10 TV Sitcom Stars Who Couldn't Break The Movies

4. Shelley Long

Garden State Zach Braff
NBC

As one half of Sam and Diane, Shelley Long helped to define the will-they-won’t-they sitcom relationship in Cheers, a show whose influence is still keenly felt today. Long was superb as the flinty academic turned bartender, and her chemistry with Ted Danson was a major part of Cheers’ early success.

Cheers has produced some major crossover performers, like Danson and Woody Harrelson (perhaps the most successful sitcom-to-movies jump in entertainment history), and to a lesser extent Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger. Not Shelley Long, though.

Her filmography actually features some solid cult hits, like Night Shift and the Brady Bunch movies, both of which give Long prominent roles. But she has never truly broken out as a film performer, and her more recent efforts have been in small time fare.

Long had a recurring guest role in Modern Family, but other than that has only appeared sporadically on TV. Her lack of prominence remains a little surprising, as she’s a hugely talented comedic actress.

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Zach Braff
 
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