The Longest Serving TV Stars

1. Peter Falk

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Columbo was a detective drama that had a long run from 1968 all the way through 2003. Peter Falk was in the titular role as a homicide detective who could piece together virtually any case. It really pushed forward the mystery and crime genre in a new way. The episode started by showing who was guilty and then worked to show how Peter as Columbo put all of the pieces together. The show has such a huge impact that calling someone Columbo became part of pop culture! So cool to see how it shaped culture in that way!

2. Rachel Ames

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Rachel Ames started playing the character of Audrey Hardy when General Hospital first aired back in 1963. General Hospital is another long-running soap opera where Rachel played a nurse. She was originally only meant to have a short role on the show, but the audience really took to her, so they made her a more permanent part of the storyline. She was on the show until 2007 when she decided to retire. But even after retirement, she still made guest appearances as her character on the show. Incredible!

3. Gillian Anderson

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Gillian Anderson is most well-known for her role on The X-Files playing Dana Scully. She initially appeared on the pilot episode of the series back in 1993. Her final appearance as Dana Scully was in 2018 when the revival finale aired. This character became a sci-fi hero amongst fans, and she is a pivotal part of the show. Her character ended up really defining what the series became and put Gillian up there as playing one of the longest-running TV characters. Pretty freaking cool if you ask us!

4. Cloris Leachman

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Cloris Leachman first appeared on televisions sets on a show called The Ford Theatre Hour back in 1948. She continued to work in the industry across film and television for many decades, and she even went on to win an Academy Award in 1972. She eventually took a role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which really skyrocketed her to fame. Her character was so loved that she even got her own spin-off series. She has had a career that spans across SEVEN decades, and she's won eight Emmy Awards. Talk about a legacy career!

5. Mariska Hargitay

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Mariska Hargitay took on the role of Olivia Benson back in 1999, and the show is still running! Law & Order: SVU has been a part of mainstream television for so long and has earned Mariska the title of most credited appearances in the Law & Order franchise. We've gotten to go along for the ride of seeing Olivia grow from detective to now captain with no end in sight. Mariska seems to have such a deep affinity for Olivia, which makes sense, and she loves to keep everyone on their toes about Olivia's relationship with Stabler.

6. George Hamilton

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George Hamilton has been known in Hollywood for over 62 years! The man is a living legend. His first television role happened in 1958. He took a part in a television mini-series called The Veil. After that show, he moved on to films like Home from the Hill. He went on to sign a contract with MGM studios and continued to star in movies and shows for many years. He's most known currently for his role on American Housewife as Spencer. He also always sports incredibly tanned skin that is often a topic of conversation!

7. Jeff Bridges

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Did you know that Jeff Bridges made his television debut on his own father's show? Back in 1958, Jeff appeared on Sea Hunt at the tender age of eight! However, his "big break" didn't come until 1971 when he was in The Last Picture Show. He went on to focus on feature films for a few decades, and he even won an Oscar in 2010. He's still working across film and television, and he's been gracing our screens for so long that he's become a Hollywood staple. Frankly, we wouldn't have it any other way!

8. Angela Lansbury

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Angela Lansbury first got her start in the industry in feature films back in 1944. Eventually, however, she moved over to the TV world. In 1984, she ended up taking on the role that is arguably the role she became most famous for. The show was Murder, She Wrote, and the character was Jessica Fletcher. She was actually nominated for an Emmy EVERY SINGLE YEAR the show was on air. That is very impressive. Since then, she's been featured on other shows like Law & Order and a mini-series version of Little Women.

9. The Simpsons

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The Simpsons aren't the only animated television characters on this list, so stay tuned! But we couldn't leave them off because this show first aired all the way back in 1989. It's developed into a major franchise, and the characters on the show have become household names for many American families. The show itself mocks American culture with a little bit of crassness and witty humor. Honestly, we can't imagine American television without seeing this family on the silver screen, and we hope it stays that way for a long time!

10. Susan Lucci

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Susan Lucci stepped into the role of Erica Kane on All My Children way back in 1970. The character eventually became the show's MOST popular character, which meant that Erica, and thus Susan, were present for the show's full run until 2011. The show was eventually canceled due to dwindling numbers and low ratings, but many still remember the show and these characters fondly. Susan Lucci didn't know at the time where the show was going to go or what the character would end up meaning to her. I'm sure it was hard to say goodbye.

11. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles

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Supernatural was a fan favorite since the start of the show in 2005. At the heart of the show were Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, playing the main characters and brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester. The show was on air for 15 seasons, and the two brothers had to fight monsters and other supernatural creatures. As the show continued, fans became obsessed with the duo, leading the the longevity of the show. This put Jared and Jensen up there with some of the longest serving TV actors out there. We love to see it.

12. Kermit The Frog

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Kermit The Frog has been on television since 1955, which means he's been on TV for an incredible 68 years! He's probably the most recognizable and lovable of The Muppets, but don't tell the others! Jim Henson created Kermit using innovative puppeteering techniques that really advanced the game at the time. He has a huge on-screen presence even today, and he's a really big part of pop culture. We're sure that Jim has no idea what a huge part of American culture Kermit The Frog would become those 68 years ago!

13. Betty White

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Betty White was one of America's most beloved actresses. She first appeared on television in her own series that she starred in and produced called Life with Elizabeth. The show debuted in 1953. She went on to appear in several other series, but of course, the one she's most known for is The Golden Girls. The show earned her her third Emmy win. She also appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She went on to appear in other shows and movies such as Community and Hot in Cleveland. She worked for many years and was still working at age 98!

14. John Aniston

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John Aniston is a Days of Our Lives veteran and beloved actor. The character he played on the show was a hate-to-love kind of character. Did you know that he's the father of Friends star Jennifer Aniston? John played a few different characters on the show, but eventually he joined the show as Victor and stayed in that particular role for 40 years until he passed away. What an incredible legacy, and while it's sad he's no longer on the show, it's amazing to see how his career influenced Jen's and everything she has achieved.

15. William Roache

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William Roach took on the role of Ken Barlow way back in 1960. The show Coronation Street initially got a lot of negative feedback, but eventually viewers warmed to the show, and then they just couldn't get enough. William's character was considered a ladies man and part of a dysfunctional family. Since his debut appearance on the show, he has never left. He still makes regular appearances on the show and says that he has no plans of stopping. What a great legacy to have over the course of your career!

16. Jane Fonda

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Did you know that Jane Fonda has been in the business since 1960? She started out playing a character named June Ryder in Tall Girl. Since then, she has appeared in various movies and shows. She even starred alongside Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin in the film 9 to 5. She continues to collaborate with Lily Tomlin to this day in feature films. They also participated in a show called Grace and Frankie on Netflix which was super well-received and developed a loyal fanbase. She shows no signs of stopping any time soon, because she's doing what she loves!

17. James Reynolds

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Days of Our Lives has been on air for so long, and there's been a lot of actor and character turnover through the years. However, James Reynolds stepped into the role of Abe Carver in 1981 and has continued on for over 42 years. He's beloved by the fans, and they've seen him grow from police chief to Mayor of Salem during his run on the show. His storylines have brought a lot of drama and tension to the show, and he has won a Daytime Emmy for the role and been nominated three other times as well.

18. Helen Wagner

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Now this is impressive! The soap opera As the World Turns first aired in 1956. The show ran until 2010! There are many characters on the show who ended up being part of the storyline for decades on end. Helen Wagner played one such character in Nancy Hughes. In fact, Helen's character says the VERY first line on the VERY first episode. She stayed on the show for the entire run of the series. This means that she played this character for 54 years! Can you even imagine what that feels like when you finally retire?

19. Sam Waterson

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Sam Waterson is up there with Mariska Hargitay for his role on Law & Order. The character of Jack McCoy is arguably one of the show's most popular characters of all time. In fact, there have been pop culture references in other shows alluding to his popularity. Sam was on the show for a whooping 16 seasons, and it puts Jack McCoy up there as one of the longest-running characters on not only Law & Order, but television as a whole! Of course, Olivia Benson has him beat at this point, but we have to give honor where it's due!

20. Deidre Hall

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One of the most interesting things about Deidre Hall is that she's been on Days of Our Lives for over 43 years, but she doesn't always play the same character! She has earned three Daytime Emmy Nominations for her longest-running role though as Marlena Evans. This is a legendary character that she originated all the way back in 1976 and someone she still portrays today. It's so amazing to see these actors embody these roles from the very beginning and get to take them on incredible journeys over the course of decades.

21. Kelsey Grammer

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When Kelsey Grammer started playing the chapter Frasier Crane on the 1993 sitcom Frasier, he probably had no idea what a big part of his life the character would become. He continued to embody this role for the next 11 years. It should be said that this character was a spin-off from Cheers, so he had already been playing the character before the sitcom. All together, it's said that Kelsey would have played Frasier for approximately 20 years! That's a long time!

22. Big Bird

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Big Bird has had a long television career of 53 years! This puts him towards the top of the list of longest-running television characters. Of course, Big Bird is one of Jim Henson's most iconic creations. What sets him apart is that he's not a puppet like most of the Sesame Street characters. Performers must embody a full-body suit. Even after 53 years, Big Bird is a household staple and has brought joy to so many generations of children. We can't imagine Sesame Street without this fluffy, yellow bird!

23. Suzanne Rogers

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Did you know that Suzanne Rogers is not only the longest-running actor to appear on Days of Our Lives, but she's the longest-running actor on ANY soap opera that is still on air. She has played the character of Maggie Horton for over 49 years, and she never really branched out from the soap opera world. She started the role back in 1973, and while she has three other credits on her resume, her primary source of work has been this show and this beloved character. She even won a Daytime Emmy for the character in 1979.

24. William Shatner

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William Shatner has had a career that spans over 60 years. While he started out on Broadway, he eventually made his way over to television in 1965. His first television role was on a show called For the People. Of course, it was actually this same year that William ended up taking on the role of Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek. This was the role that shot him to fame, and he even reprised the role for the Star Trek movie back in 1979. He won an Emmy for his role on Boston Legal, and he's also appeared in various feature films.

25. Kate Linder

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Kate Linder joined the cast of Young & The Restless back in 1982. But did you know that her role was originally only supposed to be for one day?! However, the cast and crew and audience fell so in love with the character of Esther Valentine that she's ended up with an over 40 year run on the show! She was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in 2008 for her role, and audiences still love to see her portray this character over 4 decades later! She's one of the very few soap actors to receive a star on the Walk of Fame, quite an achievement!

26. Mark Harmon

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Mark Harmon has played the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs for over 17 seasons! It seems that he's been in the role forever, and it's considered one of the longest-running television characters in history. His character has been a fan favorite since NCIS first premiered back in 2003. Leroy is considered the heart and soul of the show. His character is a team leader and really looks after the rest of the characters. Fans can't imagine the show without him, and it doesn't seem like that will ever be an issue as he shows no signs of leaving!

27. Frances Reid

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Frances Reid is another incredible soap actress with an impressive run on television. The show Days of Our Lives is one of the longest-running scripted show... in the entire world! It's said that even to this present day, the show has aired on a weekly basis from 1965! What a run! People associate this soap with outrageous storylines. One memorable one in particular is when they had a serial killer murder the majority of the characters... and then... they all came back to life! Frances Reid plays the character Alice Horton from 1965 until 2007!

28. Kurt Russell

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Kurt Russell started out as child actor with a role on Dennis the Menace in 1962. He then went on to be in an Elvis Presley film. Eventually, he signed a contract with Disney which really built up his career and even played Elvis Presley in a television movie that came out in 1979! While his career has really focused on feature films, he's also given us great television moments, so we wanted to include him in this list! He's still delivering iconic roles and fans were pleasantly surprised to see him take on the role of Santa Claus.

29. Peter Sallis

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Peter Sallis is a staple long-term actor who played the character Norman Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine. This British soap opera really focused on the day in and day out monotony of normal life, and the show lived on for decades. Norman was one of three men who were constantly getting into mischief on the show. Peter Sallis played this character from 1973 until 2010! What an insane run! Can you imagine playing the same character for 37 years? You'd really feel like the character was part of you or lose yourself in it!

30. The South Park Kids

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Okay, we know these aren't actual people, but it has to be said! South Park has been on our screens since 1997. It's been a huge staple in the zeitgeist for its ability to create satire out of significant culture moments. There's even been a feature film and video game versions of the show, and it's considered one of the greatest animated shows of all time. The show has won a ton of awards and has earned its place amongst longest running TV stars!