Is Nimoy setting a record with this film?

[Bad Bishop]

Leonard Nimoy first played Spock in 1965 (the year the Star Trek pilot was filmed, if I know my TOS history). He was, of course, first seen by TV audiences in Fall 1966 when the show premiered on NBC.

Nimoy is back as Spock in 2009, so that's at least 43 years between his first appearance and his most recent. Is this a record for an actor as one character?

Paul Newman played "Fast Eddie" Felson in The Hustler (1961) and then 25 years later in The Color of Money (1986). Are there any other notable examples of actors playing specific characters at least twice over long periods of time?

 

[MichaelDornFan]

I don't think so. I know some actors on various soap operas have him beat.

Looking at Wikipedia, it looks like Helen Wagner has been on "As the World Turns" since 1956, for example. Two more have been on the show since 1960.

 

[Messianni]

He's certainly the longest-serving Trek actor, though.

But as far as actual appearances, I think Majel (in voice) and Michael Dorn may have him beat.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Leonard Nimoy first played Spock in 1965 (the year the Star Trek pilot was filmed, if I know my TOS history). He was, of course, first seen by TV audiences in Fall 1966 when the show premiered on NBC.

Nimoy is back as Spock in 2009, so that's at least 43 years between his first appearance and his most recent. Is this a record for an actor as one character?

Paul Newman played "Fast Eddie" Felson in The Hustler (1961) and then 25 years later in The Color of Money (1986). Are there any other notable examples of actors playing specific characters at least twice over long periods of time?

Alan Hale Sr beats Newman's record with 28 years between his first and last appearance as Little John.

From Wikipedia -

He played "Little John" in the 1922 film Robin Hood, with Douglas Fairbanks and Wallace Beery, reprised the role sixteen years later in The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, then played him yet again in Rogues of Sherwood Forest in 1950 with Bo Derek's future husband John Derek as Robin Hood, 28 years after his initial performance

Plus there is the 28 years between the original Star Wars and Revenge of the Sith. With Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) all reprising their original roles.

 

[chrisspringob]

I don't know of anyone who would beat Nimoy's record, but Bill Mumy comes awfully close. He played Anthony Freemont in the 1961 Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life", and then reprised the character 42 years later in UPN's Twilight Zone revival.

Other 30+ year examples that spring to mind: George Takei first played Sulu in 1966, last played Sulu on Voyager in 1996. Bob Denver first played Gilligan in 1962.....continued to play Gilligan in various TV spoofs well into the 90s.

And if we're counting voice work....Frank Welker first did the voice of "Freddie" on Scooby Doo in 1969...and has continued to do the voice in various Scooby Doo revivals over the years, at least up through a few years ago. There might be similarly long tenures for the voices of other iconic cartoon characters. How long did the same person do the voice of Mickey Mouse, for example?

In terms of playing the same character on a continuous basis though (and not counting voice work), I assume that Kelsey Grammar has to be pretty high up there in terms of longevity. Between Cheers and Frasier, he played Frasier on a weekly basis for 20 years straight!

 

[chrisspringob]

Oh yeah, another one: Desmond Llewelyn, who played Q in the James Bond series. Checking the dates on IMDb, it looks like he first played the role in 1964, and last played it in 1999, which is a span of 35 years.

 

[Bad Bishop]

I don't know of anyone who would beat Nimoy's record, but Bill Mumy comes awfully close. He played Anthony Freemont in the 1961 Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life", and then reprised the character 42 years later in UPN's Twilight Zone revival.

I forgot about that one! Cloris Leachman also came back for the sequel as Anthony's mother.

Other 30+ year examples that spring to mind: George Takei first played Sulu in 1966, last played Sulu on Voyager in 1996.

Sulu was on Voyager? I don't remember that episode at all.

 

[Messianni]

Sulu was on Voyager? I don't remember that episode at all.

"Flashback", where Tuvok is suffering a mental condition and he mind-melds with Janeway which takes him back to his time aboard the Excelsior.

 

[Cyrus]

Sulu was on Voyager? I don't remember that episode at all.

I guess it wasn't that memorable:

 

[kitsune]

Sulu was on Voyager? I don't remember that episode at all.

I guess it wasn't that memorable:

The plot was as boring as any Voyager episode, but it still rates as one of the best of the series, because it's another chance to see the Excelsior and Captain Sulu They even reproduced that silly coffee table on the bridge.

 

[Cyrus]

Sulu was on Voyager? I don't remember that episode at all.

I guess it wasn't that memorable

The plot was as boring as any Voyager episode, but it still rates as one of the best of the series, because it's another chance to see the Excelsior and Captain Sulu They even reproduced that silly coffee table on the bridge.

I actually liked it, though DS9 did a better job on their 30th anniversary special episode.

 

[Kelso]

For what it's worth...

According to Whitfield's book, shooting on the first pilot began Dec. 12, 1964 and lasted for 12 days. They delivered the completed pilot to the network in Feb. 1965.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Having actors returning to roles years later is an increasing trend. Which I think is just going to increase in the future. With DVDs and the internet audience awareness of tv shows and movies is crossing generations.

The latest example is the sequel to Tron. The original came out in 1982 and the sequel is due in 2011. With a couple actors from the oringal reprsing their roles.

 

[mswood]

Sulu was on Voyager? I don't remember that episode at all.

I guess it wasn't that memorable:

The plot was as boring as any Voyager episode, but it still rates as one of the best of the series, because it's another chance to see the Excelsior and Captain Sulu They even reproduced that silly coffee table on the bridge.

God Flashback was pretty bad, I think about 70% of Voyager was better then that episode.

 

[urbandk]

Yeah the reveal of Takei was beyond cheesy. THROUGH THE SMOKE COMES SULU! yech

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Maybe not a record but I recall that James Arness played Matt Dillon in every decade between the 50s and the 90s. The show premiered in 1955, ran through '75, and he came back for reunion movies in the 80s and 90s. Not sure what year the last one aired.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Green Shirt]

As long as voice work is being discussed, Jack Mercer's 45 years as Popeye ranks up there pretty high. He took over for William Costello in 1935 and was the voice of Popeye at least until 1980, when he did the voice in the opening sequence of the live action Popeye.

 

[wamdue]

again not as good as Nimoy, but Elisabeth Sladen, started playing Sarah Jane Smith in 1973, and continues to play her today, in the spin-off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures, of course, Doctor Who was off air for a few years, but in the meantime she did plenty of audio stories.

 

[Sector 7]

For what it's worth...

According to Whitfield's book, shooting on the first pilot began Dec. 12, 1964 and lasted for 12 days. They delivered the completed pilot to the network in Feb. 1965.

Thank you! I kept wondering where so many were getting 1965, as I was sure the pilot was made in 1964.

again not as good as Nimoy, but Elisabeth Sladen, started playing Sarah Jane Smith in 1973, and continues to play her today, in the spin-off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures, of course, Doctor Who was off air for a few years, but in the meantime she did plenty of audio stories.

I really like The Sarah Jane Adventures. Is it still being aired? Sci-Fi Channel aired them last year and I became a fan.

 

[wamdue]

again not as good as Nimoy, but Elisabeth Sladen, started playing Sarah Jane Smith in 1973, and continues to play her today, in the spin-off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures, of course, Doctor Who was off air for a few years, but in the meantime she did plenty of audio stories.

I really like The Sarah Jane Adventures. Is it still being aired? Sci-Fi Channel aired them last year and I became a fan.

I am sure I heard they were going to air S2, but I dont know when they plan to. Its an odd show for Sci-Fi really.