1. Hollywood Film Actors now doing TV shows

I've had a browse recently over the old boxsets of Buck Rogers. All I can say is... TV has come a LONG way. It seems I'm not the only one who thinks so. More and more film actors are realising the high quality stories that can now be told on a TV budget. As I researched into this, the way people flip flop from films to TV astounded me. Enough so that this is now going to be the first in a series of 3 posts.
So here we go, Part 1: A list of Hollywood players, that have given up celluloid for small screen glory.


James Caan

The Godfather, Thief, El Dorado.. the man's been in some big films. He finally took the plunge in 2003 to start in TV series Las Vegas as casino owner Ed Deline. He has stated numerous times that he loved the show, but his decision to leave was based on the fact that a full time TV show was leaving no time for him to continue his film career.

Ron Perlman

This is one of those guys who's has been in more films than you'll ever remember, but so rarely does he get the lead that he's often forgotten. Alien Resurrection, Hellboy, Enemy at The Gates, Star Trek Nemesis to name a few. Whilst he lent himself to cameo Voices on TV, he didn't get in the game until 2008 in Sons of Anarchy, where he now plays Biker gang member Clay Morrow

Donald Sutherland

The dirty dozen, MASH, Invasion of the Body snatchers, even the original Buffy movie: It seems Big Don has been in everything. Like a lot of guys on this list, as his film career has winded down, another opened up on TV. His last full series was Dirty Sexy Money, but he's been in a few miniseries since, notably The Pillars of the Earth

Kiefer Sutherland

Like father, like son I guess. Kiefer has become so linked to 24's antihero Jack Bauer that its easy to forget that he used to be films only. Everything from Stand by Me to Young Guns, and Dark City. He's currently back on TV, in a show called Touch with another film actor not on this list, Danny Glover

Steve Buscemi

Buscemi is something of an Indie favourite, ending up in well received fare such as Reservoir Dogs, Desperado and Ghost World, as well as Hollywood spectacles such as Con Air, Armageddon, and [too] many Adam Sandler films. He's now seen on HBO's Boardwalk Empire

Jason Lee

He used to be in simple comedies like Mallrats, before making the leap to more popular flicks such as Heartbreakers, A Guy Thing and Almost Famous. When he started on TV show My Name is Earl, he was vocal about the fact that he hadn't been convinced about TV, but the script changed his whole perspective, forcing him to re-assess his view on which medium could produce the better drama. He's stuck with this ethos: he's currently playing a cop on Memphis Beat

Kat Dennings

This is one I simply don't understand. With films like Defendor, Nick and Norah, and a sprinkle of Hollywood in the form of Thor, Dennings seemed to be in the ideal position, career-wise. So why she would take on a sitcom as bland, mean, and cheap-looking as 2 Broke Girls, is completely beyond me. I guess some people out there must be liking it though

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey has always been a critics darling. Balancing her time between Hollywood films and more obscure indies, she's carved out a fine career. A suitable addition to it is her recent move to TV sitcom territory, with New Girl, a show which, if anything, can at least claim fantastic production value

Jason Schwartzman

Indie king Schwartzman's move into TV, is onto a show that displays the same themes as most of his films. A pitch black sense of humour, slapstick juxtaposed with melancholy, angst, insecurity and dark undertones. It's called Bored to Death and also stars Zach Galifianakis from the Hangover

Kevin Bacon

Bacon is one of the hardest workers in Hollywood, and has amassed quite a back catalogue of films. He's also made the move to TV, with an upcoming FBI serial killer show, called The Following

Dennis Quaid

Randy's chiseled brother, Dennis has been in classic films such as The Rookie and Inner Space, as well as more modern hits like Vantage Point and The Day After Tomorrow. He's soon to star in Vegas, a 60s set crime drama about a local sheriff, which also starts the Matrix's Carrie-Anne Moss.

Don Cheadle

A character actor who I wouldn't say has quite made the lead to leading man, certainly not solo. Its a shame, because he's wracked up an impressive Filmography, and is a very versatile actor. He's currently in House of Lies with the former Veronica Mars

Elijah Wood

 Frodo the Green street Hooligan is currently on a show about an imaginary Dog. Yes seriously. Its from Australia apparently. 

Honourable mentions: Jonah Hill (Allen Gregory), Sam Neil (Hapy Town, Alkatraz), Paminder Nagra (ER), Ed Helms (The Office),  Harvey Keitel (Life on Mars US)