History Main / TwoHitWonder

* Tomonobu Itagaki of Creator/TeamNinja fame has only had two big successes in his video game career: creating ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' and reviving ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden''. After he left Team Ninja, the only noteworthy game he ended up releasing was ''VideoGame/DevilsThird'', but for all the wrong reasons. Averted with Team Ninja themselves, who went onto develop ''VideoGame/{{Nioh}}'' and ''VideoGame/Nioh2'', ''VideoGame/StrangerOfParadiseFinalFantasyOrigin'', and ''VideoGame/WoLongFallenDynasty''.

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* '''[[Creator/{{Bethesda}} Bethesda Game Studios]]'''[='=] resume consists of two popular franchises, ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' and ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'', and little else. Granted, within each series there are multiple commercially and critically successful games, but they've had comparatively little success venturing outside of those franchises. In fact, the PinballSpinoff ''[[VideoGame/ZenPinball Bethesda Pinball]]'' has three tables, two based on these franchises and [[VideoGame/DoomZenStudios one]] based on ''VideoGame/Doom2016'', which they only published.

* '''Creator/IreneCara''' had three top 10 hits, "Film/{{Fame}}", the #1 "[[Film/{{Flashdance}} Flashdance (What a Feeling)]]", and "[[Film/{{Breakin}} Breakdance]]", but only the former two are remembered today.

* '''Maurice Gosfield''' will be known among TV buffs for his two roles: Private Doberman in ''Series/ThePhilSilversShow'' and Benny the Ball in ''WesternAnimation/TopCat'' (who was an animated {{Expy}} of Doberman).

* '''Liam Hemsworth''' is still best known for his relationship with Miley Cyrus, if his acting roles are brought up they'll undoubtedly be his role as Gale in The Hunger Games Series and Will in The Last Song, the movie in which he met Cyrus.
* '''Creator/MayumiIizuka''' is mainly remembered for her roles as Misty in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' and Millerna in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne''.

* '''Creator/AndrewLincoln''' is primarily known for two roles, Mark in ''Film/LoveActually '' and, much more famously, Rick Grimes in ''Series/TheWalkingDead2010''.

* '''Creator/ChristopherMeloni''', while a prolific and highly respected actor, is still primarily known for two roles, Chris Keller in ''Series/{{Oz}}'' and the much more iconic Elliot Stabler in ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''.

* '''Creator/EricStuart''' is mainly remembered for his roles in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' (as both the original English voice of Brock, and the second voice of James) and ''Anime/YuGiOh'' (as Seto Kaiba). If a third is mentioned, it's usually his breakout performance in ''Anime/{{Slayers}}'' as Gourry Gabriev.

* '''Rickey D'Shon Collins''' is remembered solely for his roles in two popular animated series, Vince [=LaSalle=] from ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', and Tucker Foley from ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''.
* '''Creator/AndyGriffith''' is best known for playing Sheriff [[TheDanza Andy Taylor]] in ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow'' and attorney Ben Matlock in ''Series/{{Matlock}}''
* '''Seiji Takaiwa''' is one of the most famous Japanese stuntmen of the Heisei era, mostly thanks to his work on two of {{Creator/Toei}}'s {{Tokusatsu}} franchises. The first is ''Franchise/SuperSentai'', in which he played [[Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger Dragon Ranger]], the first SixthRanger, alongside five Reds: [[Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger Ninja Red]], [[Series/SeijuuSentaiGingaman Ginga Red]], [[Series/KyukyuSentaiGoGoV Go Red]], [[Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger Time Red]], and [[Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger Magi Red]] (the middle three back to back), as well as [[Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger Mega Blue]]. The other, and more well known, is ''Franchise/KamenRider'', in which he played every main Rider from [[Series/KamenRiderAgito Agito]] to [[Series/KamenRiderZio Zi-O]] (with the notable exception of [[Series/KamenRiderHibiki Hibiki]]), earning him the nicknames "Mr. Kamen Rider" and "Mr. Heisei Rider".
* Japanese actor '''Akiji Kobayashi''' is usually remembered for his roles in two of the most iconic {{Tokusatsu}} series, [[TheCaptain Captain Toshio Muramatsu]] from ''{{Series/Ultraman}}'', and [[TheMentor Tōbei Tachibana]] from ''Series/KamenRider''.

* '''Creator/PatrickDuffy''' is primarily known as Bobby Hewing in ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and Frank Lambert in ''Series/StepByStep''. If a third is mentioned, it's usually Stephen Logan in ''Series/TheBoldAndTheBeautiful''.

* '''Creator/WillaHolland''' is primarily known for two roles, Thea Queen in the ''Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}'' and Aqua in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' video game series. If a third is mentioned, it is usually her breakout role as Kaitlin Cooper in ''Series/TheOC''.

* '''Creator/MarkGatha''' is mainly remembered as Domon Kasshu in ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' and the titular ''VideoGame/MegaManX''.

* '''Creator/JakeLloyd''' was a child actor who had small roles in ''Series/{{ER}}'' and ''Series/ThePretender'' and a starring role in the widely-hated ''Film/JingleAllTheWay'' -- which was his biggest claim to fame. Then Creator/GeorgeLucas picked him to portray young Anakin Skywalker in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', giving him another. The negative reaction of his performance caused him to only appear in one more film (a 2001 film called ''Madison'') before retiring from acting.

* '''Creator/KateMicucci''', primarily known for being one half of ''Music/GarfunkelAndOates'', has two major roles in voice-over, Velma Dinkley in the Franchise/ScoobyDoo franchise since 2015 and [[WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017 Webbigail "Webby" Vanderquack]]. Her voice work on ''WesternAnimation/{{Motorcity}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' also has some recognition.

* '''Creator/EricStuart''' is mainly remembered for his roles in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' and ''Anime/YuGiOh''.

* Creator/AkiraToriyama created several manga, but is mainly remembered for two: ''Manga/DoctorSlump'', and (to a greater extent overseas) ''Franchise/DragonBall''. However, outside the realm of Manga and Anime, he is also known for his work as the character designer in video games like ''Franchise/DragonQuest'' and ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger''
* Creator/YoshihiroTogashi has other works, but he will be always remembered as the author of ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' and ''Manga/HunterXHunter''.

* Creator/KiyohikoAzuma is known for ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', ''Manga/{{Yotsuba}}'', and not much else. The former was what really got him noticed, and the latter is a {{Long Runner|s}} continuously published since 2003. Before ''Azumanga'', he published a few other short-lived series and one-shots (such as ''Try! Try! Try!'', which featured a prototypical Yotsuba), and even before those, he got his start as a fairly prolific {{doujinshi}} author for series such as ''Sailor Moon'' and ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''. None of his other work has gotten close to the notoriety of ''Azumanga'' or ''Yotsuba&!'', however, and since starting work on ''Yotsuba&!'' he has done little else.

* '''Music/{{Madness}}''': Of their three charting songs in the United States, the BlackSheepHit "It Must Be Love" hit #33 in 1981 and "Our House" reached #7 in 1982 while "The Sun and the Rain" peaked at #72 early in 1983. Back home in the UK, however, they weren't even close to Two Hit Wonders, scoring countless Top 20 hits.

* '''Creator/AlyssaMilano''' is primarily known for starring in two popular television shows, ''Series/WhosTheBoss'' and ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}''. She's had few major roles since the latter show ended and is nowadays far more known for her outspoken progressive politics during the Trump presidency than for her acting.

* '''Creator/WillaHolland''' is primarily known for two roles, Thea Queen in the ''Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}'' and Aqua in the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' video game series. If a third is mentioned, it is usually her breakout role as Kaitlin Cooper in ''Series/TheOC''.

* '''Creator/DaveighChase''' is mainly remembered for two live-action roles, [[Literature/TheRing Samara Morgan]] and [[Film/DonnieDarko Samantha]] [[Film/SDarko Darko]]) and two voice-acting ones (WesternAnimation/{{Lilo|AndStitch}} [[Franchise/LiloAndStitch Pelekai]] and [[Anime/SpiritedAway Chihiro]]).

* '''Creator/RichardBelzer''' is technically a OneHitWonder for his role as Detective JustForFun/JohnMunch, but said character was a cast member on two iconic {{Police Procedural}}s: ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' and ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''.

* '''Creator/SarahWayneCallies''' is primarily known for two roles, [[TheDanza Sara Trancedi]] in ''Series/PrisonBreak'' and Lori Grimes in ''Series/TheWalkingDead''.
* '''Zach Callison''' has two main claims to fame in the world of voiceover, Prince James from ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'' ([[TheOtherDarrin until he outgrew the role]]), and (more notably) ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''. If a third role is ever mentioned, it's usually [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Billy Batson]].

* '''Creator/DaveighChase''' is mainly remembered for two roles, [[Literature/TheRing Samara Morgan]] and WesternAnimation/{{Lilo|AndStitch}} [[Franchise/LiloAndStitch Pelekai]]. If a third is mentioned, it is usually her role as the titular ''Film/DonnieDarko''[='=]s little sister Samantha.

* '''Patrick Duffy''' is primarily known as Bobby Hewing in ''Series/{{Dallas}}'' and Frank Lambert in ''Series/StepByStep''. If a third is mentioned, it's usually Stephen Logan in ''Series/TheBoldAndTheBeautiful''.

* '''Susan Egan''' has had two main hits in animation, [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Megara]] and [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Rose Quartz]]. Of course, she's also had plenty of success in theatre.

* '''Calista Flockhart''' is mainly remembered for two roles, the titular ''Series/AllyMcBeal'' and [[Series/BrothersAndSisters Kitty Walker]]. Her successful stint as [[Series/{{Supergirl 2015}} Cat Grant]] is rapidly changing that, though.

* '''Blake Jenner''' known for his roles as Ryder in ''Series/{{Glee}}'' and Darien in ''Film/TheEdgeOfSeventeen''. His career came to a halt when it was revealed he abused his ex-wife Melissa Benoist, pretty much eliminating his chance of getting another hit role.

* '''Creator/AndrewLincoln''' is primarily known for two roles, Mark in ''Film/LoveActually '' and, much more famously, Rick Grimes in ''Series/TheWalkingDead''.

* '''Julianna Margulies''' is still primarily known for her appearances in two of the most iconic TV shows of all time: ''Series/{{ER}}'' and ''Series/TheGoodWife''.

* '''Creator/WentworthMiller''' is primarily known for two roles, Michael Scofield in ''Series/PrisonBreak'' and Leonard Snart aka Captain Cold in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''.

* '''Parminder Nagra''' is known for two roles: Jess Bhamra in ''Film/BendItLikeBeckham'' and Neela Rasgotra in ''Series/{{ER}}''.

* '''Danny Pino''' is primarily known for two [[TypeCasting Detective]] roles, [[Series/ColdCase Scotty Valens]] and [[Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit Nick Amaro]].

* '''Creator/DominicPurcell''' is primarily known internationally for two roles, Lincoln Burrows in ''Series/PrisonBreak'' and Mick Rory aka Heatwave in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''.
* '''Creator/BrandonRouth''' is primarily known for two roles, the titular Franchise/{{Superman}} in ''Film/SupermanReturns'' and Ray Palmer aka ComicBook/TheAtom in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}''. If a third is mentioned, it is usually his role as Daniel Shaw, the ArchEnemy of the eponymous ''Series/{{Chuck}}''.

* '''Norm Spencer''' had two starring roles within a career of otherwise short-lived parts: Cyclops from the '90s ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' cartoon and the ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' games, and Billy Blazes from ''WesternAnimation/RescueHeroes''.

* '''Creator/EvangelineLilly''' is mostly known for [[Series/{{Lost}} Kate Austen]] and [[Film/TheHobbit Tauriel]], though her role as [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Hope Van Dyne]] seems to be changing that.

* While '''Doug[=/=]Mr. Lawrence''' has had several credits as both a writer and a voice actor, he will invariably be recognized for his voice roles on two iconic ''Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}'': ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' as Filburt, and, much more famously, ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' as Plankton.

* '''Hal Sparks''', primarily known as a comedian, is best known for his starring roles on ''Series/QueerAsFolk'' and ''Series/LabRats'', which couldn't be more different from each other.

* '''Eleanor Audley''' played two of the most iconic villainesses in Disney animation history, [[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} Lady Tremaine]] and [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]]. She had a small recurring role on ''Series/GreenAcres'' and voiced Madame Leota for the [[Franchise/TheHauntedMansion Haunted Mansion]] ride, but they don't come close to being as iconic.

* '''Eruption''' had two big hits with "I Can't Stand the Rain" in 1978 and "One Way Ticket" in 1979. FaceOfTheBand Precious Wilson left after the latter, and the hits stopped.

* In 2006 and 2008, British singer '''Natasha Bedingfield''' had two hits in the U.S. with "Unwritten" and "Pocketful of Sunshine" respectively, which both peaked at #5. Two more songs, "These Words" and "Love Like This", made the Top 20, but are forgotten today. Afterwards, she completely fell out of the public's eye outside a 2011 guest appearance on Music/RascalFlatts' "Easy" (#3 country, #43 pop). She is more successful back home, however.

* '''Terence Trent D'Arby''' burst onto the scene in 1988 when his debut album, ''[[LongTitle Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby]]'', went to #4 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and produced two top 10 hits: the #1 "Wishing Well", and the #4 followup "Sign Your Name". "Dance Little Sister" went to #30 but would be the last time he would ever see the upper reaches of Billboard. He would not have another major hit album or single stateside, as his follow-up album, ''Neither Fish Nor Flesh'', charted at an abysmal #61 and produced no hits.

* '''Maurice Gosfield''' will be known among TV buffs for his two roles: Private Doberman in ''Series/ThePhilSilversShow'' and Benny the Ball in ''WesternAnimation/TopCat''.

* '''Creator/VictorFleming''' directed two of the most beloved films of all time, ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'' and ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' - both in the same year, no less. The rest of his filmography is long forgotten, and today he is only brought up as a trivia question to talk about how those two rival films shared a director.

* British singer '''Music/KimWilde''' had plenty of hits in the UK and Germany, but in the US, she only had two. Her 1981 debut single "Kids in America" reached #25, while her cover of Music/TheSupremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On", released five years later, topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Ironically, the former song is the [[ChartDisplacement better remembered]] of the two, largely because it’s her original song rather than a cover.

* '''Blaque''': A girl-group similar to TLC, Blaque had a pair of hits in 1999 and 2000, the R. Kelly-penned "808" and the JC Chasez collaboration "Bring It All To Me."

* British R&B singer '''Taio Cruz''' dominated 2010 with the one-two punch of "Break Your Heart," which shot to the top of the charts in a heartbeat, and "Dynamite," which reached #2 and became one of the best-selling digital songs of all time. After that, he had a minor hit with "Higher" and then, nothing. He was considerably more successful back home though.

* '''Inner Circle''' have had a nearly 50-year career (starting out in 1968, just as reggae was coming together as a genre), but they only managed to have a pair of American pop hits, both in 1993: The #8 hit "Bad Boys" (originally released in 1987, but [[RereleaseTheSong re-issued]] after [[RevivalByCommercialization its use as]] the theme song for the reality show ''Series/{{Cops}}'') and its #13 follow-up "Sweat (A La La La La Long)". The group are also two-hit wonders in the UK, with "Everything Is Great" (#37 in 1979) and "Sweat" (#3 in 1993)

* '''Music/{{Cream}}''' only had two crossover hits, "Sunshine of Your Love" and "White Room." Lead guitarist Music/EricClapton later went on to have a hugely successful solo career.

* '''Joe Jackson''' (not to be confused with the [[Music/TheJacksonFive Jackson family]] patriarch) had a few hits in his career, but the only two that are still remembered today are 1979's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" and 1982' "Steppin' Out."
* Soft rock singer-songwriter '''Jack Johnson''' is a huge name on [=AAA=] radio, however his only Top 40 hits in the US were 2006's "Upside Down" (from the ''WesternAnimation/{{Curious George|2006}}'' soundtrack), which reached #38 and was certified platinum by the [=RIAA=], and 2010's "You and Your Heart", which reached #20.

* '''The Motels''': Fronted by Martha Davis, the California-based rock band had two No. 9 hits on the Hot 100, 1982's "Only the Lonely" and 1983's "Suddenly Last Summer."

* '''Music/{{Nirvana}}''' is one of the most influential rock bands of all time and is rarely considered a two-hit wonder. However, they technically count with two songs from ''Music/{{Nevermind}}''. They scored a #6 hit with the legendary "Smells Like Teen Spirit", as well as the #32 "Come As You Are".

* '''Music/{{Scorpions|Band}}''' scored their first hit in 1984 with "Rock You Like a Hurricane", which reached #25 on the pop charts. In 1990, the German group scored another hit, "Wind of Change," which peaked at #4.

* '''Ugly Kid Joe''' are known for exactly two songs: their glam/grunge fusion song "Everything About You" and their cover of Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle." Both were top 10 hits, and the band never charted again.

* '''White Lion''': A Brooklyn-based hair band fronted by Danish singer Mike Tramp, White Lion had a massive MTV video hit with "Wait", which, after a lengthy push, led the single all the way up to #8 in the spring of 1988, and the album, "Pride" [[{{Pun}} roaring]] up the album charts. Their subsequent power ballad, "When The Children Cry", did even better, peaking at #3 in early 1989. While their follow up album "Big Game" got a top 20 placing, it didn't produce any top 40 hits.

* Before '''Tone Lōc''' became a D-list actor, the former Anthony Smith had a pair of massive rap hits in 1989: The Van Halen-sampling "Wild Thing" and the sound-alike follow up "Funky Cold Medina" which was based off of a sample of Free's "All Right Now." Its parent album ''Lōc-ed After Dark'' even topped the Billboard 200! Despite the success, the follow-up album, ''Cool Hand Lōc'' never even made it onto the chart. Since "Funky Cold Medina" is mostly forgotten today, he's usually considered a one-hit wonder for "Wild Thing".

* '''Irene Cara''' had three top 10 hits, "Film/{{Fame}}", the #1 "[[Film/{{Flashdance}} Flashdance (What a Feeling)]]", and "[[Film/{{Breakin}} Breakdance]]", but only the former two are remembered today.

* '''Creator/DavidSchwimmer''' is solely remembered for his roles as [[Series/{{Friends}} Ross Geller]] and [[WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}} Melman the giraffe]].

* Humorist '''Creator/RobertSmigel''' has only two noteworthy creations to his name: the ''Series/TVFunhouse'' segments of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. He also co-wrote and co-produced the first two ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'' films, but they're more associated with their producers, Creator/SonyPicturesAnimation, than him and the franchise was the creation of his co-writer Todd Durham, as a result ''Hotel Transylvania'' technically isn't his creation and can't disqualify his two-hit wonder status.
* '''Todd Durham''' is known only for creating the ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'' franchise and Lord Buckethead, the latter of which was co-opted by various populist political satirists in the UK as a satirical political candidate.

* '''Cavo''', a rock band from St. Louis, had a #1 hit on rock radio in 2009 with "Champagne". A follow-up, "Crash", hit #6 shortly afterwards. They had one more minor chart entry in 2012 and that was it for them.

* Swedish singer '''Music/NenehCherry''', the step-daughter of legendary jazz musician Music/DonCherry, scored two Top 10 hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1989-1990, "Buffalo Stance" (#3) and "Kisses on the Wind" (#8; which became a minor hit for Lumidee in 2007), before fading into obscurity. She's fared better in Europe, though.

* Swedish singer '''Neneh Cherry''' scored two Top 10 hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1989-1990, "Buffalo Stance" (#3) and "Kisses on the Wind" (#8; which became a minor hit for Lumidee in 2007), before fading into obscurity. She's fared betetr in Europe, though.

* '''Neneh Cherry''': Swedish pop-rap musician Cherry had two major 1989 hits in the U.S., "Buffalo Stance" and "Kisses on the Wind," the latter of which became a minor hit for Lumidee in 2007. She's had significantly more success in other countries.

* '''Music/SoulAsylum''' made it to #5 on the Hot 100 in 1993 with the acoustic rock anthem "Runaway Train", which had AnAesop regarding missing children, famously depicted by its music video showing photographs of missing children and a number to locate them. The song also nabbed them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994. Their next hit was "Misery", which hit #20 in 1995 and was quickly forgotten. While they did have a few hits on the rock and alternative charts, including the #6 Alternative/#4 Mainstream Rock hit "Black Gold" in 1992 (the basis for Music/WeirdAlYankovic's "The Night Santa Went Crazy"), "Runaway Train" and "Misery" were their only Top 40 crossover hits. Today, they are remembered as a one-hit wonder for "Runaway Train".

* '''Music/{{Cascada}}''' are one of the most successful acts in dance music, but in the US they only reached the Top 40 twice with "Everytime We Touch" and "Evacuate the Dancefloor".