Same Actor, Different Series and Profession Quiz

Answer: special consultant

Raymond Burr starred as a special department consultant on the long running series "Ironside". Nearly everyone referred to him by his former job title "Chief", but in fact, he was no longer an active sworn member of the police department.

Burr was cast in the role of former San Francisco Police Department Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside. After a near fatal attempt on his life which resulted in him becoming a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, he was forced to retire from the police department.

Following his retirement, he was able to convince his old friend, Police Commissioner Dennis Randall, to appoint him as a "special consultant" for the police department. Ironside was also able to cajole Commissioner Randall into providing him a small staff, the use of office and living space on an unused floor of the police headquarters building, and the use of an aging police "paddy wagon" for transportation.

Ironside and his staff worked on a variety of cases that permitted him to utilize his still keen investigative skills.
Ironside's staff consisted of Detective Sergeant Ed Brown (Don Galloway), Policewoman Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson), who was replaced in later seasons by Policewoman Fran Belding (Elizabeth Bauer), and his assistant and body guard, Mark Sanger (Don Mitchell).

"Ironside" aired 199 episodes during its eight season run (1967-1975).

"Perry Mason" aired 271 episodes in nine seasons (1957-1966).

Answer: private detective

Buddy Ebsen returned to television as a private detective.
"Barnaby Jones" premiered on the CBS television network on January 28, 1973, and aired 178 episodes over eight seasons.
Lee Meriwether co-starred as his daughter and business partner, Betty.

In the series, Barnaby came out of retirement from being a private investigator, to find the killer of his son, who owned a detective agency and was working on a case. Betty assisted her father in solving the crime. Realizing the chemistry they had as an effective team, they decided to take over and run the detective agency.

Answer: airport runway manager

On the series "LAX", Heather Locklear starred as the Airport Runway (Ramp) Manager at Los Angeles International Airport.

The series centered on the day-to-day activities at one of the largest and busiest airports in the United States.

Harley Raines frequently found herself in conflict with Roger de Souza (Blair Underwood), the airport Terminal Manager, on how to best ensure the operational efficiency of the airport.

"LAX" premiered on May 17, 2004, and aired 13 episodes during its only season on the NBC Television Network.

The name of the series ("LAX") came from the IATA (International Airport Transport Association) code designator for Los Angeles International Airport.

The series "T.J. Hooker" aired 91 episodes over five seasons, on two different networks. The series first aired on ABC from 1982-1985, and moved to CBS for the 1985 and 1986 seasons.
Heather Locklear was featured in 85 of the total 91 episodes.

Answer: deputy marshal

Dennis Weaver starred as Sam McCloud, a deputy marshal in Taos, New Mexico on the series "McCloud".

In the series, McCloud is on temporary "special assignment" with the New York Police Department to study and learn "big city" law enforcement procedures.
The results of the assignment proved to be an enlightening experience for both McCloud and his NYPD counterparts.

Dennis Weaver received Emmy nominations in 1974 and 1975 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series.

"McCloud" aired 48 episodes during its seven season run.

The series was part of the NBC "wheel format", where four different shows aired on different weeks in the same time slot. The shows were broadcast under the umbrella title of "NBC Mystery Movies".
"McCloud" originally alternated air dates with the series "Night Gallery" (with Rod Serling), "San Francisco International Airport" (starring Lloyd Bridges and Clu Gulager), and "The Psychiatrist" (starring Roy Thinnes). In later seasons, "McCloud" rotated with "McMillian & Wife" (starring Rock Hudson and Susan St. James), "Columbo" (starring Peter Falk), and "Hec Ramsey" (starring Richard Boone).

Answer: funeral home grave digger

Fred Gwynne played typical family man Herman Munster in the 1964 sitcom series "The Munsters". Herman worked as a grave digger at the Gateman, Goodbury and Graves funeral home in the Mockingbird Heights section of the city of Los Angeles.

Herman considered his physical appearance as not only normal, but handsome and dashing, despite being seven-foot-six, weighing 380 pounds, and sporting a greenish complexion with bolts in his neck. Herman was mild-mannered and often when angry, displayed childish qualities such as temper tantrums, and holding his breath.

Herman and his family, wife Lily (Yvonne De Carlo), son Eddie (Butch Patrick) and his father-in-law, known as Grandpa (Al Lewis), all had the appearances of monster characters, but thought they were quite normal looking. The exception was Herman's niece, Marilyn (played first by Beverly Owens and later by Pat Priest) who was an attractive blonde student at Westbury College, whom the family thought she was cursed with unfortunate plain looks.

The likeness of the Munsters to the classic movie monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman) were not by accident. Universal Studios, where the series was filmed, also filmed and maintained the rights to use of the monster images and likeness of the classic movie monsters from horror films of the 1930s.

Answer: company figurehead

Pamela Anderson played Vallery Irons, the figurehead owner and leader of a professional bodyguard agency call V.I.P.

"V.I.P." premiered in 1998, and aired for four seasons in first run syndication.

In the story, Vallery Irons was a fast food worker in a hot dog stand. She met a celebrity customer, who was taken by her looks, and invited her to accompany him to a gala Hollywood event.
At the event, an attempt on his life was thwarted accidentally by Vallery, which leads to her immediate fame as a celebrity bodyguard.
A group of highly trained professional bodyguard persuades Vallery to use her instant fame to serve as the figurehead owner of a bodyguard protection agency they are creating.
Vallery agrees to join the group despite her total lack of training and experience as a bodyguard.

The action-drama comedy series was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999, for Outstanding Main Title Theme.
In 2002, the series received three Daytime Emmy Award nominations, winnings an Emmy Award in the category for Outstanding Single Camera Editing.

Answer: chief of surgery

In a spin-off from the movie "MASH" (1970), and not the television series "M.A.S.H" (1972), Pernell Roberts starred as Dr. "Trapper" John McIntyre in the long running series, "Trapper John, M.D."
Dr. McIntyre was the chief of surgery at San Francisco Memorial Hospital.

The series was set 28 years after Trapper John was discharged from his stint at the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea.

This medical drama series followed the activities of the hospital staff which included a young doctor, George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, a former M.A.S.H surgeon from the Vietnam War (Gregory Harrison), nurse Earnestine Shoop (Madge Sinclair), Dr. Stanley Riverside, II. (Charles Siebert), Dr. Justin "Jackpot" Jackson (Brian Stokes Mitchell) and nurse Gloria "Ripples" Brancusi (Christopher Norris).

The series ran 151 episodes over seven seasons, from 1979 to 1982.

A court case filed by the producers of the "M.A.S.H" television series regarding royalties from "Trapper John, M.D." resulted in the series legally being classified as a spin-off from the movie.

Answer: defense attorney

Shatner starred as Denny Crane, a defense attorney who claimed to have never lost a case on the legal-comedy-drama series "Boston Legal".

Denny Crane was an eccentric character who practiced law for over 20 years and was a true "legend in his own mind". Crane's sometimes unusual behavior could have possibly been attributed to experiencing the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease or the onset of dementia. He jokingly referred to his occasional lapses in memory or disorientation as being "mad cow" disease. Crane had the unusual habit of ending his statements to others by stating his name (Denny Crane) as a signature to his spoken words.

"Boston Legal" was a spin-off from the series "The Practice"(1997).

Working with Denny Crane at the law firm of Crane, Poole, & Schmidt were associate partner Alan Shore (James Spader), name partner Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen), managing partner Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois), and a staff of 15 associate and junior partners.

The highly acclaimed series "Boston Legal" received a total of 26 Primetime Emmy nominations during its five season run from 2004 to 2008. The series won four Emmys, including the 2005 award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, which went to William Shatner.

Answer: store shopkeeper

Frank Cady played store shopkeeper Sam Drucker. He ran the General Store in the town of Hooterville.

Sam Drucker appeared in three comedy series, "Petticoat Junction" (1963) with Bea Benaderet and Edgar Buchanon (165 episodes), "Green Acres" (1965) with Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert (142 episodes), and "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) with Buddy Ebsen and Irene Ryan (10 episodes).

San Drucker was one of the less eccentric residents of Hooterville. He also served as the town postmaster, and was the level-headed voice of reason on the town council.
Sam Drucker was known for his balding head, broad smile, and friendly manner.

During his 43 year career, Cady had over 100 movie and television credits, but will mostly be recognized for his Sam Drucker role.

Frank Randolph Cady was born on September 8, 1915 in Susanville, California, and passed away on June 8, 2012 in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Answer: casino owner

During the last 19 episodes of the 2008 drama series "Las Vegas", Tom Selleck starred as the enigmatic owner of the Montecito Casino & Hotel, A.J. Cooper.

The series centered on the employees and the situations they encountered while working in their Las Vegas casino-hotel environment.

During the five season run of the series, A.J. Cooper was the last of a string of owners which included Gavin Brunson (James McDaniel), Monica Mancuso (Lara Flynn Boyle), The Foundation for the Blind (by way of Monica's last will and testament), Casey Manning (Dean Cane), and Casey's former wife and top casino host, Samantha "Sam" Marquez (Vanessa Marcel).
In the series, little was known about A.J. Cooper except that he loved cigars, owned the largest working cattle ranch in Montana, and that his net worth was approximately 2 billion dollars.

Also starring on the series were Josh Duhamel, James Lesure, Molly Sims, Nikki Cox, and James Caan.

"Las Vegas" aired 106 episodes over five seasons.

Answer: ship captain

Robert Urich, a true ironman of television work, starred in 15 different series over his 30 year career.
In 1998, he starred as Captain Jim Kennedy III, on the series "Love Boat: The Next Wave".

Jim Kennedy was a retired U.S. Navy Commander, and was hired by the Princess Cruise Lines, and given command of the pride of their fleet, "The Sun Princess".

Starring with Urich on the series were Phil Morris, Joan Severance, Cory Parker, and Randy Vasquez.

The series was based on the long running popular 1977 series "The Love Boat".

With over 95 movie and television credits, a few of Urich's most memorable starring television roles were Lazarus (Thomas Cathcart) on "The Lazarus Man" (1996), Spenser on "Spenser: For Hire" (1985), Dan Tanna on "Vega$" (1978) and Tom Nash on "American Dreamer" (1990).

Robert Michael Urich was born on November 11, 1946 in Toronto, Ohio and died on April 16, 2002 in Thousand Oaks, California.

Answer: private investigator

The series, "Partners in Crime" aired 13 episodes in its single season.

The series revolved around the two former wives of private investigator Raymond Caufield, who work together in solving his murder. The wives decide to continue to work as private investigators and run the agency their husband left to them.

Lynda Carter starred as Carole Stanwyck along with Loni Anderson in the role of Sydney Novack.
The characters came from completely different social backgrounds and the only link between the two was the man that they were married to (at different times).

Also featured in the series assisting the new investigators run their newly acquired agency were Raymond's office assistant Harmon Shane (Walter Olkewicz) and Raymond's mother Jeanine (Eileen Heckart).

Answer: military commanding officer

Harry Morgan played Col. Sherman T. Potter, the commanding officer of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital on the series "M.A.S.H".

Morgan took the role at the beginning of the series fifth season, following the departure of actor McClean Stevenson, who played commanding officer Col. Henry Blake.

The talents of Harry Morgan first came to the attention of the "M.A.S.H" producers when he was cast in the 1974 episode called "The General Flipped at Dawn". In the episode, Morgan played Maj. Gen. Bartford Hamilton Steele, a field commander who lost touch with reality and was obviously mentally unfit to continue service as a military officer.

Morgan's performance in his 1974 role earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor on a Comedy or Drama Series.
After being cast in his permanent role, Morgan received Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series on 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982. The 1980 nomination resulted in a win.

Harry Morgan amassed over 163 movie and television credit after his first movie credit in 1942. Morgan starred, or played in a recurring role on numerous television series including "December Bride" (1954), "Pete and Gladys" (1960), "The Richard Boone Show" (1983), "After MASH" (1983) and "Blacke's Magic" (1986).

Harry Morgan retired from acting in 1999.

Harry Morgan, born Harry Bratsberg was born in Detroit Michigan on April 10, 1915 and passed away in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California on December 7, 2011.

Answer: battalion fire chief

Lorne Greene played Joe Rorchek, a battalion chief with the Los Angeles City Fire Department on the action series "Code Red".

The series followed the lives of Joe Rorchek, and his two sons, who were also firefighters under his command. His oldest son Ted (Andrew Stevens) was assigned to a fire engine while younger son Chris (Sam J. Jones), was a fire department helicopter pilot.

The family, along with other firefighters, fought fires and responded to emergencies in and around the Los Angeles Harbor and waterfront areas, utilizing land, sea, and air firefighting and rescue resources.

Completing the cast were Julie Adams, Martina Deignan, Adam Rich, and Dennis Haysbert.
The series aired 19 episodes during its single season.

The series was highlighted by the dramatic and dynamic special effects in filming, provided by the Irwin Allen Production Company.
Allen was known for his unique filming capabilities.
Television projects produced by Irwin Allen included "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964), "Lost in Space" (1965), "Land of the Giants" (1968) and the TV movie "City Beneath the Sea" (1971).

Answer: ambulance paramedic

Lou Ferrigno played ambulance Paramedic John Six on the short lived ABC network medical drama series, "Trauma Center".

The series originally aired from September to December of 1983.

The series documented the day-to-day activities of the staff at McKee Hospital in Los Angeles County. The series centered on the hospital's special Medstar Trauma Unit, which utilized both a helicopter and a ground ambulance to respond to serious or life-threatening incident.

In the course of his job, Paramedic John Six often encountered dangerous situations that required his incredible strength to complete a rescue and transport his patients to the trauma center.

Also featured on this series from Glen A. Larson Productions were James Naughton, Jack Bannon, Wendie Malick, Jayne Modean, and Dorian Harewood.