A Journey From TV to the Big Screen and Back
by Ed_Jones_XLIX2 | created - 07 Nov 2018 | updated - 08 Nov 2018 | PublicA lot of young talent started in TV from 1950 - 1970. Moved on to the Big Screen and then returned to where their career began in Series TV. A few exceptions are sprinkled in for your consideration. From this list who is your favorite? After voting, please discuss here. This is in progress. Will add more so check back. Suggestions?
1. Anthony Hopkins
Actor | The Silence of the Lambs
Anthony Hopkins was born on December 31, 1937, in Margam, Wales, to Muriel Anne (Yeats) and Richard Arthur Hopkins, a baker. His parents were both of half Welsh and half English descent. Influenced by Richard Burton, he decided to study at College of Music and Drama and graduated in 1957. In 1965, ...
Started in British TV in 1960 and had a long career in Movies now is back in the HBO Series "Westworld"
2. Martin Sheen
Actor | The Departed
Multiple Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner Martin Sheen is one of America's most celebrated, colorful, and accomplished actors. Moving flawlessly between artistic mediums, Sheen's acting range is striking.
Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerard Estevez in Dayton, Ohio, to Mary-Ann (Phelan), an Irish ...
Started on "Route 66" in 1961 and stayed in television until the 70's. Then his movie career ensued. Came back big time in The West Wing on NBC and is currently in "Gracie and Frankie" on Netflix.
3. Sam Waterston
Actor | The Killing Fields
Sam Waterston was born on November 15, 1940 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Killing Fields (1984), The Great Gatsby (1974) and Law & Order (1990). He has been married to Lynn Louisa Woodruff since January 26, 1976. They have three children. He was ...
Started in 1965 on "Dr Kildare" Had a brief Movie career from 1969-80. Best known as A.D.A. McCoy on "Law & Order"
4. Maggie Smith
Actress | Gosford Park
One of the world's most famous and distinguished actresses, Dame Maggie Smith was born Margaret Natalie Smith in Essex. Her Scottish mother, Margaret (Hutton), worked as a secretary, and her English father, Nathaniel Smith, was a teacher at Oxford University. Smith has been married twice: to actor ...
Started her career in TV, in 1955 on The "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre". Had a long Movie career including The "Harry Potter" Movies. Most recently on the TV series "Downton Abbey" as The Dowager Countess of Grantham.
5. Rita Moreno
Actress | West Side Story
Rita Moreno is one of the very few performers to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy, thus becoming an EGOT. She was born Rosita Dolores Alverío in the hospital in Humacao, Puerto Rico on December 11, 1931 (but raised in nearby, smaller Juncos, which had no hospital), to seamstress Rosa ...
Was on Television in 1952 on The "Fireside Theater" Rita Was in demand on the big and Little Screen for most of her career. Has done a lot of voice over work in recent years on The "Electric Company" and "Nina's World" Also plays Lydia Riera on "One Day at a Time" (2017)
6. Ryan O'Neal
Actor | Love Story
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal was an American actor and former boxer. He trained as an amateur boxer before beginning his career in acting in 1960. In 1964, he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place. It was an instant hit and boosted O'Neal's career. He ...
Started in TV in 1960. Did a long stint on "Peyton Place" (1964-69) as Rodney Harrington. Then the Big Screen came calling in a big way after a couple of forgettable roles. 1970's Love Story. In 2005 it was voted #13 in the American Film Institute's list AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes, for "Love means never having to say you're sorry" From there it was all movies until 1991's "Good Sports". He recently had a recurring role as father to Temperance Brennan in "Bones" (2006-2017)
7. Robert Wagner
Actor | The Towering Inferno
R.J. Wagner was born 1930 in Detroit, the son of a steel executive. His family moved to L.A. when he was six. Always wanting to be an actor, he held a variety of jobs (including one as a golf caddy for Clark Gable) while pursuing his goal, but it was while dining with his parents at a Beverly Hills...
Exception to the Rule! Robert started in Movies the went to TV then to Movies then Back to TV then Movies once more. And finally a recurring role on "NCIS" as Father to Anthony DiNozzo.
8. Ian McKellen
Actor | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Widely regarded as one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native Great Britain and internationally, twice nominated for the Oscar and recipient of every major theatrical award in the UK and US, Ian Murray McKellen was born on May 25, 1939 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, to Margery ...
From 1964-83 Ian was mainly on British TV. Movies called and Ian played many memorable roles including The "Lord of the Rings" trilogy as Gandalf and The "X-Men" series as Eric Lensherr / Magneto. Recently back to the Telly in England and the U.S. on "The Prisoner" (TV Mini-Series 2009) and Vicious (TV Series 2013-2016) as Freddie Thornhill.
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