Line #1 Main/YouMightRememberMeFrom


1	->''"Hi, I'm Troy [=McClure=]! You may remember me from such automated information kiosks as "Welcome to Springfield Airport", and "Where's Nordstrom?" While you're enjoying our hall of wonders, your car will be unfortunately [-be subject to repeated break-ins-]... "''
2	-->-- '''[[TropeNamer Troy McClure]]''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "This Little Wiggy"
3
4	When an actor with a popular role in the past has a resurgence doing something else. Often they will be cast purely for nostalgia reasons, or because the director or writer is a PromotedFanboy. Ironically, though, they often become even more popular than they were before, causing their earlier work to be all but forgotten.
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6	Named for ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''' Troy [=McClure=], who used to be a character actor, and then did educational films, infomercials, etc. He would introduce himself with "Hi, I'm Troy [=McClure=]! You might remember me from such films as ''AliensStealCable!'' and ''TheAdjectivalSuperhero''." ([[MadLibsCatchphrase The names of the two films were usually relevant to what he was in at the moment]].)
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8	Compare RetroactiveRecognition, where the actor's previous roles weren't nearly as popular as their current one.
9	----
10	!!Examples:
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12	* Creator/RichardDeanAnderson as ''Series/{{MacGyver\|1985}}'', then a decade later starred ''Series/StargateSG1''. Extra confusion/amusement in the Spanish dub: Luis Porcar as Jack O'Neill and [[Series/{{House}} Gregory House]].
13	* Creator/ScottBakula as Samuel Beckett on early-nineties ''Series/QuantumLeap'', then as Captain Archer on early-to-mid 2000s ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise''. (In between, he did [[WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance some voice acting]] and a [[Film/NecessaryRoughness couple of]] [[Film/MajorLeague sports movies]].) And now Agent Pride on ''Series/NCISNewOrleans''.
14	* Creator/CatherineBell who played Marine lawyer Sarah Mackenzie on ''Series/{{JAG}}'' for 9 seasons was cast in another military-themed series, ''Series/ArmyWives''.
15	* Corbin Bernsen is well-known as lawyer Arnie Becker from ''Series/LALaw''. Fast forward two decades, and we find him playing Shawn Spencer's dad on ''Series/{{Psych}}''.
16	* Creator/DavidBoreanaz spent eight years playing the vampire [[TheAtoner Angel]] in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and the eponymous spinoff. He spent another eight as FBI Agent Seeley Booth in the romantic forensic procedural ''Series/{{Bones}}.'' Now he stars as Master Chief Jason Hays in ''Series/SealTeam''.
17	* Creator/JohnnyYongBosch, a.k.a. Adam Park, former [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Black Mighty Morphin Power Ranger]], [[Series/PowerRangersZeo Green Zeo Ranger]] and [[Series/PowerRangersTurbo Green Turbo Ranger]]...current anime voice actor, his [[StarMakingRole breakout role]] being [[ActualPacifist Vash the Stampede]] from ''Manga/{{Trigun}}''. Other roles include a [[TheHero chivalrous]] [[Manga/{{Bleach}} Soul Reaper]], and [[Anime/CodeGeass another hero]] that's, uh... [[AntiHero not]] [[MagnificentBastard so]] [[PsychicAssistedSuicide much.]] You might also remember him as Kung Jin from ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX''.
18	** [[Series/PowerRangersTurbo Pink Turbo Ranger]] and [[Series/PowerRangersInSpace Pink Space Ranger]] Cassie Chan, rather Patricia Ja Lee has appeared in a few anime roles as well.
19	** Creator/DanSouthworth, a.k.a. the [[Series/PowerRangersTimeForce Quantum Ranger]], also broke out into voice acting after ''Power Rangers'', providing the voice of Vergil in the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series, a role he performed alongside fellow ''Power Rangers'' alumni Creator/JohnnyYongBosch (who portrayed Nero in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' and [[VideoGame/MegaManX Zero]] in ''VideoGame/UltimateMarvelVsCapcom3'').
20	* Creator/BruceBoxleitner was originally best known for ''Series/ScarecrowAndMrsKing'', but is better-remembered now for the role of Captain Sheridan on ''Series/BabylonFive'', or as {{Film/Tron}}.
21	* Ben Browder is known for two famous sci-fi roles: John Crichton on ''Series/{{Farscape}}'', and Cameron Mitchell on ''Series/StargateSG1''. He acted opposite Creator/ClaudiaBlack (Aeryn Sun and Vala mal Doran, respectively) on both series; naturally LampshadeHanging ensued on the latter about the former.
22	* Yvette Nicole Brown, who starred in ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'' as Helen Dubious, makes a guest appearance as the exact same character, six years later, in ''Series/{{Victorious}}''. Nowadays she's best known as Shirley on ''Series/{{Community}}''.
23	* Becky from ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'' as Elliot from ''Series/{{Scrubs}}.'' No, not that Becky,[[labelnote:* ]]Alicia "Lecy" Goransen[[/labelnote]] [[TheOtherDarrin the other one.]][[labelnote:*]]Sarah Chalke[[/labelnote]]
24	* After his success as [[Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow Dr. Frank-n-Furter]], Creator/TimCurry went on to have a lucrative career in voice-acting along with live-action acting. Many of the roles he voiced include [[WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys Nigel Thornberry]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Duckman}} King Chicken]], [[VideoGame/BrutalLegend Emperor Doviculus]], [[Anime/TheCatReturns the Cat King]], [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM King Acorn]], and even '''{{Satan}}''' (in ''Film/Legend1985''). He's also done quite a bit of stage acting (including a brief reprise as Dr. Frank-n-Furter).
25	* Micky Dolenz became popular in the 1950's as a child actor under the pseudonym Mickey Braddock. He starred in the TV series ''Circus Boy'' as the lead character, Corky. Only until mid-1960's was Dolenz launched into superstardom as one of the members of ''Music/TheMonkees.''
26	* Creator/JamesDoohan is best known as Scotty from ''Series/{{Star Trek\|The Original Series}}''. But he got a chance to play TheCaptain for a change in 1979's ''Series/JasonOfStarCommand''.
27	* Creator/DCDouglas is most well known for his voice acting work, particularly as [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil5 Albert Wesker]] and [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 Legion]]. He also appears often as a guest star in various soap operas and TV series, such as ''Series/TheBoldAndTheBeautiful'', ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', and ''Series/{{Castle\|2009}}''. In addition, he regularly features in films from Creator/TheAsylum, including a highly-touted cameo in ''Film/Sharknado2TheSecondOne''.
28	* Keir Dullea appeared as Devon, the protagonist of 70s TV series ''Series/TheStarlost''. Get rid of the 70s mustache he wore in the series, you'll recognize him as Dave Bowman from ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.
29	* Up until the mid-90s Noel Edmonds was a celebrity Saturday night entertainment show presenter, before which he was a successful DJ. He dropped out of the limelight for several years before reemerging in 2005 as the host of the British version of the game show ''Series/DealOrNoDeal''. Similarly, Howie Mandel was a popular prop comic who played Dr. Fiscus on ''Series/StElsewhere'', then voiced the title character on ''WesternAnimation/BobbysWorld''. After years of obscurity he resurfaced as host of the US edition of ''Series/DealOrNoDeal''.
30	* Creator/JackieEarleHaley was best known as Kelly Leak in the original 1970s ''Film/TheBadNewsBears'', and there's a 13-year gap on his Website/IMDb page, 1993-2006. Now, he's [[Film/{{Watchmen}} Rorschach]], [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet2010 Freddy Krueger]], and [[Series/HumanTarget Guerrero]].
31	* Creator/MarkHamill. After spending years known only as [[Franchise/StarWars Luke Skywalker]], he then got a career in voice acting, particularly as the Joker in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. As well as the Hobgoblin from ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', Skips in ''Regular Show'', and the [[EvilOverlord Evil Dad]] role in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. When he appeared in ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'', the film actually stops and puts "Hey kids! It's Mark Hamill! (Applause)" onscreen. And then he got to be Luke Skywalker [[Film/TheLastJedi all over again]].
32	** When Creator/MarkHamill appeared on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', he would only appear if he could appear as Mark Hamill AND Luke Skywalker, two different characters. He also did some vocal impersonations, making this episode count as HilariousInHindsight.
33	* Creator/MarkHarmon has come back for more stardom at least twice. People who watched ''Series/ChicagoHope'' may remember him from his role in ''Series/StElsewhere''. Now, of course, both of those shows are road markers for fans of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', who know him as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
34	** And his ''NCIS'' castmate Creator/DavidMcCallum, currently known as Medical Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard, was known to an earlier generation as Iliya Kuriyakin of ''Series/TheManFromUncle''.
35	* Creator/NeilPatrickHarris first became a household name playing ''Series/DoogieHowserMD'' and went into theater for a while before resurfacing as a {{Jerkass}} version of himself in ''Film/HaroldAndKumarGoToWhiteCastle'', a regular role as Barney Stinson on ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', and the titular character of Joss Whedon's supervillain musical ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog''.
36	** Speaking of ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', one episode had [[Series/{{Angel}} both]] Creator/AmyAcker and Alexis Denisof as guest stars.
37	* Creator/DennisHaysbert was first known to many as voodoo power hitter Pedro Cerrano in ''Film/MajorLeague''. After a few parts that didn't go far, he shows up on ''Series/TwentyFour'' as President Palmer, then as the team leader in ''Series/TheUnit'', and is know known as the Allstate guy.
38	* Chrissy (Creator/AshleyJohnson) from ''Series/GrowingPains'', as Terra from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''.
39	* Creator/AlexKingston was best known for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Corday in ''Series/{{ER}}'' before she was cast as River Song in ''Series/DoctorWho''. Now she says she's more recognised for ''Who'', which she says surprises her. Transformers may or may not know her as Quickshadow in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBots''
40	* Creator/WalterKoenig (a.k.a. Chekov from ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Star Trek]]'') appearing as [=PsiCop=] Alfred Bester on ''Series/BabylonFive''.
41	* Creator/JessicaLange is a two time Academy Award winner (her first win was in 1982 for her supporting role in {{Film/Tootsie}}; her second win was in 1994 for her lead role in ''Film/{{Blue Sky\|1994}}'', however newer generations will most likely know her from her various stints on Series/AmericanHorrorStory.
42	* Creator/AmandaWinnLee was a prolific voice actress for Creator/ADVFilms, most well known for her roles as [[Anime/GunsmithCats Rally Vincent]] and [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Rei Ayanami]]. After her son Nicholas's birth and diagnosis of leukemia, she dropped out of anime voice acting to spend time with him. Since her son's recovery, she has returned to voice acting, but this time focusing on video games published by Creator/{{Atlus}}, her most famous recent role being [[YamatoNadeshiko Yukiko Amagi]] from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}''.
43	* Creator/ChristopherLee played Dracula in a series of Film/HammerHorror movies in his younger days. More recently, he's played villains in summer blockbusters such as the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels and ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings.'' And a major character in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''. Going back a bit further, to the mid-70s, Lee was also Scaramanga in ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun''. He also did some spoken lines for the band Music/RhapsodyOfFire. In fact, Sir Christopher holds the Guinness Record for the highest number of film acting roles ever... but 95% of people know him from this handful of roles.
44	* [[TropeNamer Troy McClure]], from many films such as The Contrabulous Fabtraption of Horatio Hufnagel, Android Beach Party, Hitler Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Gladys the Groovy Mule, [[Franchise/TheMuppets Muppets Go Medieval]], Preacher with a Shovel and many, many more.
45	* ''WebVideo/ThereWillBeBrawl'' is a live-action web series featuring Creator/MatthewMercer and Creator/KyleHebert, both well-known anime and video game voice-actors (Mercer [[TheOtherDarrin Darrin'd]] for Creator/TroyBaker as [[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation Kanji Tatsumi]] and portrayed [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Chrom]], while Hebert voiced greats such as [[Anime/DragonBallZ Gohan]] and [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Kamina]]). Mercer has since gone on to no small amount of Internet fame as the DungeonMaster for the livestreamed Main/TabletopRPG ''WebVideo/CriticalRole''.
46	* Creator/HughLaurie is most well-known in the US and worldwide as [[Series/{{House}} Dr. Gregory House]], but in his native England, he is most famous as a comedian, most notably in ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' (alongside Creator/StephenFry), ''Series/{{Blackadder}}''. There was also the role of Jasper in 1996's ''[[Film/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians1996 101 Dalmatians]]''.
47	* Creator/AlyssaMilano, who first became famous playing Creator/TonyDanza's daughter on ''Series/WhosTheBoss?'', then did a couple of seasons on ''Series/MelrosePlace'' before logging eight years on ''Series/{{Charmed\|1998}}''.
48	* Of the four kid leads in ''Film/StandByMe'', only Creator/JerryOConnell didn't have any other major roles as a child actor. He [[Series/{{Sliders}} made up for it]] [[Film/JerryMaguire as an adult]]. Creator/WilWheaton is an odder example, becoming [[CreatorsPet a target of nerd scorn]] on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' before his comeback in the aughties as a target of nerd admiration.
49	* In the TheSixties and TheSeventies, Creator/JerryOrbach was a famous Broadway star. He was in the inaugural cast of ''Theatre/TheFantasticks'', he was the first Billy Flynn in ''Theatre/{{Chicago}}'', and he even got a few movie roles. Fast forward thirty years, and what is he best known for? Lennie Briscoe on ''Series/LawAndOrder''. If anyone even knows he could sing, they probably know it because they saw him as Lumiere in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''.
50	* Creator/RobertPatrick, a.k.a. the T-1000 in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', as Agent John Doggett in the late seasons of ''Series/TheXFiles''.
51	* Brock Peters, best known for falsely convicted man Tom Robinson in the live-action adaptation of ''Film/ToKillAMockingbird'', has had appearances in numerous works as a voice actor, star of live-action television shows, and numerous films in various genres, some of his characters recurring. People today recognize him as Admiral Cartwright in both ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'' and ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'', [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Joseph Sisko]], [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Lucius Fox]], Jesse Dillard in ''Series/{{Gunsmoke}}'', and [[WesternAnimation/SWATKats Dark Kat]].
52	* Olivia, (Raven-Symoné) from ''Series/TheCosbyShow'' as Monique from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' and the title character from ''Series/ThatsSoRaven'' and its spin-off series, ''Series/RavensHome''.
53	** On that note, Symoné is also know for playing Nicole in ''Series/HanginWithMrCooper'', which serves as this trope for Holly Robinson Peete (''Series/TwentyOneJumpStreet''), Dawnn Lewis (''Series/ADifferentWorld''), Roger E. Mosley (''Series/MagnumPI''), Nell Carter (''Series/GimmeABreak'') and Omar Gooding (''Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s Wild and Crazy Kids''). Later Peete would star in the sitcom ''For Your Love'' and Lewis would voice [=LaBarbara=] Conrad in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}.''
54	* Emilie de Ravin was probably best known as Claire from ''Series/{{Lost}}.'' Since 2012 she's been Belle (yes, ''that'' [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Belle]]) on ''Series/OnceUponATime.''
55	* Creator/EdenRiegel may be recognized by fans of soap operas as [[Series/AllMyChildren Bianca Montenegro]] and [[Series/TheYoungAndTheRestless Heather Williams]]. Video game and anime fans may recognize her as ''VideoGame/DragonsCrown'''s Elf, [[Anime/TigerAndBunny Kaede Kaburagi]], and [[VideoGame/DeadOrAlive Hitomi]]. Voice acting must [[Creator/SamRiegel run in the family]].
56	* Creator/RobbieRist, the original CousinOliver on ''Series/TheBradyBunch'', now provides the voice of Choji Akamichi from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''.
57	* Murdock (Creator/DwightSchultz) from ''Series/TheATeam'' in various video game and animation roles, most notably Harman Smith in ''VideoGame/{{Killer 7}}''.
58	** And more notably, as Lt. Reginald Barclay, one of the more prominent recurring characters on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Less notably for a one-off role in a ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode.
59	** Also Mung Daal from ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}''.
60	* Apart from a role in season five of ''Series/LasVegas'', Creator/TomSelleck has mostly been doing TV movies since ''Series/MagnumPI'' wrapped in 1988. Then in 2010 he was cast as Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in ''Series/BlueBloods''.
61	* And of course, who can forget Creator/WilliamShatner? First ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries,'' then ''Series/TJHooker,'' and Denny Crane in ''Series/BostonLegal.''
62	** Another ''Series/BostonLegal'' example: Creator/CandiceBergen (a.k.a. Series/MurphyBrown) returns to the small screen after a six-year hiatus.
63	** Yet another one: Creator/ReneAuberjonois: first ''Series/{{Benson}}'', then ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', then Paul Lewiston in ''Series/BostonLegal''.
64	* In the dub of ''Anime/DigimonDataSquad'', Creator/SteveBlum did not reprise his role as Gallantmon...instead, the Royal Knight's voice actor was [[Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway Brad Sherwood]]!
65	* Charles Emerson Winchester, (Creator/DavidOgdenStiers) from ''Series/{{MASH}}'', Governor Radcliffe and Wiggins in ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}'', as Jumba on ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'', Lane's father in ''Film/BetterOffDead'', and as Cogsworth in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''.
66	* Creator/DeanStockwell, who was a [[FormerChildStar child star]] in the 40's and 50's before (eventually) co-starring in ''Series/QuantumLeap'' as Al, and then appearing in ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' as Cavil.
67	* Creator/AmandaTapping, who played fan favorite character Samantha Carter on ''Series/StargateSG1'' for over a decade, has had another sci-fi hit with ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}''.
68	* Music/AshleyTisdale won fame in the mid-2000s for starring as candy counter girl Maddie Fitzpatrick on the Creator/DisneyChannel's ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody''. She later starred as Sharpay Evans in the ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' series and the made-for-DVD film, ''"Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure"''. Many younger Disney Channel watchers might better know her as Candace Flynn in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', while older TV watchers might know her from her role as Savannah Monroe in ''Series/{{Hellcats}}''.
69	* Creator/JohnTravolta used to be "that guy from ''Saturday Night Fever''". Then he was "that guy from ''Film/PulpFiction''". And then "that Creator/LRonHubbard fanboy who inflicted ''Film/BattlefieldEarth'' on us". Now he may be known as "that guy in a fat suit and drag in the 2007 version of ''Film/{{Hairspray\|2007}}''".
70	** Or as "that guy from ''Film/{{Grease}}''"
71	*** He first got fame as Barbarino on TV's ''Series/WelcomeBackKotter''.
72	** Tween movie watchers might recognize him as ''WesternAnimation/{{Bolt}}''.
73	* Marcia Wallace was, at one point, sufficiently well-known from her role on ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow'' in the '70s to be the subject of a ''Series/{{Taxi}}'' episode (in which she [[CharacterAsHimself guested as herself]]) later in that decade, as well as an appearance as her ''Bob Newhart'' character on ''Series/MurphyBrown''. Later on, of course, she became the voice of Mrs. Krabappel on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
74	* Creator/ElijahWood was a famous child actor known as the other Macaulay Culkin (they even co-starred in ''Film/TheGoodSon'') years before being cast as Frodo Baggins in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings''.
75	* Creator/AdamWest, the original Batman, was a CloudCuckooland character on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' where he is Mayor of Quahog.
76	* Creator/JaleelWhite is best known for playing Steve Urkel on ''Series/FamilyMatters'' and for being the first voice of Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog.
77	* Nearly 20 years after ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow'' ended, Mr. Griffith returned to the limelight as the titular ''Series/{{Matlock}}''.
78	* Was one of LetsPlay/BobLennon's catchphrases for a while.
79	* Though well-known for his role as Hiro Hamada in ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6'', Ryan Potter earned fame as Mike Fukanaga in ''Series/SupahNinjas''.
80	* Creator/CarolKane, a famous actor in movies from the 70's who also appeared in the TV show ''Series/{{Taxi}}'', appeared as the Tooth Fairy in an episode of the then-popular PBS series ''Series/TheNoddyShop'', and later played Lillian on the Creator/{{Netflix}} series ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt''.
81	* This trope as applied to a ''company'': [=NetEase=] Games first enjoyed fame as the creator of ''VideoGame/Onmyoji2016'' before ''VideoGame/IdentityV'' came along, became a bigger success, and overshadows the previous association.
82	* [[Creator/NicolasCantu Junky Janker]] voiced Gumball in ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' before joining ''WebVideo/SMPLive''.
83	* Creator/KeHuyQuan was Short Round in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' and Data in ''Film/TheGoonies''. His major resurgence happened with the role of Waymond Wang in ''Film/EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce''.

Context Main / YouMightRememberMeFrom