Mary Tyler Moore was Mary Richards  (Mary Tyler Moore show)

Bob Newhart was Bob Hartley  (Bob newhart show)

Tony Danza was Tony Micelli  (Who's the boss)


Can you name other television actors or actresses  who's character's first name on the show was the same as their real names?
Makes it easier on the actors, I suppose .

I like this thread; it is just like 'The Danza' on the TvTropes website.

On "Hannah Montana", Miley Cyrus' character was named Miley Stewart.
On "That's So Raven", Raven Symone's character was named Raven Baxter.
And on "Fresh Prince of Bel Air", Will Smith's character was named...Will Smith. However, in real life the name Will was short for Willard, and the character's name was short for William. Also, the character was younger than the actor (as Will Smith himself was in his 20s during the entire show's run).

Mary Tyler Moore was Mary Richards  (Mary Tyler Moore show)

Bob Newhart was Bob Hartley  (Bob newhart show)

Tony Danza was Tony Micelli  (Who's the boss)


Can you name other television actors or actresses  who's character's first name on the show was the same as their real names?
Makes it easier on the actors, I suppose .



Tony Danza was Tony Banta on Taxi

Ted Knight was Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Marion Ross played Marion Cunningham on Happy Days

Al Molinaro played Al Delvecchio on Happy Days

Reba McEntire played Reba Hart on Reba
Reba McEntire plays Reba Gallagher on Malibu Country
Lily Tomlin plays Lillie May on Malibu Country

The American sitcom "Out Of This World" had two characters that fit this description: Donna Garland, played by Donna Pescow; and Buzz (last name unknown/never revealed), played by Buzz Belmondo.

Fran Drescher played Fran Fine on 'The Nanny'

Lucille Ball:

I Love Lucy
Here's Lucy
The Lucy Show
Life With Lucy


Night Court: Harry Anderson played Harry Stone


Cat

Lucille Ball:

I Love Lucy
Here's Lucy
The Lucy Show
Life With Lucy


Oh yes...another classic example. I know that her character was named Lucille "Lucy" McGillicuddy-Ricardo on the first one. I've not seen the others, but I'm assuming that her character's first name was also Lucy (or Lucille) on all of them, based on the titles.

Roseanne was Roseanne
8)

Tim Allen was Tim Taylor

Oh yes...another classic example. I know that her character was named Lucille "Lucy" McGillicuddy-Ricardo on the first one. I've not seen the others, but I'm assuming that her character's first name was also Lucy (or Lucille) on all of them, based on the titles.



good assumption jeff

Roseanne was Roseanne
8)



Barr - Conner..... for those who didn't know  ;)

Ooo, nice thread!

Let's see... On the show Two of a Kind:

Mary-Kate Olsen played Mary-Kate Burke

Ashley Olsen played Ashley Burke

Tia & Tamera Mowry played Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell on Sister Sister

their brother Tahj Mowry played cousin Tahj on an ep...



Joey Lawerence played
a kid named Joey on Different Strokes & Silver Spoons
Joey Donovan on Gimme a Break
Joey Russon on Blossom
Joe Roman on Brotherly Love
Joe Longo on Melissa and Joey  (Melissa Joan Hart plays Melissa Burke on the same show)


His brothers Matthew and Andrew have played

Matt and Andy roman on Brotherly Love
Matt was also Matthew Donovan on Gimme a Break


Rick Schroder was Ricky Stratton on Silver Spoons
Alfonso Ribero was Alfonso Spears on Silver Spoons

Harry Anderson played Judge Harold T. "Harry" Stone on Night Court (1984--1992)

Cat got that already.

Woody Harrelson played Woody Boyd on Cheers (1985 --1993)

Jerry Seinfeld was Jerry.

Andy Griffth was Andy Taylor

On the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet:
Ozzie, Harriet, David & Ricky Nelson played themselves. 
Kris Harmon played herself


On the George Burns & Gracie Allen Show
George and Gracie played themselves...

in both of these examples most of the supporting actors played characters with names different from their own.

Creed Bratton plays Creed Bratton on The Office

Before Creed Bratton played Creed Bratton on The Office he was a member of the singing group The Grassroots who had hit songs "Live for Today" and "Midnight Confessions"

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/5149032/The+Grass+Roots+TheGrassRoots1969+with+Creed.jpg


http://www.x929.ca/shows/theshow/wp-content/uploads/creed-bratton.JPG

Charlie Sheen: 

Spin City: Charlie Crawford
Two & a Half Men: Charlie Harper
Anger Management: Charlie Goodson


Michael J. Fox played Mike Flaherty on Spin City

Charlie Sheen: 

Spin City: Charlie Crawford
Two & a Half Men: Charlie Harper
Anger Management: Charlie Goodson


Michael J. Fox played Mike Flaherty on Spin City


You are good at this.

You are good at this.



I watch... ALOT... of tv...

Mr. Bill on the Mr. Bill Show

Another example just came to mind: The Wayans Brothers.

Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans (who are Wayans brothers in real life) played Shawn Williams and Marlon Williams, respectively.

Another example just came to mind: The Wayans Brothers.

Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans (who are Wayans brothers in real life) played Shawn Williams and Marlon Williams, respectively.


Maybe Shawn was Marlon & Marlon was Shawn.  ;D  :D

Maybe Shawn was Marlon & Marlon was Shawn.  ;D  :D



I was thinking the same thing. Great minds.  ;) :D ;D



Cat

Another example just came to mind: The Wayans Brothers.

Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans (who are Wayans brothers in real life) played Shawn Williams and Marlon Williams, respectively.


John Witherspoon...who's not a wayans brother (or father) but he is a brotha-  played John Willniams on the same show
Another Wayans brother, Damon Wayans,  played Damon Thomas in a short lived series called Damon

Martin Lawerence played Martin Payne on Martin

And since we're talking about black hmale comedians:


Ellen Degeneres played Ellen Morgan on These Friends of Mine I mean Ellen.
She also played Ellen Richmond on The Ellen Show.

John Witherspoon...who's not a wayans brother (or father) but he is a brotha-  played John Willniams on the same show
Another Wayans brother, Damon Wayans,  played Damon Thomas in a short lived series called Damon

Martin Lawerence played Martin Payne on Martin

And since we're talking about black hmale comedians:


Ellen Degeneres played Ellen Morgan on These Friends of Mine I mean Ellen.
She also played Ellen Richmond on The Ellen Show.



Fran Allison played Fran in Kluka, Fran, & Ollie.



Cat

Maybe Shawn was Marlon & Marlon was Shawn.  ;D  :D




I was thinking the same thing. Great minds.  ;) :D ;D



Cat

Nope, they weren't. ;) But they did star alongside each other in the 2004 movie "White Chicks", as a pair of brothers working for the FBI. However, Shawn's character in that film was Kevin Copeland, and Marlon's character was named Marcus Copeland, and he played the more serious of the two.

Ozzy Osbourne was Ozzy in "The Osbournes"
Johnny Carson was "Johnny" in the tonight show.  ::)

Shirley Jones played Shirley in the Partridge Family.


And don't call me Shirley!



Cat

Ray Romano was Ray in "Everybody Loves Raymond"

Ozzy Osbourne was Ozzy in "The Osbournes"
Johnny Carson was "Johnny" in the tonight show.  ::)



You forgot about Sharon, Kelly & jack. I think ham Sharon threw over the fence also played itself  :D

Ray Romano was Ray in "Everybody Loves Raymond"

That's right, his character's name was Ray Barone.

That's right, his character's name was Ray Barone.


Never could stand that show.  He talked like he had a frog in his throat.
::)

Shirley Jones played Shirley in the Partridge Family.


And don't call me Shirley!



Cat



I can't believe that I forget Danny from the Partridge Family played by Danny Bonaduce.



Cat

I can't believe that I forget Danny from the Partridge Family played by Danny Bonaduce.



Cat


I was gonna come back and post that last night but the phone was too far away  :D
Since you've done it I'll add

Bill Cosby voices the character of Bill (among many others) in the animated Fat Albert
He also played himself as the live host. Of course it helps he created the show based on experiences he had with brothers and friends....

I was gonna come back and post that last night but the phone was too far away  :D
Since you've done it I'll add

Bill Cosby voices the character of Bill (among many others) in the animated Fat Albert
He also played himself as the live host. Of course it helps he created the show based on experiences he had with brothers and friends....



I thought about it last night when I was already in bed.  :D ;D ;D ;D



Cat

Never could stand that show.  He talked like he had a frog in his throat.
::)


That's the way he grew up.

I was gonna come back and post that last night but the phone was too far away  :D
Since you've done it I'll add

Bill Cosby voices the character of Bill (among many others) in the animated Fat Albert
He also played himself as the live host. Of course it helps he created the show based on experiences he had with brothers and friends....


He also had the short lived "Cos" sitcom in the mid 70's.

Gabe Kaplan was Gabe Kotter. (Welcome back Kotter)

Cybill Sheppard was Cybill Sheridan (Cybill)

Sandy Duncan was Sandy Hogan (Hogan Family)

Can't believe I didn't remember this sooner but Kim Raver played Kim Zambrano on Third Watch.

Can't believe I didn't remember this sooner but Kim Raver played Kim Zambrano on Third Watch.
Oh yeah she was on "Third Watch". Forgot about that.

Another example just came to mind: The Wayans Brothers.

Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans (who are Wayans brothers in real life) played Shawn Williams and Marlon Williams, respectively.
Their show was funny.

Valerie Harper played Valerie Hogan on "The Hogan Family".

Tim Allen was Tim Taylor
Tim "The Toolman" Taylor :)!

Malcolm & Eddie: 

Malcolm Jamal Warner played Malcolm McGee
Eddie Griffin played Eddie Sherman

It wasnt til I met Max Burkholder on Tuesday that I realized his shares his name with his character on the TV show Parenthood max Braverman


Watching Rock of Ages - not sure if this has been mentioned but - Paul Giamati plays Paul Gill.

On the Steve Harvey show

Steve Harvey played Steve Hightower
Cedric the Entertainer played Cedric Jackie Robinson
Merlin Santana played Romeo Santana


Cant remember but I assume we mentioned

Roseanne Barr played Roseanna Conner on Roseanne
&
Grace Butler played Grace Kelly on Grace Under Fire



But did we mention that:

George Lopez played George Zlopez on the the George Lopez show?
Paul Rodriguez played Paul Rivera on aka Pablo?

On the Steve Harvey show

Steve Harvey played Steve Hightower
Cedric the Entertainer played Cedric Jackie Robinson
Merlin Santana played Romeo Santana


Cant remember but I assume we mentioned

Roseanne Barr played Roseanna Conner on Roseanne
&
Grace Butler played Grace Kelly on Grace Under Fire



But did we mention that:

George Lopez played George Zlopez on the the George Lopez show?
Paul Rodriguez played Paul Rivera on aka Pablo?



It was Brett Butler who played Grace Kelly.



Cat

It was Brett Butler who played Grace Kelly.



Cat


Oh yeah. I was tired when I typed that lol


Good to know someone's still reading the thread.  ;)

Jerry Paris was Jerry Helper on the Dick Van Dyke show
Maurice Evans was "Maurice" in Bewitched. (Samantha's dad)

"Hangin' With Mr. Cooper": Mark Curry played Mark Cooper.

Revenge  Emily VanCamp plays Emily Thorne