Their television programs were discontinued, yet they went on to become major stars regardless.

      Here are seven actors who became major stars after being part of cancelled television shows — illustrating that sometimes setbacks can lead to greater long-term achievements.

      Almost all TV shows eventually face cancellation — as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. In this case, we are highlighting shows that ran for less than a season.

      Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

      Michelle Pfeiffer

      Michelle Pfeiffer in Delta House. ABC – Credit: C/O

      One of the more fascinating cancelled sitcoms in television history is Delta House, a spinoff of Animal House.

      It had the potential to succeed. Along with the obvious benefit of having Pfeiffer as part of the cast, the show was created by the writers of Animal House and even had future teen film legend John Hughes on the writing team. Moreover, the actors who portrayed Dean Wormer, Flounder, Hoover, and D-Day in Animal House reprised their roles.

      Without John Belushi, Delta House introduced his previously unmentioned brother Blotto, portrayed by Josh Mostel.

      Pfeiffer went on to become one of the world’s top movie stars, achieving success with films such as Scarface, Married to the Mob, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Batman Returns, Age of Innocence, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and many more. She has received three Oscar nominations.

      Halle Berry

      Halle Berry in Living Dolls. ABC

      Halle Berry began her career as a beauty pageant contestant and model, which brought valuable life experience to her role as Emily Franklin in the sitcom Living Dolls (above), a spinoff of Who’s the Boss that aired for 13 episodes in 1989.

      Berry quickly moved past the cancellation: She gained fame as a film star with 1991’s Boomerang and had a successful run in the ’90s, appearing in popular films and winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role in the TV film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.

      The next decade proved to be even more remarkable: She won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance as a struggling widow in 2001’s Monster’s Ball.

      Recently, she appeared in John Wick 3: Parabellum and made her directorial debut in 2020’s Bruised, in which she also starred.

      Dave Chappelle

      Dave Chappelle and Chris Gartin in Buddies. ABC

      Chappelle and Jim Breuer caught the attention of network executives when they made guest appearances on a 1995 episode of Home Improvement, playing two guys who seek advice from Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) about their girlfriends on Tool Time.

      This led to a spinoff series called Buddies. However, after rehearsals, Breuer was replaced by Christopher Gartin, disrupting the chemistry that came from the friendship between Chappelle and Breuer. Buddies only lasted for 13 episodes in 1996.

      Later, Chappelle and Breuer, who was by then part of the Saturday Night Live cast, came together again for the 1998 comedy Half-Baked. Chappelle subsequently starred in Chappelle’s Show (co-created with his longtime friend Neal Brennan) and became one of the most renowned standup comedians of all time.

      Buddies joined the ranks of cancelled series that perhaps did not realize they had a future superstar in their cast.

      Hilary Swank

      ABC

      Hilary Swank was featured in the sitcoms Evening Shade and Growing Pains before headlining her own show, Camp Wilder, which ran for 20 episodes on ABC during the 1992-93 season.

      Swank transitioned quickly from the cancellation: In 1992, she made her film debut in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and followed that with a leading role in 1994’s The Next Karate Kid and appearances on Beverly Hills, 90210.

      However, this was just the beginning for her. She soon won her first Best Actress Oscar for her role in 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry, followed by another Best Actress Oscar for 2004’s Million Dollar Baby.

      Her recent projects include Ordinary Angels.

      As far as cancelled TV shows go, Camp Wilder had an eye for talent: The cast also featured Jay Mohr and Jerry O’Connell, both of whom have also found considerable success.

      Margot Robbie

      Margot Robbie in a publicity image for Pan-Am. ABC

      The 2011 season introduced several television shows set in the 1960s, inspired by the success of Mad Men on AMC. Networks attempted to create their own version of this smart, sexy, and sophisticated cable phenomenon.

      ABC launched Pan Am, focusing on a team of flight attendants. The most notable name in the cast was Christina Ricci. However, a lesser-known member was Margot Robbie, who was already experienced in Australian television.

      Pan Am lasted for 14 episodes. Yet Robbie quickly rose to stardom with her performance in 2014’s