The end of E.R. has me thinking of actors who were able to make that leap to the big screen.

[Mike 03]

George Clooney definitely has made that leap.

It's hard to think of too many others. For some reason a lot don't make it. David Duchovney (X Files) was a high hope that didn't work out. Gillian Anderson (X-Files) is someone I thought might make it.

But I'm not a huge TV watcher.

Who has made this leap?

Who didn't make the leap that you hoped might?

(on edit)

"Twin Peaks" was a series that had a bunch of actors I was thinking might transmogrify to the big screen, but they sort of vanished too.

[burning rain]

1. I'll just say....

that even though I'm mostly all for free expression, I'd like to see a complete ban on teevee shows that revolve around doctors, lawyers, or cops. And reality shows, too.

[bigwillq]

2. And what would you like to see?

I'm open to all suggestions.

[burning rain]

4. For starters, I want a sort of horror-fantasy-science fiction show,...

sort of like Planet of the Apes, but where the Palins and their extended family are lording it over the humans. There also need to be more interview shows hosted by cartoon characters and animals. Dangermouse can replace Larry King, and Mr. Ed can have O'Reilly's show.

[Drunken Irishman]

15. I want a zombie TV series.

You know, kinda like Dawn or Day, but over a loooonger period of time.

[burning rain]

38. The Palins might be good in one of those series, too,....

if they can learn to be a bit more articulate.

[charlie and algernon]

3. Dule Hill needs to make the leap

He was excellent in the West Wing, even in the later seasons when Wells under used him. It's great that he has a lead role in Psych. I hope starring in movies is the next step.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

5. a few

John Travolta, Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Mike Myers (though he's fading), Will Smith, Bruce Willis

Not my favorites, but they are big

Does Johnny Depp count? 21 Jump Street wasn't exactly a hit. I would almost label it a precursor to his real career - same with Leonardo Dicaprio and Growing Pains.

Trying to think of some actresses who've successfully crossed over, but I'm drawing a blank right now

[jobycom]

14. Good list. nt

[Maccagirl]

18. Sally Field is the only actress I can thnk of off the top

and maybe you can include Jodie Foster (as a child she did a lot of TV).

[csziggy]

21. Meg Ryan started out as a soap opera star n/t

Teri Garr as Roberta Lincoln in Star Trek was great and she went on to be in some good movies - "Young Frankenstein" for instance.

[underpants]

22. Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, Brad Pitt were all on Soap Operas nt

[bigwillq]

27. So was Julianne Moore (nt)

[csziggy]

33. A lot of stars get started in soaps. They get loads of exposure and prove that they can work hard

I only watched soaps for a few years and only a couple of them during that time so I did not see many of the stars that got started there.

[XemaSab]

6. Twin Peaks... man, it was almost like there was a curse there or something

Kyle MacLachlan has had a few roles, Lara Flynn Boyle did okay, and David Duchovny went on to do X-Files, but everyone else... nothing much. :(

[cemaphonic]

30. Of course MacLachlan's best role was Blue Velvet, which was pre-Twin Peaks

But yeah, I would have thought that more of them would have done better.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. Clooney's star status puzzles me. Has he ever starred in a blockbuster?

[XemaSab]

8. I take it you are not attracted to men

:9

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. He's handsome, ok.

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Uhm, the Oceans franchise?

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. Oh forgot about those. Clooney's lucky Brad Pitt, Julia Robers and 9 others were in the movie

Or it would have tanked.

[Drunken Irishman]

13. I think much of that has to do with the fact Clooney does less blockbuster-type films.

I mean, there was Batman.

His movies are generally political or high-brow in nature, which generally isn't what makes a blockbuster.

[cemaphonic]

31. Yeah, I read somewhere that Batman pretty much set him up financially

so he decided to concentrate on movies that would be satisfying to make, instead of chasing the biggest paycheck he could find.

I was skeptical of Clooney early on too, but "Out of Sight", and even more so "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" really made me respect his skills and his script choices.

[jobycom]

17. Some blockbusters, some respected performances in other films.

He's a good personality actor with a sense of humor, a pretty face and a decent amount of acting skill. He killed the first Batman franchise, but he was strong in the Oceans series (which I think worked because of him, Pitt, and Damon together), and he did the well-respected "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" He's done a lot of mid-level films that earned well for their budgets, too, like "Three Kings" and "Perfect Storm."

I think that's why he's so respected. He earns back the investment producers put in him. He's just strong enough to add flavor to a film, and he's not usually in a position to have to carry the film on his own. Plus, personally he's supposed to be likable and intelligent, so people want to work with him.

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. Fair enough. Maybe I misjudged Clooney

[Bertha Venation]

26. Maybe not, but he does have an Oscar. n/t

[Justyce]

32. I *loved* him in O Brother Where Art Thou. nt

[Drunken Irishman]

9. Even though I hate most of her stuff, Jennifer Aniston.

[kath]

16. Denzel Washington got started in "St. Elsewhere".

Loved that show...

And didn't Pierce Brosnan get started in "Remington Steele"?

[csziggy]

19. Tom Hanks in "Bosom Buddies" stood out as a star

Michael Keaton as an usher in "Mary" - the really bad short lived series - with Mary Tyler Moore.

I loved Margaret Colin as Margot Hughes on one of the soap operas and have been disappointed with most of her roles. She was in Independence Day, but that is probably one of her best paying roles ever. I thought she had a lot of promise as a comedic heroine.

[Tripper11]

20. Michael J. Fox

Went from Family Ties on to a pretty big list of 80's and early 90's movie hits obviously including the Back To The Future series.

[peekaloo]

24. Clint Eastwood. nt.

[Bertha Venation]

25. Sally Field - from Gidget & The Flying Nun to two Oscars. n/t

[peekaloo]

28. I don't know if Kevin Spacey counts but he was great on 'Wise Guy'.

He was more of a Broadway actor prior to films.

"only the toes knows".

[rucky]

37. I remember him in that show. Max.

had a creepy thing going on with his sister.

[charlie and algernon]

29. How about Morgan Freeman starting out on the Electric Factory

[yellowdogintexas]

39. Morgan Freeman was on 'Another World' before 'Electric Company'. nt

[KG]

34. Miami Vice - lots of acters got a start there

[BlueIris]

35. Hillary Swank technically got started on "90210."

But since she was only there for like, five minutes, in a roll that clearly didn't challenge her, I'm not sure that counts.

[JitterbugPerfume]

36. Meg Ryan

was on As The World Turns