Bob Crane was one of the first TV stars I recall seeing move from one top show into another. I used to watch him on Donna Reed as one of her husband’s golfing buddies. Definitely a second banana, peripheral character role. Some of the smartest TV actors know just when to move on and take a big chance on being successful. Bob became far more famous and wealthy than he ever would have become on the Donna Reed show. So for him, the gamble paid off big time.
Then you get someone like Shelly Long, who used to be the bartender’s girlfriend on Cheers. She left that, and her career took a nosedive, from which it never recovered.
Suzanne Sommers career also rode a Teeter-Totter after she left Three’s Company. Suzanne did okay though, because she was able to sing and entertain. Suzanne remained sexy and desirable for quite a few years. She also promoted the
infamous Thigh-Master, which added Millions to her bank account.
Suzanne Sommers had anothet TV series after “Three’s Company,” namely, “She’s The Sheriff.”
When I lived in California years ago, I remember seeing her do a TV commercial with her real-life father, from San Bruno, Calif., their real-life hometown just south of San Francisco. I forget what the commercial was pitching.
You’re right about the thigh-master....between that and her many health books, she has a net worth of about $100 million.
Suzzanne recently went public as an enthusiastic Trump supporter.
Apparently (it was before my time) Crane was a huge DJ in Los Angeles prior to either TV show. So he was a radio star already, and he had looks that made the networks come knocking.