5 ‘80s Sitcoms That Starred A-List Actors Before They Got...

5 ‘80s Sitcoms That Starred A-List Actors Before They Got Famous Jim Carrey In The Duck Factory (1)

By Angel Shaw Published 3 minutes ago Angel Shaw is a Lead Writer and Peer Mentor on ScreenRant's New TV team, covering new-release TV shows across all major streaming platforms. She has been a writer with ScreenRant since 2022 and specializes in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and fantasy. Angel holds a bachelor's degree in language interpreting and is passionate about all things culture and communication—especially in how it relates to popular media throughout history (from Shakespeare to Friends to Game of Thrones). Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

If you go back and watch some 1980s sitcoms, you might just notice the familiar faces of a few A-list actors. These stars had to start their careers somewhere, and it's pretty rare that anyone jumps right into a blockbuster movie or hit TV show on their first try. Sitcoms are an excellent opportunity for budding stars. Best case scenario, the TV show breaks big and the actor is thrust into fame. In the worst case, they add another piece of work to their resumes.

Many of today's most iconic stars caught their big breaks in the '80s and '90s and had a smattering of minor roles or projects in the lead-up. This means that going back to watch some '80s sitcoms could come with an extra dose of nostalgia, as we vaguely recognize these fresh, young, and hopeful faces. In those days, these actors had no idea that their names would become associated with the biggest masterpieces of film and TV.

Halle Berry - Living Dolls (1982)

Halle Berry rose to fame in Eddie Murphy's 1992 film Boomerang, but that was only the beginning of what has become a legendary career. In 1999, she starred in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, which earned her her first Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award. Then, in 2001, Berry became the first (and still only) Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 2001's Monster's Ball.

Years before any of this, in 1982, Berry played Emily Franklin in the sitcom Living Dolls. This series was a spinoff of the much more successful Who's the Boss?, and really had the potential to jumpstart Berry's career. Unfortunately, Living Dolls was panned by critics and canceled. Today, it stands as a reminder of Berry's origins.

Jim Carrey - The Duck Factory (1984)

Jim Carrey did a lot of stand-up comedy in the 1980s before he really broke into film in 1994 with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. This instantly led to a boom of other mainstream comedy projects, including The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and Batman Forever. Carrey's 2000s roles continued the comedy track, but the actor is also celebrated for dramas like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Carrey is such a well-known actor that it's especially surprising to turn on an older project and see his face. In addition to a few minor film roles in the 1980s, Carrey starred in the 1984 NBC sitcom The Duck Factory. It was his first starring TV role, and he played a character fighting to make it in Hollywood as a cartoonist. Unfortunately, The Duck Factory's reception was mixed, though Carrey's performance was commonly praised.

George Clooney - Facts Of Life (1985 - 1988)

George Clooney became a star and heartthrob playing Dr. Doug Ross in the hit medical drama ER from 1994 to 1999. This role earned Clooeny a variety of awards and allowed him to step into essentially any project he desired. Some of his most iconic include Ocean's Eleven, Syriana, The Descendants, and much more.

Before Clooney had gained fame and recognition in ER, he joined the cast of Facts of Life. This series ran from 1979 to 1988, and Clooney wasn't cast until 1985. He only appeared in 17 episodes as a recurring character, handyman George Burnett. Since Facts of Life is one of the more bingable series from the 1980s, it's always shocking to see such a massively famous actor filling such a simple role.

Matthew Perry - Second Chance (1987 - 1988)

Matthew Perry became a star almost overnight when Friends premiered in 1994. Still remembered as one of the best sitcoms of all time, Friends set the actor up for decades of fame and recognition. After stepping out of the role of Chandler Bing in 2004, Perry starred in The Ron Clark Story, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and more.

Friends remains Perry's most famous project, but it was far from his first sitcom. He had minor, single-episode appearances in Charles in Charge (1985) and Silver Spoons (1986) before landing his first lead role as Chazz Russell in the 1987 series Second Chance, later retitled Boys Will Be Boys. This show struggled to gain traction and ultimately fell into obscurity. That's especially strange to think, considering what a star Perry would become.

Second Chance is about a man who gets a chance to relive his life as his younger self (played by Perry). This is, interestingly enough, somewhat similar to the plot of 17 Again, in which Perry plays Zac Efron's older self.

Tom Hanks - Bosom Buddies (1980 - 1982)

Peter Scolari and Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies

Peter Scolari and Tom Hanks as Henry and Kip in Bosom Buddies

You can't get much more A-list than Tom Hanks. The actor rose to fame in the 1980s in films like Splash and Big, and kept that ball rolling in the 1990s with Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, The Green Mile, and more. Hanks hasn't slowed down since, with several massive projects gracing our screens over the past three decades.

Before all this, however, Hanks appeared on screen as a green and relatively unknown actor in the 1980 sitcom Bosom Buddies. The outrageous series, which saw Hanks and Peter Scolari play men pretending to be women, lasted until 1982. Those lucky enough to have the DVD set of Bosom Buddies can enjoy watching a young Hanks give a hilarious performance completely unhindered by fame.

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