From “Murphy Brown” to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” to “Everybody Loves Raymond,” the 1990s entertained us with some classic sitcoms. Join us as we look back at some of our favorite sitcom stars from the 1990s.
BURT REYNOLDS (1936 – 2018) and OSSIE DAVIS (1917 – 2005)
BURT REYNOLDS (1936 – 2018) starred with OSSIE DAVIS (1917 – 2005) on “Evening Shade” from 1990-94. Reynolds played a former professional football player who returns to his hometown in Arkansas to coach the high school football team. Davis typically closed each episode with his character, Ponder Blue, summing up the events of the show and ending with “… in a place called Evening Shade.”
Burt Reynolds
Reynolds won an Emmy Award for best actor in a comedy for his work on “Evening Shade.”
More Burt Reynolds in our photo gallery.
DORIS ROBERTS (1925 – 2016)
DORIS ROBERTS (1925 – 2016) appeared in many movies and television shows but she will be best remembered for playing the meddling mother and mother-in-law on the popular sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” She won four Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Marie Barone.
PETER BOYLE (1935 – 2006)
PETER BOYLE (1935 – 2006) – As the amiably grouchy patriarch Frank Barone on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Boyle was nominated for an Emmy seven times.
LAMONT BENTLEY (1973 – 2005)
LAMONT BENTLEY (1973 – 2005) starred as Hakeem Campbell on the UPN half-hour comedy series “Moesha.”
YVETTE WILSON (1964 – 2012)
YVETTE WILSON (1964 – 2012) starred as Andell Wilkerson in more than 200 episodes of long-running 1990s sitcom “Moesha” and its 2000s spinoff “The Parkers,” showcasing her acting ability as well as undeniable comedy chops.
PHIL HARTMAN (1948 – 1998)
PHIL HARTMAN (1948 – 1998) got to use his fantastic talent for impressions as a radio newsman on “News Radio.”
LEE THOMPSON YOUNG (1984 – 2013)
Actor LEE THOMPSON YOUNG (1984 – 2013) first came to fame as the title character on ’90s Disney Channel sitcom “The Famous Jett Jackson.”
JAMES AVERY (1945 – 2013)
JAMES AVERY (1945 – 2013) starred as family patriarch Philip Banks in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
RIP TORN (1931 – 2019) and GARRY SHANDLING (1949 – 2016)
“THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW,” a fictional look at a popular late-night talk show host, starred RIP TORN, GARRY SHANDLING (1949 – 2016), and JEFFREY TAMBOR. Shandling wrote 38 episodes of the series and was nominated for 18 Emmys for his work on the show.
DIXIE CARTER (1939 – 2010)
DIXIE CARTER (1939 – 2010) is known best for playing Julia Sugarbaker on TV’s “Designing Women,” the hotheaded founder of an interior design firm that operated out of her home. “Designing Women” tackled homophobia, racism, AIDS, prejudice against overweight people, domestic abuse and more.
Dixie Carter vs. Julia Sugarbaker
MESHACH TAYLOR (1947 – 2014)
MESHACH TAYLOR (1947 – 2014) charmed audiences so much that a single-episode gig turned in to a recurring role in TV’s “Designing Women.” He portrayed Anthony Bouvier, a lovable ex-convict.
JAN HOOKS (1957 – 2014)
As a cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” JAN HOOKS (1957 – 2014) had audiences in stitches with her impressions. In the early 1990s, she starred as innocent and tenderhearted Carlene Dobber in “Designing Women.”
ALICE GHOSTLEY (1924 – 2007)
ALICE GHOSTLEY (1924 – 2007) appeared in many classic sitcoms, including “Designing Women.” She received an Emmy Nomination for her role as Bernice Clifton in the show.
PAT CORLEY (1930 – 2006)
PAT CORLEY (1930 – 2006) served sage advice along with drinks as Phil the barkeep on “Murphy Brown.”
ROBERT PASTORELLI (1954 – 2004)
ROBERT PASTORELLI (1954 – 2004) was best known for his role as Eldin Bernecky, the ever-present house painter on the hit sitcom “Murphy Brown.”
ERNEST BORGNINE (1917 – 2012)
ERNEST BORGNINE (1917 – 2012) had a varied career, with memorable roles in comedy, romance and even children’s TV. In the 1990s, he starred in “The Single Guy.”
PEGGY REA (1921 – 2011)
PEGGY REA (1921 – 2011) had recurring roles in “Step by Step” as Suzanne Somers’ mother and in “Grace Under Fire” as Brett Butler’s mother-in-law.
DAVID STRICKLAND JR. (1969 – 1999)
Actor DAVID STRICKLAND JR. (1969 – 1999) was starring on “Suddenly Susan,” playing rock music reporter Todd Stities, at the time of his unexpected 1999 death. Before that role, Strickland had prominent guest roles on “Mad About You” and “Sister, Sister.”
ROBERT CULP (1930 – 2010)
Well-known for his role as Kelly Robinson in the TV series “I Spy,” ROBERT CULP (1930 – 2010) had a recurring role as Warren Whelan in “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
