The most iconic TV duos decades later – see their astonishing transformations

Laverne & Shirley created one of the most iconic TV duos there is. Starring Penny Marshall as Laverne DeFazio and Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney, the 1970s show followed the best friends and roommates living in Milwaukee and working at a brewery.

After the beloved comedy wrapped in 1983, the stars’ successful careers continued. Penny directed several hit films like A League of Their Own, and had one daughter, Tracy Reiner, before passing away in December 2018. Cindy starred in many more TV shows and on Broadway, before she too passed away in January 2023.

Cheers gave us many duos, by Norm and Cliff were the most cherished. Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, and Cliff Clavin, played by John Ratzenberger, were fixtures of the bar. The best friends were always there to share their opinions and drink ice cold beer.

George and John were on Cheers until it wrapped after 11 seasons. George went on to appear in many TV shows, while raising his three children, before dying in May 2025. John, 79, has had an incredibly successful career as a voice actor, with credits on over 20 Pixar films.

The Odd Couple is sort of the original TV duo. Starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman as Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, the show followed two divorced men turned roommates. The show was so successful that after it wrapped in 1975, the stars reunited for the 1993 TV movie The Odd Couple: Together Again.

Before Tony passed away in 2004 at 84, he had a successful career on TV and on Broadway. Jack died at 90 in 2012, and starred in many shows and films, like the comedy When Do We Eat?

M*A*S*H created comedy out of a heartbreaking war, and gave us an iconic TV duo. Alan Alda as Hawkeye Piece and Mike Farrell as B.J. Hunnicut were the perfect twosome. Hawkeye was wisecracking, anti-authoritarian, while B.J. was a laid-back Californian looking for a few laughs. 

The duo starred on the show until it wrapped in 1983 and went on to have successful careers. Alan, 90, has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy, three Tonys, and won six Emmys. Mike, 87, stepped away from Hollywood, focusing more on anti-war activism.

As a ‘90s baby, Kenan and Kel define TV duo to me. The comedic twosome starred in a string of Nickelodeon hits, from the variety show All That to their own Kenan and Kel.

Kenan Thompson took his success from his Nickelodeon days. He is the longest-tenured cast member in Saturday Night Live history. And, he reunited with Kel Mitchell in 2023 for the sequel Good Burger 2.

Sure, I Love Lucy was known for the loving relationship between Lucy and Desi, but the duo that lasted was between Lucy and Ethel. Played by Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance, the actresses are best known for the iconic chocolate factory assembly line scene.

Of course, Lucille cemented her status as a comedy legend on I Love Lucy, as well as a producer and executive before passing away in 1989. Her friend Vivian had successes on TV after I Love Lucy wrapped. She passed away in 1979.

There would be no Jerry without George, and there is no George without Jerry. Seinfeld is one of the most successful comedies in history and it is in due part because of the hilarious relationship between Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza, played by Jason Alexander.

These days, Jerry and Jason are titans of Hollywood. Jerry is one of the most prolific stand up comedians in the industry, and Jason has starred in dozens of films and shows. Currently he is touring with his one-man show, As Long As You’re Asking.