of the world's leading advocates for Parkinson's research. Long before his health battles, Fox was seen as the conservative, money-obsessed Alex P Keaton on Family Ties (1982–1989). Here, he won three consecutive Emmy Awards.
Melissa McCarthy
Breaking the mold of Hollywood expectations, McCarthy demonstrated how character actors can become leading stars with heavyweight box office power. Initially gaining notice as the sweet, clumsy chef Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls, she later bagged an Emmy for Mike & Molly.
Warner Bros., Mike & Molly (2010–2016)
Melissa McCarthy (Cont.)
The defining moment in McCarthy's career trajectory arrived when she stole every scene in 2011's Bridesmaids. Many believe this launched her film career into the stratosphere. Besides, she is also loved for her dramatic work in films like Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Olivia Colman
An unconventional path to popularity makes Colman's success story particularly inspiring. Her comedic roots in British television, especially as the neurotic Sophie in the cult sitcom Peep Show (2003–2015), gave no indication that she would eventually become Oscar royalty.
Have You Ever Been To Zurich? - Peep Show by Peep Show
Olivia Colman (Cont.)
Working steadily but under the radar, Colman built a reputation for excellence in British TV dramas like Broadchurch before her international breakthrough. It all began for Colman when her portrayal of the mercurial and gorgeous Queen Anne in The Favourite thrilled audiences worldwide.
Johnny Depp
Catapulted to teen idol status as undercover officer Tom Hanson, Depp quickly became frustrated with his heartthrob image. Few television stars have more deliberately dismantled their initial persona, with Depp famously trying to get fired from the show that made him famous.
Johnny Depp (Cont.)
Director Tim Burton recognized Depp's untapped potential, casting him as the vulnerable Edward Scissorhands in 1990. He achieved worldwide fame for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, a character that has become a cultural icon.
Warner Bros., Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
John Goodman
A booming voice and imposing physical presence belie Goodman's brilliant versatility and emotional depth. While many recognize him as Dan Conner from Roseanne (1988–1997, 2018) and its spinoff, The Conners, his Emmy-winning role depicting working-class struggles made television history.
Wind Dancer Productions, Roseanne (1988 - 2018)
John Goodman (Cont.)
Goodman's chemistry with Roseanne Barr gave rise to one of TV's most authentic married couples. The Coen Brothers saw something special in this man, casting him in six of their films. This included his iconic turn as volatile Vietnam veteran Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski.
THE BIG LEBOWSKI Clip - "Saturday" (1998) John Goodman by JoBlo Movie Clips
Danny DeVito
Standing at just 4'10", DeVito's towering talent has consistently defied Hollywood's physical expectations. In 2006, he returned triumphantly to television with his portrayal of the depraved Frank Reynolds in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, introducing him to a whole new generation of fans.
FX Productions, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-)
Danny DeVito (Cont.)
Transitioning seamlessly to film, DeVito crafted memorable characters in classics titled One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Romancing the Stone, and his scene-stealing turn as The Penguin in Batman Returns. Behind the camera, he has also directed dark comedies like Throw Momma from the Train.
Throw Momma from the Train (9/11) Movie CLIP - He's Trying to Kill Me! (1987) HD by Movieclips
Pierce Brosnan
Trapped by success, this hero experienced one of Hollywood's most frustrating near-misses when his Remington Steele (1982–1987) contract prevented him from accepting the James Bond role in 1986. NBC, capitalizing on publicity surrounding his potential Bond casting, unexpectedly renewed the series after initially canceling it.
Remington Steele (1982–1987), MTM Enterprises
Pierce Brosnan (Cont.)
Timothy Dalton stepped in as 007, and Brosnan had to wait nearly a decade for another shot at the legendary role. The Irish-born actor finally donned Bond's tuxedo in GoldenEye, reinvigorating the franchise for the post-Cold War era through four successful films.
JAMES BOND - Pierce Brosnan. 007 GOLDENEYE by S.Thomas
Robin Williams
Lightning-fast improvisation skills made Williams entirely different compared to anyone television had seen before. His alien character Mork was initially introduced in a one-off episode of Happy Days, but Williams' performance was so extraordinary that executives immediately ordered a spinoff series.
Mork & Mindy (1978–1982), Paramount Television
Robin Williams (Cont.)
Behind the scenes, scripts would deliberately include sections marked "Robin does his thing" to utilize his unparalleled improvisational abilities. Director Barry Levinson took a chance casting the comedic actor in the dramatic lead for Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), bringing Williams his first Oscar nomination.
Clint Eastwood
Rowdy Yates wasn't supposed to make history. When Eastwood landed the role on Rawhide (1959–1966), he was just another handsome television cowboy in an era full of Western shows. The stoic intensity he brought to the character, however, caught the attention of Italian director Sergio Leone.
Clint Eastwood (Cont.)
At that time, Leone was looking for an affordable American actor for his low-budget European Western. At 91, Eastwood stands as Hollywood's most enduring star-director hyphenate, with Oscar wins for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby cementing his legacy.
Million Dollar Baby (2004), Warner Bros.
Will Smith
Hip-hop credibility fueled Smith's early entertainment career, with his Grammy-winning music career as “The Fresh Prince” preceding his acting success. When financial troubles nearly derailed his music career in the early 1990s, Smith moved to acting in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air NBC Productions
Will Smith (Cont.)
This show was said to be loosely based on his own fish-out-of-water experiences. Despite no formal acting training, Smith’s natural charisma made it an international hit. He strategically studied box office patterns before plotting his film career, deliberately targeting science fiction and action films released during holiday weekends.
Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro, Shutterstock
Zendaya
Cultural phenomenon status arrived with unprecedented speed for the former Disney Channel star. Starting as a teenage dancer on Shake It Up (2010–2013) and later headlining K.C. Undercover, Zendaya demonstrated business acumen early by demanding producer credits on her second series at just 16 years old.
Shake It Up | Theme Song 🎶 | Disney Channel UK by Disney Club UK
Zendaya (Cont.)
Her Emmy-winning acting as troubled teen Rue Bennett in Euphoria shattered her Disney image completely. This made her the youngest person ever to achieve Lead Actress in a Drama Series at age 24. Simultaneously, her film career exploded with roles in the Spider-Man franchise.
Marvel, Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Tom Hanks
Comedy wasn't supposed to lead to two consecutive Academy Awards. When Hanks wore a dress for Bosom Buddies, few would have predicted his eventual status as America's most trusted actor. Though the show lasted just two seasons, it highlighted Hanks' likable everyman quality and comic timing.
ABC, Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)
Tom Hanks (Cont.)
Hollywood's perception shifted dramatically with Hanks' depiction of an AIDS patient in Philadelphia (1993). Remarkably, he won the best actor award the following year for Forrest Gump, becoming only the second actor in the industry to win back-to-back Best Actor Oscars after Spencer Tracy.
Paramount, Forrest Gump (1994)
Morgan Freeman
Educating children preceded Freeman's late-blooming superstardom. From 1971 to 1977, he was known to millions of young viewers as Easy Reader on PBS's literacy show The Electric Company, alongside future stars like Rita Moreno. His distinctive voice and calm presence made him a children's television staple.
Electric Company - Morgan Freeman DJ by Jim Turner
Morgan Freeman (Cont.)
Astonishingly, Freeman didn't land his first significant film role until age 50 in Street Smart (1987). His career trajectory defies Hollywood's age obsession, with his most famous roles coming in his 50s, 60s, and 70s. The Shawshank Redemption is one of his best-known movies.
Castle Rock, The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Denzel Washington
Medical scrubs preceded police badges and military uniforms for Washington's illustrious career. As Dr Philip Chandler, Washington established himself as a thoughtful, intense actor among an ensemble cast that included future stars like Howie Mandel and Mark Harmon. He worked six seasons on St. Elsewhere.
Paul Rudman at https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecanonrattman/, Wikimedia Commons
Denzel Washington (Cont.)
The shift to film popularity began with Washington's Oscar-winning supporting role in the Civil War drama Glory (1989). However, his ability to bring moral complexity to characters reached its pinnacle with his villainous turn in Training Day (2001). Washington collaborated with Spike Lee across four films.
Jason Bateman
Child stardom rarely leads to adult success, but Bateman stood against those odds twice. Starting at age 12 on Little House on the Prairie before scoring regular roles on Silver Spoons throughout the 1980s, young Bateman seemed destined to follow the troubled path of many former child actors.
TBT: Adorable 13-Year-Old Jason Bateman on the Set of 'Silver Spoons' by Entertainment Tonight
Jason Bateman (Cont.)
After a career lull in the 1990s that included struggles with alcohol, he made a comeback as Michael Bluth in the cult comedy Arrested Development. The dramatic reinvention of Bateman's career took Hollywood by surprise when he showed his darker side as Marty Byrde in Netflix's Ozark.
John Travolta
Dancing established Travolta's star power long before blockbusters came calling. As high school heartthrob Vinnie Barbarino, his magnetic presence and slick dance moves made him the breakout star among the show's Sweathogs. Television success quickly led to his explosive film breakthrough in Saturday Night Fever.
Welcome Back, Kotter (4/4) Travolta Struts His Stuff (1975) by Shout! Studios
John Travolta (Cont.)
Career longevity seemed unlikely after a series of box office disappointments throughout the 1980s dropped Travolta from the A-list. His impressive resurrection, though, started with Pulp Fiction (1994). For this, he won his second Oscar nomination and revitalized his career.
George Clooney
Rejection shaped Clooney's early career more than success. Before becoming TV's favorite doctor on ER (1994–1999), he endured a staggering 15 failed television pilots and small roles on shows like The Facts of Life and Roseanne. When ER finally launched him to greatness, Clooney was already 33.
Embassy Television, The Facts Of Life (1979-88)
George Clooney (Cont.)
Early motion picture attempts endangered his aspirations, such as Batman & Robin (1997), in which Clooney publicly admitted that he “killed the franchise”. However, his collaboration with director Steven Soderbergh on Out of Sight (1998) established his film credibility, leading to the successful Ocean's trilogy.
Warner Bros., Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Viola Davis
Theater formed Davis's artistic foundation long before television or film came calling. After graduating from Juilliard, she built her reputation on stage, picking up a Tony Award for her work in King Hedley II. Her early television work consisted primarily of small guest roles.
Viola Davis (Cont.)
Well, making history has become Davis's specialty. After all, she is the only African American star to achieve the “Triple Crown of Acting”. In 2015, Davis was also the first African American female to grab a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Michelle Williams
Teenage angst on a Massachusetts creek preceded Williams' ascent to Hollywood's elite dramatic actresses. Williams spent her formative acting years in the shadow of Dawson's Creek’s titular character and its more prominent female lead Katie Holmes. Then arrived artistic credibility through Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain.
River Road Entertainment, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Michelle Williams (Cont.)
Her subsequent career choices have consistently prioritized artistic merit over commercial potential. She has played Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, a grieving mother in Manchester by the Sea, and astronaut Reiley Lane in Kelly Reichardt's quiet indie Showing Up.
My Week With Marilyn,The Weinstein Company
Sally Field
Television typecasting initially threatened to derail Field's serious acting ambitions. As the perky titular character in Gidget and then as Sister Bertrille in the improbable comedy The Flying Nun, Field found herself pigeonholeed in lightweight roles that utilized her girl-next-door charm but ignored her dramatic potential.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Sally Field (Cont.)
"You like me, you really like me!" became an enduring pop culture reference after Field's emotional Academy Award acceptance speech for Places in the Heart (1984). This marked her second Oscar in five years, following her transformative performance as labor organizer Norma Rae in the eponymous 1979 film.
