14 TV and Movie Characters Played by Multiple Actors
It was weird that Cory Matthews’ sister just disappeared for half a season, but at least they gave her a killer zinger when she showed back up.
‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures’: Bill, Ted and the Gang
This animated series lasted two seasons, the first made by Hanna-Barbera and the second by DIC. Most of the cast jumped ship between seasons, with Wikipedia-less actors Evan Richards and Christopher Kennedy replacing Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, respectively, and Rick Overton replacing George Carlin as Rufus.
‘Arrested Development’: Ann Veal
Ann’s whole thing is that she’s so unmemorable, Michael can never seem to recognize her. The idea was to have a different actress play her every time, starting with Alessandra Torresani. Mae Whitman played her second, but she so embodied Ann’s Ann-ness that they kept her on for the rest of the series.
‘Back to the Future’: Jennifer
Marty McFly’s girlfriend was played by Claudia Wells in the first film, but she was busy caring for her ill mother while the sequels were being filmed. Elisabeth Shue stepped into the role (and the entire opening scene of the second film had to be filmed again with the new actress, shot for shot).
‘The Little Rascals’ (1994): Froggy
The OG Froggy from Our Gang, Billy Laughlin, could pull off the freakishly husky voice in the original 1922 shorts. For the 1994 film, young Jordan Warkol played the part, while his froggish lines were dubbed over by adult actress E. G. Daily.
‘The A-Team’: Face
Templeton “Faceman” Peck is a smooth-talking conman who was played by Dirk Benedict throughout the show, replacing Tim Dunigan who put in the hard work portraying the character in the pilot.
‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’: Griphook
Hot off his Austin Powers fame, Verne Troyer was cast as a goblin who works at J.K. Rowling’s anti-Semitic wizard bank or whatever. Due to Troyer’s distinctive voice, Warwick Davis pulled double duty and dubbed the voice of the character. Davis would take over the character entirely in subsequent films.
‘Boy Meets World’: Morgan
Cory’s younger sister was played by Lily Nicksay in Seasons One and Two, but the character disappeared entirely for part of season Three. She was eventually recast with actress Lindsay Ridgeway, who in her first appearance says, “That was the longest timeout I ever had!” With the recasting, the character became more of a tomboy (not to mention: older). Both actresses appeared in the series finale of Girl Meets World.
‘Family Guy’: Meg
It feels like Mila Kunis has played the part for a lifetime, but actress Lacey Chabert owned the part for the whole first season before departing to focus on school and Party of Five. Archival recordings of Chabert were used in a Season 10 episode where they travel back to the pilot.
‘Batman’ (1966): The Riddler
Frank Gorshin was given the part because he’d been a huge Batman fan since he was a kid (which at the time was somewhat more novel). After a while, Gorshin’s agents tried to hold out for more money, at which point he was replaced mid-season by John Astin, for just a couple of episodes.
‘Adventures of Superman’: Lois Lane
Actress Phyllis Coates was given one season to make her mark on the character, but after the series became popular, they turned to a familiar face: Noel Neill, who had portrayed Lois on film for the past several years.
‘Better Call Saul’: Jeff
Jeff is the cab driver who recognizes Jimmy from his commercials, and is later recruited into an elaborate heist, all so that he’ll keep his mouth shut about Jimmy’s identity. The character was originally played by — and, crucially, based on — actor Don Harvey, but Harvey had a contractual obligation elsewhere that kept him from appearing in Season Six. Actor Pat Healy had to fill Jeff’s very Don-shaped shoes.
‘That ‘70s Show’: Laurie
Lisa Robin Kelly played the eldest problem child of the Forman family, and played it well enough to turn a recurring role into a leading one for a couple of seasons. But her struggle with addiction led her to be phased out, with Christina Moore playing the part on and off for a couple of seasons. It just didn’t have the same spark, so they sent Laurie off to beauty school in Canada.
‘Hercules in New York’: Hercules
Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast because he’s all jacked and handsome, but producers had apparently never heard him talk, and had to scramble to find another actor, whose name has been lost to time, to dub over his parts.
‘Roseanne’: Becky
The original Becky, Lecy Goranson, left the show in the fifth season to go to college, at which point she was replaced by Sarah Chalke. Goranson would return from time to time, and the two actors essentially shared the part for all of Season Eight.
