Can you name the 2 actors who tied up as for "holding the record for the longest continuous role portrayed by a single actor on prime-time television"?

I should think one of them would be James Arness as Marshal Dillon on Gunsmoke, the longest-running tv series.

James Arness is good Professor, someone else tied him up.

James Arness and Kelsey Grammar @ 20years apiece

But There is is another Person who holds the world record (easily) for playing the same role ... (UK actor) Year clue (358 episodes, 1960-2007) and counting
Name him or his character?

That's what I had Bedstor , Kelsey Grammar.

Source.

Remember it has to be on "prime-time television".

What about the other regular supporting cast members of these tv shows? Don't they qualify, too -- or were their characters introduced after the pilot episode or some such?

I don't think anyone other than Arness was onboard for all 20 seasons of Gunsmoke, and the Cheers regulars only made guest appearances on Frasier. (Grammer made his 20 years the hard way, 9 years on Cheers, then 11 on Frasier.)

Bedstor must be refering the actor William Roache who has played the character Ken Barlow in the British soap Coronation Street for 47 years.Whilst looking for a link to prove this I came across another contender, Don Hastings who has played Bob Hughes in 'As the World Turns' since October 1960.Not sure if this is classed as a prime time TV programme,but Coronation Street certainly is.

Corrie Trivia
Viv

quote:

I don't think anyone other than Arness was onboard for all 20 seasons of Gunsmoke

Well, I knew that Chester gave way to Festus, but what about Doc and Miss Kitty? I can't imagine an episode without their appearances.

You're right, Viv, we just watched yet another retrospective, and Roache still presents very well!

Coronation Street has its own great website. My husband expressed an inkling for lamb yesterday, and since he no longer eats fried food, I thought I'd find the recipe for Betty's hotpot which I had made before and found delicious. But I hadn't saved the recipe because at our age we don't dare eat rich food. But now in my husband's case, with his appetite so poor, what he wants, he gets!

In fact the barmaid Betty Turpin, who makes the hotpot on the show, is a candidate for recognition for long-term service. She's still with the show, and joined in 1969 -- about 38 years.

Below from the Internet Movie Database

James Arness ... Marshal Matt Dillon / ... (612 episodes, 1955-1975)

Milburn Stone ... Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams / ... (380 episodes, 1955-1975)

Amanda Blake ... Kitty Russell (337 episodes, 1955-1974)

==========
When the role of "Doc Adams" finally landed at his feet in 1955, the exasperated actor was only too appreciative to experience a steady paycheck. He became an "overnight" star and, along with Matt Dillon's James Arness, stayed a citizen of Dodge City throughout its entire 20-year run (500 episodes), although he was temporarily sidelined by a heart attack in 1971 and briefly replaced by another "doc" played by Pat Hingle. The ever-durable Stone missed only seven episodes. After his return, however, his appearances were somewhat curtailed, - Biography for Milburn Stone (imdb.com)


I'm not sure how to treat an absence during a season; does it "break the chain"?

DG, thank you for the scholarly clarification.

I have to admit that I thought Stone died during the series' run, and wasn't around for the finale.

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