History Main / IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine

* An episode of ''Series/TJHooker'' has Hooker (Creator/WilliamShatner) working a case alongside his old partner Paul McGuire, played by Creator/LeonardNimoy. At one point, Hooker saves McGuire's life, McGuire replying "I owe you one" and Hooker smiles "I said the same thing to you seventeen years ago."

* Katey Sagal played Kaley Cuoco's mother in ''Series/EightSimpleRules'', and then years later in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''.

** Creator/SarahBolger and Colin O'Donoghue both appeared in ''Series/TheTudors''. In fact, the latter actually gave the former her first on-screen kiss.

* The ''Series/{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}'' fifth season opener was "Buffy vs Dracula", billed as a battle of the titans. It was a little undercut by Dracula being played by Sarah Michelle Gellar's old flame from ''Series/AllMyChildren'', Rudolf Martin.

* ''Series/{{Becker}}'', starring Ted Danson, has featured guest appearances from his ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' co-stars Rhea Perlman, George Wendt and Kelsey Grammer, all of which are subtly lampshaded by means of role-reversal; Perlman plays a happy-go-lucky character to Danson's unhappy pessimist, Wendt plays a barman to Danson's character, and Grammer plays a recovering alcoholic against Danson's Harvard-graduate doctor. In Grammer's case, the two old friends also state that the last time they saw each other was in a bar in Boston.

* Following the ending of ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', Alfonso Ribeiro, who had played Carlton Banks, joined the cast of ''InTheHouse'' as Dr. Maxwell Stanton. In the finale of that show, Max's parents appear -- naturally, played by James Avery and Daphne Maxwell Reid, who had played Carlton's parents. Later a minister appears, played by Joseph Marcell, who had played Geoffrey Butler on ''The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air''. Topping off the gag, Max's father mistakenly gives the minister a drink order, then comments that he "looks like someone we used to know".

* Robert Carradine once guest-starred on an episode of 'Series/{{ER}}'' where he had a scene with Anthony Edwards detailing all the ways the hospital could be improved. Carradine and Edwards co-starred in ''Film/RevengeOfTheNerds''.

* Florence Henderson and Robert Reed guest-starred in separate subplots on an episode of ''TheLoveBoat''. They meet at the buffet table, look as if they're about to recognize each other, then shake their heads dismissively and go their separate ways.

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Paris Hilton guest-starred as a demon taking the form of herself in one episode. She had previously worked with series star Jared Padalecki in the remake ''Film/HouseOfWax2005'', and the episode includes a reference to the film.

* Fenella Woolgar, who played Creator/AgathaChristie in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp", previously costarred with David Tennant in Creator/StephenFry's Evelyn Waugh adaptation ''Bright Young Things''.

* ''Series/{{Psychoville}}'' stars Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton of [[Series/TheLeagueOfGentlemen The League of Gentlemen]]. One episode features a guest appearance from their League colleague [[Creator/MarkGatiss Mark Gatiss]], thereby reuniting three of the four members of the troupe.

* In Get Smart, Don Rickles, an old friend of Don Adams (Agent Smart) plays one of Smart's old army buddies.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "Interface", Geordi La Forge's parents, Capt. Silva and Commander Edward La Forge, are played by Madge Sinclair and Ben Vereen, who costarred with Creator/LeVarBurton in ''Series/Roots1977''.

*** As well as Creator/JuliaRoberts, who dated Matthew Perry, and Creator/DavidArquette, who married Creator/CourteneyCox (though technically Arquette appeared well before he and Cox became involved, his character didn't even share a storyline with Cox's character Monica)..

** ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': Helen Slater (Eliza Danvers), Dean Cain (Jeremiah Danvers), Creator/LauraVandervoort (Indigo) and Erica Durance.

** Also from the episode that introduced Robin with Mark Hamill was GreyDeLisle, who voiced Dick Grayson's mother. Hamill and [=DeLisle=] voiced father and daughter Ozai and Azula on ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.

* In ''Film/{{Maverick}}'' (directed by Richard Donner), Bret Maverick (played by Creator/MelGibson) is in a bank that is held up by a gang, one of whom is played by Danny Glover (Gibson's co-star from the ''Film/LethalWeapon'' movies, also directed by Donner); the two men almost appear to recognise each other, but then dismiss the notion. (Then, to cement the association, as Glover's character is mounting his horse for a getaway he is heard to say, "I'm gettin' too old for this shit!" - Roger Murtaugh's famous catchphrase from ''Film/LethalWeapon''.)

* Seeing James Spader as the main villain opposing a group led by Robert Downey Jr. in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' is amusing, considering the two had previously worked together a few times in the 1980s. They actually played best friends in ''Tuff Turf'', as well as slightly antagonistic associates in ''Film/LessThanZero''.

* The secretary [[spoiler: who turns out to have the jade pin]] in the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' episode "[[Recap/SherlockS1E02TheBlindBanker The Blind Banker]]" is Olivia Poulet, former girlfriend of Creator/BenedictCumberbatch, who plays Sherlock.

** Michael, Peter and Dom [=DeLuise=] also appear as siblings and father respectively for David's character in an episode of ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''.
* Gratuitous example: Tea Leoni (Mrs Duchovny) and Garry Shandling appearing in ''Series/TheXFiles'' as themselves playing Mulder and Scully in a movie.

A guest appearance by someone with a personal or prior professional relationship with one of the cast members of the show, such as Rhea Perlman appearing on ''Series/{{Becker}}'', Christopher Lloyd appearing on ''Series/SpinCity'', or Helen Hunt appearing on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. More often than not the guest actor will be playing an OldFriend of the relevant character, whom they haven't seen in years.

* Bob Newhart's first sitcom wife, Suzanne Pleshette (in ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow''), showed up in the final episode of his second sitcom (''Series/{{Newhart}}''), where it turned out the whole later series (in which he played a New England innkeeper) [[spoiler:was AllJustADream]].

** In "Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan," Captain Stottlemeyer (TedLevine) has some friction with New York Police Department Captain Walter Cage, who is played by Mykelti Williamson. Williamson and Levine played two fellow LAPD homicide detectives in ''Film/{{Heat}}''.

** Amy Yasbeck's husband John Ritter appeared as her character's sleazy ex-husband Stuart. The two have a long history of playing couples having appeared together in ''Problem Child'' 1 and 2 as well as ''The Cosby Show''.

* The secretary [[spoiler: who turns out to have the jade pin]] in the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' episode "The Blind Banker" is Olivia Poulet, former girlfriend of Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Sherlock.

* When Brad Pitt appeared on ''Series/{{Friends}}'', his character was an old acquaintance of Creator/JenniferAniston's . However, he hated her and she barely remembered him.

*** As well as Julia Roberts, who dated Matthew Perry, and David Arquette, who married Courteney Cox (though technically Arquette appeared well before he and Cox became involved, his character didn't even share a storyline with Cox's character Monica)..
*** Creator/BruceWillis also appeared for a guest run, free of charge, after losing a bet to Matthew Perry on the set of their film ''The Whole Nine Yards''. Similarly, Willis's character intimidates Chandler a bit (although moreso Ross, who's dating the daughter of Willis's role) just like in the movie.
* With LampshadeHanging, Michael J. Fox's last episode of ''Series/SpinCity'' began with him complaining over the phone to his therapist for sending him to meet with a substitute. He says, "You're almost like a father to me. How am I supposed to have that with some new guy?" and in walks the substitute therapist, played by Michael Gross, who played Michael J. Fox's father in ''Series/FamilyTies''.

* Averted in ''Series/DoctorWho'', in [=Creator/PeterCapaldi=]'s first season as the Doctor, his ''Series/TheThickOfIt'' co-star Chris Addison had a recurring role as Missy's henchman. The two had no prior onscreen relationship, and never even met face to face.

** A double helping happened on the same show, when Margot Kidder showed up, playing a colleague of Christopher Reeve's character. While they were never in the same episode, this case also had its own Mythology Gag; when Martha questions whether Kidder's character and Chris Reeve's character ever had a relationship, to which Kidder's character wistfully replies [[Film/{{Superman}} "In another lifetime..."]]

** The show featured a old preacher named Serenity Johnson in a few episodes. He was played by John Carradine, father of show star, David Carradine.

* In the Pamela Anderson sitcom ''Stacked'', Pam's character gets visits from old friends played by Carmen Electra (Anderson's co-star in ''Series/{{Baywatch}}'') and Jenny [=McCarthy=] (who appeared with Anderson in ''Scary Movie 2''). [=McCarthy=] and Anderson were also Magazine/{{Playboy}} Playmates.

* Adrian Edmondson could have been cast in ''Series/{{Blackadder}} Goes Forth'' for the sole reason of appearing against Rik Mayall, his long-time work partner. In their double-act most of the constant violence (and occasional gay jokes) are directed at Mayall, so it seems too much of a co-incidence that [[spoiler:Mayall's Flashheart immediately shoots Edmondon's Red Baron]] and loudly proclaims "What a '''poof!'''"

** Recently so did Adam Baldwin as an actual old friend, once ins a cameo later in a full episode.

* In ''Series/TheWestWing'', Martin Sheen offers William Devane the job of vice president. The last time they faced each other in the oval office was in the 1970's, in ''The Missiles of October'', when they played Robert and John F. Kennedy respectively. Both were doing Mayor Quimby accents back then, of course.

* On ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'', David Cross's character goes to a therapist played by Creator/BobOdenkirk, his ''Mr. Show'' co-star.

* Robert Carradine once guest-starred on an episode of 'Series/{{ER}}'' where he had a scene with Anthony Edwards detailing all the ways the hospital could be improved. Carradine and Edwards co-starred in RevengeOfTheNerds.

* Semi-subverted in ''Series/{{Community}}''. In the first season, Anthony Michael Hall guest-starred in a season one episode. Hall previously played the son of Chevy Chase (who plays Pierce on the show) in ''NationalLampoonsVacation'', although there's no real nod between the two within the episode.

* One of the best moments of ''WesternAnimation/SharkTale'' was when Robert De Niro said to Martin Scorsese, "We've worked together for a real long time."

* In the sequels to Disney's ''Cinderella'', Prince Charming is voiced by [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries Christopher Barnes]] and Cinderella herself is now voiced by Jennifer Hale, AKA The Black Cat from the same series.

** A lot of cartoon voice actors (see RelationshipVoiceActor) do this with people like Tara and Cree, as well as Creator/GreyDeLisle, Creator/TomKenny, Creator/KevinMichaelRichardson, Rob Paulsen, Creator/CarlosAlazraqui, the list could go on.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Sideshow Bob is played by [[Series/{{Frasier}} Kelsey Grammer]]. His brother and father are played by David Hyde Pierce and John Mahoney respectively, who played Frasier's brother and father.

** Thomas Sangster played a young boy with a PrecociousCrush on Olivia Olsen's character in ''LoveActually''--so when they were cast Ferb and Vanessa, Ferb's crush on Vanessa became a running gag.

* In ''Series/{{Bottom}}'', Christopher Ryan -- who played the suave Mike alongside series writers-stars Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall in ''Series/TheYoungOnes'' -- occasionally shows up as Dave Hedgehog, the decidedly less suave friend of Edmondson's character Eddie.

** In another episode, Steven Weber, also from ''Series/{{Wings}}'' appeared. He was not playing himself, however, and no mention of the show was made.

** Haley also appeared in ''YoursMineOurs'' as Miranda's character's step-sister.

** ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': Helen Slater (Eliza Danvers), Dean Cain (Jeremiah Danvers), and Creator/LauraVandervoort (Indigo).

* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Greg Universe and his former manager, Marty, are voiced by Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster of radio show-turned-podcast ''The Best Show''. Compounding the CastingGag is that despite the real-life duo being great friends and well-known comedy performers, Marty was such an utterly despicable black hole of a person (similar to awful characters Wurster used to play on WFMU, like the Gorch or Timmy von Trimble) and abused Greg so badly that Greg now considers him "dead to me", [[spoiler:even though he was indirectly responsible for Greg meeting Rose]].

* ''Series/{{CSI NY}}'' had two. One of Gary Sinise's costars from the miniseries of ''Series/TheStand'' appeared in the season one episode "Night Mother", though they had only one brief scene together. More prominently was Mac's boss Sinclair played by Mykelti Williams, who starred alongside Gary as Bubba in ''Film/ForrestGump''.

** ''Series/{{Smash}}'': Andy Mientus (Pied Piper) and Creator/JesseLMartin (Det. Joe West), and Creator/JameySheridan (Robert Queen).

** ''Series/{{Glee}}'': Creator/GrantGustin (Barry Allen), Creator/MelissaBenoist (Kara Zor-El), Victor Garber (Martin Stein), Blake Jenner (Adam Foster), Bex Taylor Klaus (Sin), Nolan Funk (Cooper Seldon), and Charlotte Ross (Donna Smoak).

** Years later, Culp would appear on Cosby's next comedy series, ''Series/{{Cosby}}''. This time, Cosby's character (Hilton Lucas) dreams that he really is Alexander Scott (Cosby's character from ''Series/ISpy''), being asked to come out of "retirement" by Culp.

* ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' featured Jerry Orbach as Lumiere and Creator/AngelaLansbury as Mrs. Potts. They were very good friends, having worked together on Broadway and television. Notably, Orbach had a recurring role as hardboiled detective Harry [=McGraw=] in Landsbury's ''Series/MurderSheWrote''.