1. Farrah Fawcett on The Six Million Dollar Man
Before she became a poster on a million bedroom walls, Farrah Fawcett had a recurring guest role as Maj. Steve Austin’s love interest on The Six Million Dollar Man. She brought a mix of warmth and playfulness that stood out, even alongside Lee Majors’ larger-than-life hero. Fans tuned in not just for the action sequences, but because Farrah made the romance feel genuine. Her charisma practically leapt off the screen, hinting that she was destined for bigger things.
Of course, she became a household name on Charlie’s Angels soon after, but her early TV guest spots were where audiences first saw her magnetic screen presence. Interestingly, she never returned to roles like this after her career skyrocketed. Once she left Charlie’s Angels behind, she leaned into films and dramatic roles. That shift meant her early TV guest star days felt like a vanished moment in time.
2. Vincent Price on The Brady Bunch
Vincent Price was already Hollywood royalty, but when he popped up on The Brady Bunch, he transformed a lighthearted family sitcom into something deliciously creepy. Playing an eccentric archaeologist in the Hawaii episodes, he gave the kids and parents alike a run for their money. It was one of those crossovers that kids never forgot, because he brought a touch of gothic mystery to the otherwise sunny series.
Despite how memorable he was, Price didn’t stick around in sitcom land. He returned to his world of horror films, voice work, and art collecting, disappearing from the realm of wholesome TV families. His appearance on The Brady Bunch is still talked about because it was such an unexpected pairing. After all, who better to add spookiness to the Brady clan than the King of Horror himself?
3. Ethel Merman on Maude
When Ethel Merman dropped by Maude, the Broadway powerhouse showed she didn’t need a big stage to command attention. Her booming voice and outsized personality clashed perfectly with Bea Arthur’s sharp wit. Watching the two legends spar was like watching fire meet fire, and the audience couldn’t get enough. Merman managed to overshadow nearly everyone else in the episode.
Yet despite stealing the show, she never became a sitcom regular. Her heart remained on Broadway, and her guest TV roles were rare treats. That meant her dazzling one-off appearances seemed to vanish as quickly as they arrived. Fans who caught her episodes knew they had witnessed something special that wouldn’t be repeated often.
4. Mark Hamill on The Partridge Family
Before he became Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill turned up in a 1971 episode of The Partridge Family. He played Laurie Partridge’s boyfriend, and even in that short stint, he had a natural ease that made him stand out. His boyish charm was impossible to miss, and fans later loved pointing out this early role.
But after Star Wars exploded in 1977, Hamill left TV guest spots behind. He focused on movies and later voice acting, most famously as the Joker in animated Batman projects. That single Partridge Family episode feels like a peek into an alternate timeline, where Hamill could have built a career as a steady TV actor. Instead, his guest star moment vanished into the shadow of one of the biggest film franchises ever.
5. Florence Henderson on Police Woman
Most fans remember Florence Henderson as Carol Brady, the perfect sitcom mom. But she shocked audiences when she guest-starred on Police Woman in 1975 as a call girl. Seeing Henderson play against type was a jolt, and she dove into the role with surprising grit. It proved she could do more than smile sweetly at her TV children.
The performance turned heads, but Henderson didn’t pivot to gritty drama afterward. She returned to her wholesome image and appearances tied to The Brady Bunch. That edgy detour into crime drama was a one-time moment that seemed to vanish as quickly as it came. For fans, it remains a fascinating glimpse of what could have been a very different career path.
6. Donny Osmond on The Flip Wilson Show
Teen idol Donny Osmond was everywhere in the early ’70s, but his guest appearances on variety shows like The Flip Wilson Show were where he really shined. His boy-next-door charm and natural rapport with Wilson made audiences light up. Even though he wasn’t doing comedy full-time, he slipped easily into skits that left fans in stitches.
After the ’70s faded, Osmond’s TV guest star sparkle seemed to disappear. He reinvented himself in music, Broadway, and later reality shows. But those early appearances were pure magic, showing how a pop star could steal scenes in a different world. His crossover moments proved unforgettable, even if they didn’t last long.
7. Sammy Davis Jr. on All in the Family
Few guest appearances are remembered as vividly as Sammy Davis Jr. visiting Archie Bunker’s house on All in the Family. The clash of cultures, capped by that unforgettable kiss on Archie’s cheek, was television history. Sammy had charisma in spades, and he walked away having completely owned the episode.
Despite how iconic it was, he didn’t become a sitcom fixture. Davis returned to his music and stage career, leaving that TV moment as a one-off. It made his performance even more special, like lightning in a bottle. Fans still talk about it as one of the greatest guest spots of the decade.
8. John Ritter on Mary Tyler Moore
Before he became Jack Tripper on Three’s Company, John Ritter had a small but memorable role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He played a minister who was both charming and a bit awkward, delivering the kind of timing that would later define his career. Ritter had a knack for drawing laughs with just a glance or a pause.
But this was before his big break, so his appearance came and went quickly. Once Three’s Company hit, he never returned to roles this small. That single guest role now feels like a rare gem, a preview of the comic genius he would soon unleash on primetime. For viewers at the time, it was a bright but fleeting moment.
9. Cloris Leachman on The Love Boat
Cloris Leachman was already an Oscar winner, but her turn on The Love Boat showed her playful side. She leaned into the camp of the series, clearly having fun with the outlandish premise. Leachman’s natural comedic chops and flair made her the standout of the episode, even on a show packed with stars.
Despite how well she fit into that environment, she didn’t stick around The Love Boat. She focused more on films and selective TV roles instead. That single guest appearance felt like a sparkle in the middle of the ocean, one that vanished as quickly as the cruise ship sailed on. Fans who saw it remember how she completely took over the screen.
10. William Shatner on Columbo
Fresh off Star Trek, William Shatner played a villain in a 1976 episode of Columbo. His smugness and intensity matched perfectly against Peter Falk’s rumpled detective. Watching the two of them verbally spar was a masterclass in tension and charisma. Shatner stole every scene he was in, despite being the “bad guy.”
Yet this didn’t launch him into a regular string of dramatic TV roles. He returned mainly to science fiction and cult projects. His Columbo guest star moment was one of those performances that showed he could do more, but it remained a one-off. It lingers in fans’ memories as a brilliant but brief detour.
11. Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
It’s easy to forget that Cher’s guest segments on her own variety series often overshadowed everything else. Whether she was doing comedy sketches or surprise duets with major stars, she always had a knack for stealing the spotlight. Her confidence and humor made her guest interactions more memorable than the scripted parts.
But as the ’70s ended, Cher stepped away from television comedy. She reinvented herself as a solo music icon and later an actress. Those playful variety-show moments vanished, replaced by a more serious career. Fans who remember her guest star sparkle on TV know just how much she lit up every scene.
12. O.J. Simpson on The Odd Couple
In the mid-’70s, O.J. Simpson was at the height of his football fame when he popped up on The Odd Couple. Playing himself, he gamely leaned into the comedy alongside Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. His natural timing surprised many, and he easily became the highlight of the episode.
But he never stuck with acting in a meaningful way. His guest appearances on TV shows were more curiosities than career moves. After football, his public story took a very different turn, and those lighthearted sitcom cameos disappeared. Looking back, it feels surreal that he once stole scenes on a beloved comedy.
