Some performers excel best on the big screen. Others leave their imprints in your living room. Then there are the exceptional few who can dominate both realms, crafting careers that toggle effortlessly from Hollywood big-budget films to must-see TV. Let’s review 10 stars who’ve mastered playing on every screen.
10. John Goodman
For years, John Goodman has been television’s go-to dad due to his classic stint on Roseanne (and now The Conners). Don’t typecast him as a sitcom actor, though—he’s also made waves in movies with appearances in 10 Cloverfield Lane, Argo, and as unforgettable Walter in The Big Lebowski. Oh, and don’t forget Sulley in Monsters, Inc. Goodman possesses the unusual gift to shift from comedy to threat to sentimental drama, and that’s what makes him a cross-medium heavyweight.
9. Jessica Lange
Jessica Lange could quite have her wing in the Hall of Fame Awards. With two Oscars, three Emmys, and a Tony, she’s established herself on all fronts. She has film credits too, such as Tootsie and Cape Fear, but it was with American Horror Story that she became a small-screen icon. Every year, she became someone different—a haunted mother, an aging actress, a witch—reminding us just how far her talent extends.
8. Michael J. Fox
Other actors find one breakout role. Michael J. Fox found two. He won over fans as young conservative Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties and also traveled through time in Back to the Future as Marty McFly. Later, he demonstrated his staying power on Spin City. Few performers have toggled so effortlessly between sitcoms and big movies, but Fox did it with aplomb to spare.
7. Regina King
Regina King is the kind of performer who improves every project. She’s got an Oscar (If Beale Street Could Talk), several Emmys (Watchmen, American Crime), and a decades-long laundry list of cinematic film credits, from Jerry Maguire to Ray. Her range is intimidating—she can be tough, funny, heartbreaking, and commanding, often all at the same time. King is the epitome of a career constructed across two platforms.
6. John Lithgow
John Lithgow is practically a genre unto himself. He played the goofy alien patriarch on 3rd Rock from the Sun, then terrified audiences as the Trinity Killer on Dexter. On the big screen, he’s been everything from the preacher in Footloose to Roger Ailes in Bombshell. Add in his turn as Winston Churchill on The Crown, and you’ve got one of the most versatile actors alive.
5. Jason Bateman
Jason Bateman came of age on television, but unlike most child stars, he transitioned to adulthood with ease. He’s the witty, sarcastic soul of Arrested Development, but turned expectations on their head as the ethically challenged Marty Byrde in Ozark. In between, his resume boasts comedy hits such as Game Night, Horrible Bosses, and children’s favorites such as Zootopia. Bateman’s career is proof that you don’t have to choose between comedy and drama—or TV and film.
4. Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder was among the iconic movie stars of the late ’80s and ’90s, with indelible performances in Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Little Women. Just as it appeared her star was diminishing, she burst back onto screens as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things. Ryder’s comeback is a testament that actual talent never fades—just changes stages.
3. Karl Urban
Karl Urban has all but slipped into being one of Hollywood’s most trusted genre performers. He’s been Éomer in The Lord of the Rings, Bones in Star Trek, Judge Dredd in Dredd, and Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok. But his best role may be Billy Butcher in The Boys, where his charm and toughness make him the greatest anti-hero. Urban has shown that he’s equally authoritative on streaming as he is at the movies.
2. Viola Davis
If you mention powerhouse actors, Viola Davis must be right at the top of the list. She’s not only an EGOT winner (and yes, all four prestige prizes), but she’s also brought iconic performances to both media. On TV, she ruled as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder. On screen, she’s presented us with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Help, and her intense portrayal of Amanda Waller in DC’s superhero realm. Few can command the same level of attention as she does.
1. John Cena
Indeed, that’s John Cena. What might have been a wrestling crossover publicity stunt became one of the most unexpected acting careers of the last decade. He’s led the Fast & Furious franchise, bulged muscles and comedic skills in Blockers, and completely dominated the screen playing Peacemaker in both The Suicide Squad and HBO Max spin-off series. Cena’s charm works wherever he goes, making him part of a select group that aced the transition from screen to film and vice versa.
Why take one lane when you can take them all? These performers have demonstrated that the divide between film and television is not a chasm—it’s a playground. Be it a Friday night blockbuster or a Sunday morning binge series, they have proven to us that real stardom exists on every screen.