If Andrew Lincoln keeps playing Rick Grimes on “The Walking Dead,” he may never get to use his real accent on TV. (Photo: Flickr)
Larry David has said all he needs to say with almost 10 seasons of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and should get back to playing depressed sages in Woody Allen movies. (Photo: Wikimedia)
Melody Thomas Scott has gotten old and content while playing Nikki Newman on “The Young and the Restless” for several decades. (Photo: Archive)
Ed O’Neill could find something better to do than the “8 more years of Modern Family” he recently promised Daily Mail. (Photo: Flickr)
Johnny Galecki has been a big deal on “The Big Bang Theory”…since before the Big Bang. (Photo: Twitter)
Bill Hayes as Doug Williams on “Days of our Lives.” At least 200 years old. The character, that is. (Photo: Twitter)
A tired character on a tired show: Elisha Cuthbert as Kim on “24.” (Photo: Wiki)
Taylor Schilling’s portrayal of Piper on “Orange is the New Black” has been called played-out and annoying. (Photo: Twitter)
After 100 seasons, 50 species of aliens and 20 FBI conspiracies, 2 actors need refreshing. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as Mulder and Scully in “The X-Files.” (Photo: Flickr)
Lena Headey, a talented actress whose evil Queen on “Game of Thrones” is evil. Very evil. We alllllll get it…by now. (Photo: Flickr)
Lena Dunham is adorable as Hannah Horvath on “Girls,” but at this point her character’s mood swings are getting tedious. (Photo: Wikimedia)
Leslie Charleson has been Monica on “General Hospital” since before the internet was a gleam in Al Gore’s eye. (Photo: Archive)
Pat Sajak: Maybe not an actor in the strict sense, but talk about being stuck in the Wheel. (Photo: Archive)
James Marsden *could* be finished as Teddy in “Westworld,” which is just as well. His rather-thin character can’t seem to quit dying. (Photo: Wiki)
In the sports world, stars are sometimes accused of needing a “change of scenery.” The slogan does not refer to sight-seeing. Rather, it’s about the dangers of complacency. There’s a limit on how many times the same people, saying the same things, can motivate a high-priced talent to be at their amazing best.
And so it goes in show business. A young Sly Stallone was hailed as the next Marlon Brando, but later suffered from re-hashing the same franchises to the point of ridicule. In television, the blight of long-standing roles can be even worse, as a TV show’s familiar routine and hefty paycheck can lure an actor to linger long after the creative spark is gone.
Great roles are only great while the artist makes them tick. Here are 15 TV actors who have worn out their characters – and could benefit from taking on a new challenge.
