Replacement Actor Better than the Original

[Randy Winkman]

When an actor in a TV show gets replaced by a new person viewers normally groan. Has anyone new been better than the old person? They could be a direct replacement with the same character name or a new person to fill a gap (eg Grandad and Uncle Albert in Only Fools and Horses).

I've no examples myself because I'm not sure it ever happens. Prove me wrong.

[Bacon Is Proof]

James Bond.

[FourWheelDrift]

There were a few on Game of Thrones, 2nd Daario Naharis was better than the first, 3rd Gregor Clegane better than the 2nd.

Also Dirk Benedict wasn't the first Faceman in the A-Team, someone else played him in the pilot, so much better.

[Civpilot]

Aunt Viv in Fresh Prince of BelAir (although I feel that was better for the entire cast even more than it was for the viewer )

James Rupert "Rhodey" Rhodes in the MCU movies (replaced after Iron Man 1)

[Muzzer79]

David Tennant was a better Doctor Who than Christopher Eccleston

James May was better than Jason Dawe, whom he replaced after the first series of 'new' Top Gear.

[toasty]

Robert Llewellyn was better than the original Kryten in Red Dwarf

[ozzuk]

The actor playing Wellington in Sharpe changed for the better, perhaps the old one wasn't famous enough. The Brian Cox character left at the same time as the Wellington change but they instead claimed it was a new person - doing exactly the same job. It was a shame as Brian was brilliant in that role - perhaps they couldn't afford to keep him on when the series looked like running on.

And yes, I'm re-watching Sharpe

Edit: to answer my own post, I've just check on google and Cox's character was changed because Brian was ill. No mention of why Wellesley was changed from Troughton to Hugh Fraser.

Edit 2: in checking up on this Ive just discovered another 2 Sharpe episodes - prequals in India that aired in 2006. Off to amazon!

Edited by ozzuk on Monday 2nd March 15:04

Edited by ozzuk on Monday 2nd March 15:06

[Moulder]

Neil Stuke better than Ben Chaplin (Game On).

[cjs racing.]

Michael J. Fox replacing Eric Stoltz in Back to the Future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wudNasQbv0

[SpeckledJim]

Virtual unknown Robin Williams stood in for Roger Rees at very late notice on Happy Days. The rest, as they say, is history.

Not quite the answer to the question asked, granted. But it's Robin Williams. So everyone be quiet, it's fine.

[anonymous-user]

Tom Selleck “almost” became Indiana Jones before Ford nudged him to one side.

[cuprabob]

In the TV series "Rebus", Ken Stott was much better than John Hannah.

[steveatesh]

Belle in Emmerdale
(Posting for a friend..... )

[unident]

I know it’s only a voice in a cartoon, but Mila Kunis is far better as Meg than Lacey Chabert from Series 1

[FourWheelDrift]

Milla Kunis, 2nd Meg on Family Guy. Shut up Meg.

[unident]

FourWheelDrift said:

Milla Kunis, 2nd Meg on Family Guy. Shut up Meg.

Just pipped you to that

[unident]

Woody in Cheers was at lest the equal of Coach, although it took a little while to grow into the role and always difficult when the original much loved actor has died

[FourWheelDrift]

unident said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Milla Kunis, 2nd Meg on Family Guy. Shut up Meg.

Just pipped you to that

I got distracted googling Lacey Chabert.

[Gameface]

Moulder said:

Neil Stuke better than Ben Chaplin (Game On).

No.

[snuffy]

Moulder said:

Neil Stuke better than Ben Chaplin (Game On).

And as I recall, wasn't their an episode (maybe the first one where it's Neil Stuke) and they are all watching TV and someone says "I hate it when they change the actor playing the same character".