Let’s be real: when a Hollywood biggie appears on television, you’re expecting magic. But occasionally, even the A-listers fall under the radar. Perhaps the show didn’t quite land, perhaps the stint was short-lived, or perhaps folks were too consumed with re-watching their blockbusters. Whatever it is, these TV treasures of legendary performers are well worth more love. Here are ten underappreciated TV performances you should revisit.
10. Glenn Close in Damages
Glenn Close is essentially Hollywood royalty, but her television work tends to take a backseat to her movie career. In Damages (2007–2012), she introduced us to Patty Hewes, a genius, nasty lawyer who blurred the distinction between hero and villain. The show never blew up into mainstream hit status, but Close’s compelling performance netted her consecutive Emmys—and demonstrated she could conquer TV with the same ferocity she devoted to film.
9. Robin Williams in The Crazy Ones
Robin Williams got his start on Mork & Mindy before dominating the silver screen. Years later, he came back to TV with The Crazy Ones (2013), starring as an offbeat ad man and opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar. It was not a ratings behemoth, perhaps, but Williams infused it with his usual blend of laughter and tears, and it is a sweetly melancholy late-career gem.
8. Johnny Depp in Life’s Too Short
Johnny Depp does not often do little things, but his appearance in Ricky Gervais’ Life’s Too Short is comedic gold. Adopting an over-the-top, ultra-serious version of himself, Depp sends up his own image while cringeingly bantering with Warwick Davis. It’s ridiculous, meta, and sees the normally somber star in a more lighthearted light.
7. Ian McKellen in Vicious
Sir Ian McKellen will always be Gandalf and Magneto, but in Vicious, he is a revelation in a quite different mode. Partnered with Derek Jacobi, he plays half of a snappy, long-term couple whose acerbic wit covers true affection. The program only ran for two seasons, but McKellen’s combination of edgy comedy and sensitivity made it special.
6. Gary Oldman in Slow Horses
Gary Oldman has portrayed everything from Dracula to Winston Churchill, but his Slow Horses character could be one of his best. Playing Jackson Lamb, the disheveled but genius MI5 outcast boss, Oldman applies sarcasm over sharp wit. The series began as a cult favorite but has expanded gradually—largely due to Oldman’s masterclass turn.
5. Donald Sutherland in Trust
Donald Sutherland’s had decades of iconic roles, yet his performance as J. Paul Getty in Trust (2018) is underappreciated and chilling. Cold, manipulative, and boundless in his calculating, Sutherland both fascinates and repels the viewer with his performance as Getty. It’s a reminder of why Sutherland is still one of the greatest actors of his generation.
4. Patrick Stewart in Extras
Patrick Stewart typically emanates gravitas as Captain Picard or Professor X—but in Ricky Gervais’ Extras, he happily turns it around. Portraying an exaggerated version of himself, Stewart offers a laugh-out-loud-bad screenplay for a film filled with involuntary nudity, all presented with straight-faced seriousness. It’s Stewart at his most humorous and surprising.
3. Matt LeBlanc in Episodes
Matt LeBlanc will forever be Joey to Friends enthusiasts, but Episodes provided him with a new spin. Portraying a self-parodic version of himself, he dove headfirst into his own persona with biting self-deprecation. The payoff? A Golden Globe-winning turn that showed LeBlanc had a whole lot more range than folks credited him with.
2. Bette Davis in The Dark Secret of Harvest Home
Bette Davis was already a legend by the late ’70s, but in this chilling miniseries, she gave one of her most unsettling performances. As Widow Fortunate, she depicted the head of an evil village with equal parts charm and sinister intent. It’s a reminder that Davis never hesitated to play risky, unsettling characters—even late in her career.
1. Amy Adams in The Office
Before her Oscar-nominated movie career took off, Amy Adams had a brief stint on The Office as Katy, the enthusiastic handbag saleswoman who romances Jim. She popped up for only two episodes, but her warmth and comedic sense made her memorable—and provided an early glimpse of the star she’d soon become. Every so often, even a bit role can seem iconic in retrospect.
Major stars don’t always receive their due when they venture into TV, but these performances demonstrate how much talent can be camouflaged in underappreciated roles. If you didn’t catch them the first time, they’re well worth revisiting.