27 Side-By-Sides Of TV Actors In Their First Appearance On A Show Vs. When They Returned As The Character Years Later

    Charlie Cox returning as Matt Murdock in She-Hulk after starring in Daredevil is my favorite thing to happen.

    Nora Dominick
    by Nora Dominick

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. First, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Lexa on The 100 in her first episode in 2014:

    Alycia as Lexa in "The 100"
    The CW

    Alycia Debnam-Carey as Lexa on The 100 when she returned in 2020:

    Lexa saying, "I'm not her, Clarke" as she hugs her
    The CW

    After Lexa's tragic – and unnecessary death — Alycia came back to The 100 twice, with the most surprising return coming in the series finale. She appeared when Clarke went to see the Judge and they appeared in the form of Lexa. Speaking to BuzzFeed about her return, Alycia said, "I wanted to do it specifically for the fans and to have a little closure to finally feel like there was a positive spin that had happened."

    2. Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil on Daredevil in his first episode in 2015:

    Matt Murdock with sunglasses; Daredevil
    Marvel / Netflix

    Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law in 2022:

    Matt Murdock in a courtroom; Daredevil
    Marvel / Disney+

    Charlie has officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Daredevil and has been reprising his role quite a bit recently. After appearing in Spider-Man: No Way Home, he made his TV return in She-Hulk when Matt crosses paths with Jennifer Walters on a case. Also, Matt has some serious chemistry with Jen, which I'm still thinking about. Up next, he'll appear in a new series titled Daredevil: Born Again.

    3. David Tennant as The Tenth Doctor on Doctor Who in his first episode in 2005:

    The Tenth Doctor with his mouth open and the word, "Hello"
    BBC

    David Tennant as The Fourteenth Doctor on Doctor Who when he returned in 2022:

    The Fourteenth Doctor with his mouth open and the words, "I know those teeth—what?!"
    BBC

    After making one other appearance following his departure from the show in 2010, David recently returned as The Fourteenth Doctor after Jodie Whittaker left the series. In the episode, The Doctor regenerates and is surprised when he resembles Tennant's Tenth Doctor once again. David will appear in another episode in 2023 before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role of The Doctor.

    4. Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy in her first episode in 2005:

    Addison Montgomery looking at something and then her saying to Meredith, "And you must be the woman who's been screwing my husband?"
    ABC

    Kate Walsh as Addison Montomgery on Grey's Anatomy when she returned in 2022:

    Addison Montgomery speaking by a podium and then talking to a young doctor
    ABC

    Since Private Practice ended in 2013, Kate returned to the Grey's Anatomy universe for the first time in 2021. Most recently, she reprised her role in a Season 19 episode when she arrived at Grey Sloan to help teach a sex ed class to high school students.

    5. Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy in his first episode in 2005:

    Derek Shepherd buttoning his shirt; Derek talking to Meredith in a hospital
    ABC

    Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy when he returned in 2021:

    Derek on a beach saying, "Meredith!" and smiling
    ABC

    After departing the series during Season 11, Patrick made a shocking reappearance as Derek in Season 17. Patrick's return to the show after his character's death was brought on when Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) was suffering from complications from COVID-19 and she saw him while in a coma.

    6. T.R. Knight as George O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy in his first episode in 2005:

    George looking stunned and then him saying, "We're gonna survive this, right?"
    ABC

    T.R. Knight as George O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy when he returned in 2021:

    George smiling and sitting with Meredith on the beach
    ABC

    Similar to Patrick Dempsey, T.R. reprised his role as George for the first time since he departed the series in 2009 during the season when Meredith was suffering from COVID-19 and she reunited with George on the beach.

    7. Eric Dane as Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy in his first episode in 2006:

    Mark Sloan talking to Meredith and then Derek
    ABC

    Eric Dane as Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy when he returned in 2021:

    Mark by the beach saying, "Don't waste one single minute"
    ABC

    Eric Dane also guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy for the first time since leaving the show in 2012 during the COVID-19 season. Meredith reunited with Mark on the beach as well.

    8. Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey on Grey's Anatomy in her first episode in 2007:

    Lexie smiling
    ABC

    Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey on Grey's Anatomy when she returned in 2021:

    Lexie smiling on the beach
    ABC

    Yup, you guessed it. Chyler's first appearance on Grey's Anatomy since 2012 came when Lexie reunited with Meredith on the beach while Meredith had COVID-19. However, unlike Patrick, T.R., and Eric, Chyler's scenes were filmed on a green screen in Vancouver due to the strict filming restrictions while she was shooting Supergirl in Canada.

    9. Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds in his first episode in 2005:

    Derek on the phone in a club; Derek with a questioning look on his face and holding a piece of paper
    CBS

    Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds when he returned in 2017:

    Derek on the phone and then sitting with a woman on a couch
    CBS

    Shemar left Criminal Minds as a series regular at the end of Season 11 in 2016. After his departure, he returned to the show twice as Derek Morgan, both in 2017. His last appearance on the show was during Season 13, when he returned to the BAU and surprised Penelope Garcia while on the phone with her.

    10. Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU in his first episode in 1999:

    Elliot Stabler on the stand; Elliot in his office
    NBC

    Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU when he returned in 2021:

    Elliot at an emergency scene and yelling, "Liv!"
    NBC

    Christopher notably departed Law & Order: SVU at the end of Season 12 in 2011. Then, 10 years later, he returned to the show when Elliot and Liv reunited after his wife was injured. This also set up Elliot's spinoff series Law & Order: Organized Crime, which he currently stars on.

    11. Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad in his first episode in 2008:

    Walter White holding a gun; Walter putting an apron on in the desert
    AMC

    Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Better Call Saul in 2022:

    Walter White talking to Saul
    AMC

    Bryan Cranston made his first appearance as Walter White since Breaking Bad ended in 2013 during the final season of Better Call Saul, which served as a prequel series. In the two episodes he appeared in, Walter and Jesse took Saul to the desert, in one of their first moments together. Bryan also appeared as Walter in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie in 2019.

    12. Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad in his first episode in 2008:

    Jesse Pinkman grinning
    AMC

    Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Better Call Saul in 2022:

    Jesse looking serious in the meth trailer
    AMC

    Just like Bryan Cranston, Aaron reprised his role as Jesse in the final season of Better Call Saul when we watched as Walter and Jesse dragged Saul into the desert. This is the second time Aaron has played Jesse since the original series ended in 2013. He also starred in the Netflix movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.

    13. Miranda Cosgrove as Carly Shay on iCarly in her first episode in 2007:

    Carly sitting in an office chair; Carly talking to friends
    Nickelodeon

    Miranda Cosgrove as Carly Shay on the revival of iCarly in 2021:

    Carly looking serious; Carly smiling on livestream and saying, "Welcome to the new 'iCarly'"
    Paramount Plus

    After the original series ended in 2012, Miranda returned as her iconic character with the reboot series iCarly in 2021. The new show follows Carly as she reunites with Freddie and restarts her popular web series. The show was just renewed for a third season.

    14. Rider Strong as Shawn Hunter on Boy Meets World in his first episode in 1993:

    Shawn Hunter in the cafeteria
    ABC

    15. Rider Strong as Shawn Hunter on Girl Meets World in 2014:

    Shawn all grown up and entering a doorway and then sitting down, looking serious
    Disney Channel

    Following the conclusion of Boy Meets World in 2000, Rider reprised his role on the spinoff series for the first time in 2014. After this first episode, which featured Shawn visiting the Matthews family for the holidays, Rider appeared in several more episodes before the show ended.

    16. Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter on That's So Raven in her first episode in 2003:

    Raven raising her hand; Raven taking notes
    Disney Channel

    Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter on Raven's Home in 2022:

    Raven all grown up and smiling; Raven talking to someone
    Disney Channel / Disney+

    Raven returned to her iconic role as Raven Baxter in 2017 when the spinoff series Raven's Home began. The show follows Raven as she raises her two children, one of whom is psychic just like her. The show is currently in its fifth season.

    17. Crystal Reed as Allison Argent on Teen Wolf in her first episode in 2011:

    Allison smiling and sitting next to a guy
    MTV

    Crystal Reed as Allison Argent in Teen Wolf: The Movie in 2023:

    Allison looking serious inside an office; Allison walking away from a car on fire
    Paramount Plus / Via youtu.be

    Crystal made the decision to leave Teen Wolf following Season 3 in 2014. She appeared in one episode after Allison's death as an ancestor, but that was it. Now she's set to reprise her role in the upcoming Teen Wolf: The Movie. While details on her return are pretty under wraps, it was revealed that she'll be playing a new "version" of Allison.

    18. Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office in his first episode in 2005:

    Michael saying, "People say I am the best boss" and then holding a World's Best Boss mug
    NBC

    Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office when he returned in 2013:

    Michael smiling and entering a room and then saying, "That's what she said"
    NBC

    After leaving The Office following Season 7, Steve returned to his iconic role for the series finale in 2013. In the episode, Michael surprises Dwight at his wedding to Angela.

    19. Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls in her first episode in 2000:

    Rory talking to her mom
    Warner Bros.

    Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in 2016:

    Rory at a dinner table and then sitting on a couch
    Netflix

    Alexis returned to reprise her role as Rory Gilmore in the Netflix's revival series nine years after the original show ended. Rory's revival storyline is often met with criticism, as it involves her blowing great job opportunities, sleeping with Logan, who's engaged, and much more.

    20. Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls in his first episode in 2001:

    Jess walking on campus; Jess talking to Rory
    Warner Bros.

    Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in 2016:

    Jess sitting at a desk; Jess standing on a porch
    Warner Bros.

    After leaving the original series following Season 3, Milo returned to Gilmore Girls a few times before the show ended in 2007. His biggest return came when he reprised his role in the Netflix's revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, where Jess came back to Stars Hollow and got to see Rory again for the first time in years.

    21. Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill in his first episode in 2003:

    Lucas outside at night looking at something; Lucas talking to someone in a cafe
    The CW

    Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill when he returned in 2012:

    Lucas looking serious; Lucas talking to someone
    The CW

    22. Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars on Veronica Mars in her first episode in 2004:

    closeup of Veronica smiling; Veronica eating outside
    Warner Bros.

    Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars on Veronica Mars in 2019:

    Veronica looking down at something with concern; Veronica showing something in her hand to a woman
    Warner Bros

    After the original series ended in 2007, Kristen returned as Veronica Mars in a movie in 2014 followed by the revival season on Hulu in 2019. The new season picked up with Veronica, once again, being a private investigator in her hometown of Neptune. Of course, the end of the revival season was met with fan criticism tied to Logan Echolls's finale storyline.

    23. Alfred Enoch as Wes Gibbins on How to Get Away with Murder in his first episode in 2014:

    Wes talking to a woman; Wes at night looking scared
    ABC

    Alfred Enoch as Christopher Castillo on How to Get Away with Murder when he returned in 2020:

    Christopher saying, "This is Criminal Law 101, or as my mentor liked to call it, how to get away with murder"
    ABC

    Alfred left How to Get Away with Murder as a series regular during Season 3 in 2014. He returned a handful of times in flashbacks before the show ended in 2020, with his last appearance coming in the series finale when he portrayed an adult version of Christopher Castillo, Wes and Laurel's son, who was now teaching Annalise Keating's infamous class.

    24. Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman and Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman on That '70s Show in their first episode in 1998:

    Red and Kitty; Kitty saying, "A car is not a bedroom on wheels; Laurie's friend got pregnant in a car—don't let that happen"
    Fox

    Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman and Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman on That '90s Show in 2023:

    Red and Kitty sitting at a kitchen table
    Patrick Wymore/Netflix

    Seventeen years after the series finale of That '70s Show, Debra will return as Kitty in the new Netflix spinoff series That '90s Show. The show is set to follow Leia Forman, Donna and Eric's daughter, as she spends the summer of 1995 with her grandparents in Wisconsin. Alongside Debra and Kurtwood, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon, Topher Grace, and Wilmer Valderrama will all be appearing as guest stars.

    25. Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh on The Walking Dead in his first episode in 2010:

    Shane Walsh sitting in a car; Shane looking at something outside
    AMC

    Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh on The Walking Dead when he returned in 2018:

    Shane saying, "Goddamn, cowboy; you look like shit"
    AMC

    Jon left The Walking Dead as a series regular at the end of Season 2 in 2012; however, he's reprised his role as Shane twice since, the most recent being in Season 9 during Andrew Lincoln's final episode. While suffering a gruesome injury and leading a horde of walkers away from camp, Rick imagines some of the people he's lost, one of whom is Shane.

    26. Jodie Sweetin as Stephanie Tanner on Full House in her first episode in 1987:

    Stephanie as a little girl holding a stuffed animal; Stephanie saying, "Showtime!"
    ABC

    Jodie Sweetin as Stephanie Tanner in Fuller House in 2016:

    Stephanie all grown up and looking at someone with skepticism; Stephanie looking at something
    Netflix

    Jodie returned to the role of Stephanie Tanner 21 years later for the Netflix revival series Fuller House. The new series picked up with Stephanie returning home to help DJ raise her children following her husband's death. Jodie went on to star on the show until it ended in 2020.

    27. And finally, Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries in her first episode in 2009:

    Elena writing, "Dear diary, today will be different; it has to be"; Elena standing next to a guy and lookign at something
    The CW

    Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries when she returned in 2017:

    closeup of Elena looking stunned; Elena walking with a guy
    The CW

    After departing The Vampire Diaries as a series regular following Season 6, Nina returned for the series finale of the show two seasons later. In the episode, Elena woke up from the magical coma she had been placed in, and she was able to reunite with Damon and her friends.

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