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Before movie fame, red carpets, and big salaries, many of Hollywood's biggest stars first made us laugh from our living rooms. Sitcoms, those thirty-minute bursts of comedy, have long been a place for actors to show their timing, charisma, and screen presence. Some stars faded after a few punchlines, while others turned their sitcom beginnings into major careers.
From '90s icons like Jennifer Aniston to modern stars like Donald Glover, sitcoms have launched actors who later moved into drama, action, music, and business. Today, it's hard to imagine that some of them once played the quirky roommate, the awkward outcast, or the unlucky neighbor.
This list looks at nine actors who started in sitcoms and later became huge names. We explore where they began, where they are now, and why their early sitcom charm still matters. Get ready for a trip down prime-time memory lane.
Actors who got their start from sitcoms
1. Jennifer Aniston – Friends
Jennifer Aniston's performance as Rachel Green on Friends wasn't just a breakout role — it was a pop culture phenomenon. From "The Rachel" haircut to her romance with Ross, Aniston was a '90s icon. But most impressive is what she did after the sitcom. In 2024, she made a return to awards buzz with The Morning Show, demonstrating dramatic range and even producing in the background. Her most recent venture is a dark comedy series in production at Netflix, indicating she's not letting up. Aniston has transformed her sitcom background into a career built on reinvention, and she's still among the most bankable faces on television.
2. Steve Carell – The Office
Steve Carell's Michael Scott in The Office (2005–2011, 2013) was instrumental in changing the direction of the show. The initial American version of the British series did not do well, with Michael Scott being seen as just mean and boorish. Director Paul Feig mentioned that although British audiences may relish ridiculing a bore, American audiences tend to need to empathize with the character. Carell's tour-de-force performance in The 40-Year-Old Virgin also recontextualized Michael Scott as a "well-meaning asshole." While filming the "Office Olympics" episode in season two, Carell's emotional depth revealed Michael's humanity, and the character's image changed dramatically.
3. Zendaya – Shake It Up
Before dominating the Emmy stage or swinging with Spider-Man, Zendaya had pre-teens giggling on Disney Channel's Shake It Up. Her sitcom debut as Rocky Blue demonstrated early signs of star power and quick timing. Flash-forward to 2025, and she's now the embodiment of Gen Z stardom. Her dark turn on Euphoria received critical acclaim, and her production company is working on original content focused on complicated female leads. Her recent performance in Challengers showcased both athleticism and vulnerability, proving she's more than a Disney alum.
4. Michael J. Fox – Family Ties
Long before he was time-traveling with Back to the Future, Michael J. Fox captivated viewers as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, a young Republican whiz kid in a liberal family. The part made him a household name in the '80s and spearheaded a wildly successful film career. Even after being diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 29, Fox emerged as a beacon of determination. Though he's retired from acting, his charity has raised more than $2 billion for Parkinson's research, leaving a lasting legacy.
5. Mila Kunis – That '70s Show
Mila Kunis fibbed about her age to get the role of Jackie Burkhart on That '70s Show — and thank goodness for that. At 14, she more than held her own with older co-stars and soon became a scene-stealer. After sitcom life, she voiced Meg on Family Guy, appeared in hits such as Black Swan and Friends with Benefits, and became a rom-com queen. In 2023, she briefly reprised her role in That '90s Show with a nostalgic touch for longtime viewers. Off-camera, she's known to keep a low profile and is active in philanthropy, particularly for Ukraine.
6. Donald Glover – Community
Donald Glover's stint as Troy Barnes on Community was comedy gold, but few might have guessed the artistic force he'd become. He left the show in 2014 and re-emerged as Childish Gambino, earning Grammys for hits like "This Is America." Then there was Atlanta, the surrealist dramedy he developed, wrote, and starred in, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor. In 2024, he co-developed the revamped Mr. & Mrs. Smith franchise, extending his genre-defying run. Glover effortlessly glides between music, TV, and movies, showing that a wacky sitcom role can be the backstory of a cultural icon in the making.
7. Robin Williams – Mork & Mindy
Robin Williams didn't merely act Mork from Ork — he inhabited him. His otherworldly presence on Mork & Mindy(1978–1982) was so compelling that the series was effectively built around his improvisational brilliance. That wacky alien character spawned a career full of performances that were impossible to forget, from Dead Poets Society to Good Will Hunting, for which he won an Oscar. Williams' performances seamlessly combined comedy and emotional complexity. Even though he died tragically in 2014, his memory endures, most recently celebrated in the 2023 documentary Robin's Wish, which offers a glimpse into his final days and fight against Lewy body dementia.
8. Ryan Reynolds – Two Guys and a Girl
Way before Deadpool or becoming an empire-building marketing mogul, Ryan Reynolds was playing jokes as bumbling Berg on Two Guys and a Girl (1998–2001). The show allowed him to hone his comedic chops, setting the stage for future performances. Reynolds has since become a box office staple, but also a savvy entrepreneur, co-owning Mint Mobile (sold to T-Mobile in 2023) and Wrexham AFC, now on the rise in global football. He's also acclaimed for his quick-witted online presence and mental health activism. From sitcom sidekick to Hollywood's greatest comic mogul, Reynolds proves that charm and hustle can take you very far.
9. Ashton Kutcher – That '70s Show
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Ashton Kutcher's appearance as Michael Kelso in That '70s Show (1998–2006) was his debut role, transitioning from modeling to television. The dashing yet dimwitted Kelso quickly became a fan favorite and hinted at Kutcher's future in comedy. Seven years after starting the show, Kutcher left to pursue film opportunities but returned for the series finale. In 2023, he and Mila Kunis revisited their Kelso and Jackie roles with a cameo in Netflix's That '90s Show, thrilling audiences with a nostalgic throwback to their original characters.
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