10 Series With Just One Major Star Still Living Today
Time has a way of turning a cast list into a little time capsule. Years pass, reruns keep playing, and one familiar face still feels close, even if the rest of the lineup belongs to another era.
With certain classic series, that feeling hits even harder because only one major star remains with us today, which can make revisiting the show oddly emotional in a quiet, unexpected way.
Fans notice it during a rewatch, then the curiosity kicks in: what became of that person, and what did it feel like carrying the show’s legacy forward alone?
A gentle kind of perspective comes with that question, plus a reminder of how much television can stitch itself into real life.
1. Gilligan’s Island — Tina Louise
Stranded on a desert island for three seasons, this shipwrecked crew became part of TV legend.
Tina Louise brought Hollywood glamour to the castaway comedy as Ginger Grant, the movie star who somehow packed evening gowns for a three-hour tour.
Now the sole survivor of the original seven castaways, she remains a living link to one of television’s most enduring comedies.
The show aired from 1964 to 1967 but never left our cultural consciousness. Fans still debate whether they could build a radio from coconuts!
2. Diff’rent Strokes — Todd Bridges
What you talkin’ about became a catchphrase that defined an era, but Willis Jackson had his own cool factor.
Todd Bridges played the older brother who helped navigate life in a penthouse after moving from Harlem with his family.
As the last surviving main cast member, he carries forward memories of a groundbreaking sitcom that tackled serious issues between the laughs.
3. Mork & Mindy — Pam Dawber
When an alien landed in Boulder, Colorado, he needed an earthling to show him the ropes.
Pam Dawber played Mindy McConnell, the kind-hearted woman who became best friends with the wackiest extraterrestrial ever to say “Nanu Nanu.”
Her chemistry with Robin Williams created television magic that fans remember decades later.
Today she stands as the final major cast member from this beloved comedy that mixed slapstick with heart.
4. The Addams Family — John Astin
Snap snap! No family brought more gothic charm to suburbia than the Addamses, and Gomez was the passionate patriarch who loved fencing, trains, and especially his wife Morticia.
John Astin made the role unforgettable with boundless energy and comedic timing.
From 1964 to 1966, audiences fell for this creepy and kooky clan.
Now the only surviving main cast member, he represents an era when weird was wonderful and being different was celebrated with style and sophistication!
5. I Dream of Jeannie — Barbara Eden
Finding a genie in a bottle sounds like fantasy, but for astronaut Tony Nelson it became everyday chaos.
Barbara Eden starred as the magical Jeannie who blinked her way through five seasons of comedic mishaps and romantic tension.
Her iconic costume and playful charm made the show a cultural phenomenon that still enchants viewers.
As the remaining major star from the series, she keeps alive memories of a simpler TV era when magic could solve problems (or create hilarious new ones).
6. The Beverly Hillbillies — Max Baer Jr.
When oil bubbled up from the ground, the Clampett family packed up their truck and moved to Beverly.
Max Baer Jr. played Jethro Bodine, the lovable nephew whose sixth-grade education didn’t stop him from dreaming big (really big).
His double naivety provided endless laughs as city slickers tried taking advantage of country folk with hearts of gold.
The show dominated ratings from 1962 to 1971. Today he’s the final surviving main cast member from this fish-out-of-water classic that proved money can’t buy common sense!
7. Laverne & Shirley — Michael McKean
Two best friends working at a Milwaukee brewery became TV icons, but they had quirky neighbors who stole plenty of scenes.
Michael McKean played Lenny Kosnowski, one half of the Lenny and Squiggy duo that burst through doors yelling “Hello!”
His comedic genius helped make the show a ratings powerhouse throughout the late seventies and early eighties.
8. Three’s Company — Joyce DeWitt
Living together platonically in the seventies raised eyebrows, but Jack, Janet, and Chrissy made it work with hilarious misunderstandings every week.
Joyce DeWitt played Janet Wood, the sensible brunette roommate who kept the apartment from descending into complete chaos.
Her straight-woman role balanced the slapstick perfectly across eight seasons of mistaken identities and landlord troubles.
9. Leave It to Beaver — Jerry Mathers
Growing up in the fifties meant learning lessons the hard way, and Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver stumbled through childhood with endearing innocence.
Jerry Mathers became America’s favorite kid brother, navigating school, friends, and well-meaning trouble under the guidance of wise parents Ward and June.
As the only surviving Cleaver family member from the main cast, he embodies an era of TV that celebrated simple values and everyday adventures in suburban America!
10. All in the Family — Sally Struthers
Archie Bunker’s chair became a throne for controversy as this groundbreaking sitcom tackled issues no comedy had dared touch before.
Sally Struthers played Gloria Stivic, the daughter caught between her father’s old-fashioned views and her husband’s liberal ideals, bringing heart to heated debates.
The show revolutionized television from 1971 to 1979, proving comedy could spark important conversations.
Following Rob Reiner’s passing in December 2025, she now stands as the final surviving core cast member from this Emmy-winning phenomenon that changed TV forever!
