I absolutely adore television, and it’s always a treat to watch a character, initially not pegged as the headliner, gradually grab the reins and steer the plot. These are your breakout stars – the ones who start as a sidekick or even pop up later in a show’s run, but somehow manage to steal the entire damn show.
You might not even clock it until you’re binging a series for the third time, but trust me, it happens way more often than you’d think. We’ve rounded up six such scene-stealers from some seriously popular TV series right here.
Daytime Drama Divas and Teen Titans
Erica Kane – All My Children
The “First Lady of daytime television,” Susan Lucci, solidified her legendary status by embodying Erica Kane on ABC’s hit, All My Children. Nobody screams daytime TV in the US quite like her. Starting as a mere teenager when the show first graced our screens, Lucci’s Kane stuck around for the show’s entire whopping 41-year run, right from the very first episode.
This character, alongside her kin, arguably morphed into the absolute heart of the series, navigating a whirlwind of marriages, divorces, affairs, offspring, scandals, and all the juicy drama typical of a good old soap opera. One particular storyline that catapulted Lucci herself into the mainstream spotlight unfurled in 1973; her character had the first legal abortion ever shown on American television, shining a light on the then-recent Supreme Court decision concerning Roe v. Wade. Though ABC pulled the plug on the show in 2011, by her final bow that September, she had cemented her place as one of the most iconic figures in soap opera lore.
Zack Morris – Good Morning, Miss Bliss/Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell was born when the initial concept, Good Morning, Miss Bliss, got a complete overhaul. Originally, this NBC-developed series centered on a school teacher, with the class merely playing minor roles – no pun intended! After one season on the Disney Channel, the show got the ax due to disappointing ratings and poor reviews. Yet, this wasn’t the end of the story; quite the opposite, actually!
The focus dramatically shifted from the teacher to the students, the setting moved from Indianapolis to sunny LA, and even the grade level jumped from 6th to 8th. The show became an instant teen classic, airing on NBC mornings. It’s safe to say that without the utterly charming yet perpetually scheming Zack Morris (brought to life by Mark-Paul Gosselaar), the show might never have truly hit its stride. Recognizing that scenes with the students were getting a much better response, the show’s format and even its network were revamped, thereby pushing Zack and his crew into the limelight. So, Zack Morris didn’t just break free from being a background filler; he became the undisputed star of the entire revamped series.
Supernatural Surprises and Nerd Icons
Barnabas Collins – Dark Shadows
Barnabas Collins stands as a prime example when we’re talking about breakout characters. He wasn’t even introduced until over 200 episodes in, and was initially slated for just a 13-week stint! Most folks might only know Dark Shadows from Tim Burton’s film, where Johnny Depp took on the role. For Depp, portraying Collins was a childhood dream come true, by his own admission, and a major reason he got into acting. Collins has also lived on through an array of novels, audio dramas, and other adaptations of the Dark Shadows universe.
Steve Urkel – Family Matters
The role of the main protagonist gradually fell to Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, to such an extent that the youngest Winslow child, Judy, was simply written out of the show, and Estelle, Rachel, and Richie were subtly relegated to secondary roles. Family Matters, a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, first introduced Steve Urkel in its 12th episode of the premiere season, and he progressively became the centerpiece. The show initially revolved around Harriette Winslow, her policeman husband Carl, their three kids Eddie, Laura, and Judy, Carl’s mother Estelle, and Harriette’s sister Rachel with her son Richie. After the debut of the nerdy Steve Urkel as Laura’s date, he became a fixture in every single episode that followed.
Urkel was the quintessential nerd: glasses, suspenders, a nasally voice, pants hiked up to his chest, clumsy as all get-out, a science enthusiast, and an accordion player to boot. Despite all this, he became best pals with Winslow’s son Eddie, Laura’s on-again/off-again love interest, and Carl’s frequent comedic foil and partner in mischief. He even moved in with the Winslow family in later seasons. Various members of the Urkel clan, some also portrayed by Jaleel White, made appearances, and the character truly took center stage. He was a ratings juggernaut and became one of the most recognizable faces of the 1990s, embodying peak nerdom and, arguably, the ultimate breakout character.
Cool Cats and Time Lords
Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli – Happy Days
Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, one of just two characters to grace all 225 episodes of the quintessential American series Happy Days, is hands down one of pop culture’s most iconic examples of a breakout character. Fonzie not only overshadowed the show’s initial stars, the Cunningham family, but also completely redefined its original premise. He became legendary for his signature leather jacket, his iconic thumbs-up, and countless catchphrases.
At least three major series branched off from Happy Days, with Fonzie often introducing the characters that would lead to these various spin-offs. Fonzie grew so beloved, and the series’ focus shifted so dramatically towards him, that original star Ron Howard, who played Richie Cunningham, actually left the show for a stint because his character was utterly eclipsed by The Fonz. Fonzie eventually moved in with the Cunninghams, essentially becoming another son to Mr. and Mrs. C (as he affectionately called them). He and Mr. Cunningham are the only two characters to appear in every single episode. Winkler’s Fonzie truly stands as one of the most unforgettable and prolific breakout characters ever to grace television.
The Doctor – Dr. Who
The Doctor, an enigmatic Time Lord with various companions, travels across all of time and space in Doctor Who, which astonishingly holds the title of the longest-running sci-fi series in television history. But here’s a cool little secret: The Doctor wasn’t originally intended to be the central figure of the series! Writers and executives at the BBC initially envisioned Doctor Who as an educational and informative television series aimed at children and families.
In the show’s earliest episodes back in 1963, the original Doctor (played by William Hartnell) was joined by his granddaughter, Susan Foreman. She was a peculiar child, followed home one day by her two school teachers, Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton. They stumbled upon the now-famous police box, the TARDIS – the very vehicle through which The Doctor and his companions embark on their temporal and spatial journeys. The Doctor was supposed to be more of a guiding figure, essentially holding the other characters together. However, Hartnell’s portrayal of what became known as the First Doctor was a hit with both critics and fans, and he slowly but surely morphed into the show’s central character.
Hartnell could effortlessly juggle the roles of both hero and teacher, making Wright and Chesterton’s continued presence less essential. The three companions eventually departed at different points, and other companions joined The Doctor on his escapades. Even Hartnell himself eventually left the series due to health issues. It’s no shocker that the franchise has endured for so long, attracting fans across generations globally. But what many still don’t realize is that their beloved franchise, featuring the TARDIS-dwelling, time & space-hopping, companion-collecting, Gallifreyan Time Lord, is quite possibly the quintessential example of a breakout character in all of television history.
So there you have it: a stellar lineup of characters who started on the sidelines, only to burst into the limelight and become unforgettable. Which breakaway stars truly captured your imagination, and why do you love them?
