7 Actors Who Rose to Stardom After Their Series Were Canceled

      Here are seven actors who became major stars after their appearances in canceled TV shows — demonstrating that sometimes setbacks can lead to greater long-term achievements.

      It’s true that nearly all TV shows eventually get canceled — all good things must come to an end, right? Thus, we are highlighting shows that aired 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 canceled sitcoms is the Animal House spinoff, Delta House.

      It had the potential to succeed. With Pfeiffer in the cast, it benefitted from the creators of Animal House and also featured future teen movie 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.

      Delta House couldn’t land John Belushi, so they introduced his previously unknown brother, Blotto, played by Josh Mostel.

      Pfeiffer, of course, went on to become one of the top movie stars globally, starring in films like Scarface, Married to the Mob, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Batman Returns, Age of Innocence, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and many others. She is a three-time Oscar nominee.

      Halle Berry

      Halle Berry in Living Dolls. ABC

      Halle Berry began her career as a beauty pageant contestant and model, bringing personal experience to her role of Emily Franklin in the sitcom Living Dolls, a Who’s the Boss spinoff that ran 13 episodes in 1989.

      Of course, Berry didn’t dwell on the cancellation: She emerged as a film star with 1991’s Boomerang and enjoyed a successful ’90s, featuring in hit movies and winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the television film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.

      The following decade was even more stellar: She won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in 2001’s Monster’s Ball as a struggling widow.

      Her recent works include John Wick 3: Parabellum, and she made her directorial debut in 2020 with Bruised, in which she also acted.

      Dave Chappelle

      Dave Chappelle and Chris Gartin in Buddies. ABC

      Chappelle and Jim Breuer caught the attention of network executives when they guest starred in a 1995 episode of Home Improvement as two guys who sought advice from Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) on Tool Time regarding their girlfriends.

      They earned a spinoff series, Buddies. However, after rehearsals, Breuer was replaced by Christopher Gartin, which disrupted the chemistry, as the synergy between real-life friends Chappelle and Breuer was absent. Buddies lasted only 13 episodes in 1996.

      Chappelle and Breuer, who was then a cast member of Saturday Night Live, reunited in the 1998 comedy Half-Baked, after which Chappelle starred in Chappelle’s Show (co-created with Half Baked co-writer and friend Neal Brennan) and became one of the greatest stand-up comedians ever.

      Buddies, unfortunately, joined the list of canceled shows that perhaps didn’t recognize they had a future star in their midst.

      Hilary Swank

      ABC

      Hilary Swank appeared on the sitcoms Evening Shade and Growing Pains before leading her own series, Camp Wilder, which aired for 20 episodes on ABC during the 1992-93 season.

      Swank quickly moved past the cancellation: In 1992, she made her film debut in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, followed by a starring role in 1994’s The Next Karate Kid and Beverly Hills, 90210.

      But she was just beginning her journey. She won her first Best Actress Oscar for 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry, subsequently winning another Best Actress Oscar for 2004’s Million Dollar Baby.

      Her recent films include Ordinary Angels.

      Among canceled shows, Camp Wilder had a strong eye for talent: It also featured Jay Mohr and Jerry O’Connell, who, like Swank, achieved considerable success.

      Margot Robbie

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

      The 2011 season saw the introduction of several TV shows set in the 1960s, inspired by the success of Mad Men on AMC. Networks were eager to create their take on the intelligent, stylish, and sophisticated cable sensation.

      ABC made its attempt with Pan Am, focused on a group of flight attendants. The most recognized cast member was Christina Ricci, while lesser-known Margot Robbie, already a veteran of Australian television, was also part of the cast.

      Pan Am aired for 14 episodes. However, Robbie soon rose to fame with her role in 2014’s The Wolf of Wall Street, earning three Academy Award nominations and becoming one of Hollywood's leading actors and producers. Her greatest achievement to