Jeremy Clarkson secured the biggest TV role of his career when he became a host of the British motoring program, Top Gear, during its original format. Later on, he hosted the show’s new format from 2002 towards 2015, together with James May and Richard Hammond. Many acknowledge Jeremy for transforming Top Gear into a top-viewed TV program on BBC Two, which was aired in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Despite his major participation and contributions to Top Gear, however, Jeremy Clarkson was put on hold and finally cut off by BBC following his altercation with producer Oisin Tymon in a hotel. He eventually admitted that getting the boot from the series was completely his own fault.
John Amos, Good Times
John Amos received world recognition for his portrayal of James Evans, Sr. in the CBS television series, Good Times. He also appeared in the miniseries, Roots, for which he was awarded with an Emmy nomination. Amos has also participated in Broadway productions and in countless films during his career, that stretched for forty years. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy award and NAACP Image award.
In Good Times, John Amos’ character, James Evans, Sr., embodied the life of a father living in a dangerous area in Chicago. He started developing feelings of dissatisfaction with the direction of the show, however. For Amos, the show was becoming distant from its origins because it was concentrating on Walker and his “Dy-no-mite!” trademark line. John was eventually sacked while Walker was retained. Since his departure from the show, the American actor has slowly made his way back in numerous films and TV shows.
Suzanne Somers, Three's Company
In January of 1977, the late Suzanne Somers secured a prominent role in ABC’s sitcom, Three’s Company. When Susanne Zenor and Susan Lanier delivered mediocre performances during the first two dry runs, the president of ABA, Fred Silverman, recommended Somers after seeing her on The Tonight Show. She eventually passed the audition and secured an acting role for the character, Chrissy Snow, a stereotypical blonde simpleton who worked as an office secretary.
Three’s Company became an instant hit but, in the fifth season, Suzanne demanded an absurd salary increase five times higher than her original pay. She threw in numerous hefty demands as well. Naturally, the producers denied them, so Suzanne responded by boycotting a couple of episodes. In the end, she was booted out of the show after a few minor appearances. Suzanne managed to find plenty of success outside acting though, becoming a prominent product spokesperson (the Thighmaster!) and influencer. She even became an author of self-help books and a couple of autobiographies.
Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley
In 1975, Cindy Williams played Shirley Feeney in an episode of Happy Days, together with Penny Marshall who portrayed the character’s best friend and roommate, Laverne De Fazio. The two characters were presented as friends of Fonzie (played by Henry Winkler). Both their performances became so widely acclaimed that the show’s producer ordered a spin-off for the characters. Williams went on to star in the big hit, Laverne & Shirley, from 1976 to 1982.
In 1982, Cindy Williams was discovered to be pregnant and Bill Hudson, the actress’s husband during the time, gave producers a set of demands to cater to her. There was already growing friction between Cindy and her co-star, Penny, forcing the show’s management to move on in its final season without Shirley. Cindy Williams became separated from her husband Bill in 2000 and later on reconciled with her co-star, Penny Marshall.
Drake, Degrassi: The Next Generation
Determined to start his career as an actor, even at the very young age of 15, Aubrey Drake Graham (or Drake as he is famously known around the world), was introduced to an agent who happened to be the father of a high school friend. His friend’s father got Drake a role in a Canadian teen drama series, Degrassi: The Next Generation, where he played Jimmy Brooks, a basketball prodigy who ended up becoming crippled after he was shot by a classmate.
The producers of the show, however, found out that Drake was juggling his time between acting and music – often spending long hours at night recording. Upon their discovery, they insisted Drake choose between his acting and music career. The actor chose the latter and so he got fired. In the end, it appears that he made the right choice though, as Drake is currently a celebrated music artist and producer, and a Grammy winner who has broken an array of Billboard records.