The Biggest Career Comebacks from TV Actresses, Ranked

This article was originally published on Lizanest.com

They were the moms, daughters, best friends, and wisecracking sidekicks who made us laugh every week. But when their famous sitcoms ended, many found Hollywood had little use for them.

Then came the surprise second acts. Some danced their way back into the spotlight, others conquered Broadway, and a few became bigger stars decades later than they ever were the first time.

From modest returns to legendary reinventions, here are the greatest sitcom actress comebacks, ranked.

#1: Vicki Lawrence, Taking Mama on the Road

Vicki Lawrence was only 24 when she played Thelma Harper, the grumpy, no-nonsense “Mama” on The Carol Burnett Show. The character got her own sitcom, Mama’s Family, which survived an early NBC cancellation and kept going in syndication until 1990. But Mama had more to say.

After a Carol Burnett reunion special pulled in more than 50 million viewers in 2001, Vicki brought Mama back on stage with a touring live show. She’s still at it today, and she co-starred on Fox’s The Cool Kids in 2018. It’s fun but modest, so she’s at the bottom of our list.

#2: Maureen McCormick, Telling Her Own Story

“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” Maureen McCormick played the oldest Brady daughter on The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974. Marcia had perfect hair, tons of friends, and that famous football-to-the-nose moment. Behind the scenes, though, Maureen’s real life was far from picture-perfect.

In 2008, she opened up about her struggles with drugs and depression in her memoir, Here’s the Story, which became a bestseller. She also popped up on reality shows like Celebrity Fit Club, and later on Dancing with the Stars in 2016. Her honesty won hearts, but it was more of a personal comeback than a career one.

#3: Lisa Whelchel, Outwitting on Survivor

From 1979 to 1988, Lisa Whelchel was Blair Warner, the rich, spoiled (but secretly sweet) student on The Facts of Life. Before that, she’d even been a Mouseketeer! After the show ended, she mostly stepped away from Hollywood to raise her family and write books.

Then came 2012. Lisa shocked fans by joining Survivor: Philippines, where she played a smart, emotional game and made it all the way to the final three. Seeing Blair Warner sleep in the dirt was a total treat. It was a thrilling run, but one reality season can only take you so far.

#4: Florence Henderson, Dancing at 76

Every kid in the ’70s wanted a mom like Carol Brady. Florence Henderson played the cheerful head of The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974, and the role made her “America’s Mom” for life. She stayed busy for decades afterward, hosting a cooking show and selling Wesson oil.

Her big moment came in 2010, when she joined Dancing with the Stars at 76 years old. Watching Mrs. Brady cha-cha on live TV was pure joy. Still, Florence never really left the spotlight, so this felt more like a victory lap than a true comeback.