These Actors Made Massive TV Comebacks

While TV may have been the awkward cousin to film in the past, Hollywood has seen a major shift over the last couple of decades. Television has become a juggernaut in the entertainment industry.

Everywhere you look, you’ll see major A-list actors and actresses springing for TV. It’s a trend that doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

TV may now look like a top destination for stars in their prime, but it’s also been known to save the careers of quite a few.

Whether they were child stars that fizzled out too early, or their movie careers didn’t pan out quite like they’d hope, plenty of your favorite TV stars used the medium as a springboard back into the spotlight.

Here are a few major actors who had their careers resurrected by the art of television.

Jason Bateman

Many people will point to Arrested Development as the first major project for Jason Bateman, but it was actually just the start to an incredible Hollywood comeback. 

It’s easy to forget that Bateman had a ton of roles all throughout the ’80s.

The actor was a child star in shows like Little House on the Prairie and Siver Spoons. His career looked to be moving in the right direction as he grew into his teens and landed parts in some other notable projects.

Bateman wasn’t seen in very much else until 2003, when he was given the role of Michael Bluth in Arrested Development. 

Rob Lowe

As one of the lesser-known members of The Brat Pack, Rob Lowe enjoyed some success in the ’80s with movies like St. Elmo’s Fire and The Outsiders.

Unfortunately, when the Brats stopped raking in the roles, Rob Lowe was right their with them.

However, Lowe’s career took a sharp turn back toward stardom a decade later, when he was cast as Sam Seaborn in The West Wing. 

Things didn’t exactly slow down after that, as Lowe then landed an even bigger role in NBC’s hit sitcom, Parks and Recreation. He portrayed the always-bubbly City Planner Chris Traeger for the majority of the series.

Claire Danes

While Claire Danes never exactly left the spotlight, she certainly experienced a bit of a down period for a while.

Her career got off to a roaring start, leading the cast of fan-favorite teen series My So-Called Life, and starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1996 adaptation of Romeo + Juliet.

After that, Danes’ life slowed down a bit, until she landed the pivotal role of Carrie Mathison in the highly-celebrate Showtime series, Homeland.

The role has earned Danes two Golden Globes and two primetime Emmy Awards for her performance.

Neil Patrick Harris

Doogie Howser MD was a massive success, but its brightly-shining child star, Neil Patrick Harris, was left without a job once the show had concluded.

However, after a random, but absolutely hilarious cameo in Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, Harris was given an opportunity.

With that opportunity, the actor landed the iconic role of Barney Stinson in the ultra-successful sitcom, How I Met Your Mother.

Since taking on that character, NPH has basically been immediately risen to A-list status, and it’s likely he’ll never look back.

Natasha Lyonne

Teen comedies were all the rage in the ’90s, giving careers to the likes of Natasha Lyonne, Tara Reid, Ethan Embry, and many more. However, stars like Lyonne seemed to fade along with the trend that those films had set.

Fortunately, the actress didn’t stay out of the spotlight forever.

Lyonne landed the role of Nicky, and ex-heroin addict in the Netflix original series, Orange is the New Black. She’s often been praised for her heartfelt, yet often times hilarious, portrayal of the character.

Christian Slater

Some actors begin their triumphant comebacks with one incredible TV role. For others, it takes a couple of tries.

Such is the case for Christian Slater.

The former film star started landing starring roles in television back in 2008, when he was cast as the lead in My Own Worst Enemy. Unfortunately, the show was pulled before its first season was even finished.

Slater had two more unsuccessful stabs at TV stardom – The Forgotten and Breaking In – before he finally got the role he’d been waiting for.

The actor is one of the stars of USA’s talked-about thriller Mr. Robot, and he’s earned a Golden Globe award for hit performance.