Four Big TV Parts Originally Conceived as Smaller Roles

It might surprise you to learn that some of your favorite TV characters were never meant to last for multiple episodes. But due to fan response or producer input, certain characters that were originally conceived as minor players grew to be larger roles over time. Here are four outstanding examples of these types of TV characters.

Jesse Pinkman, "Breaking Bad"

Four seasons in to this AMC original series, Jesse is just as important to the plot as Walter White. Their quasi-father-son relationship is one of the most fascinating aspects of the show, but their relationship was never meant to last this long. According to series creator Vince Gilligan, Jesse Pinkman was originally going to be killed off at the end of the first season during a botched drug deal in order to make Walter understand the gravity of his actions. However, by the time filming wrapped on Episode 2, Gilligan was so impressed with Aaron Paul's performance that "it became pretty clear early on that would be a huge, colossal mistake, to kill off Jesse."

Castiel, "Supernatural"

Originally, Castiel was created as a character that would be used during six episodes only. But by the time the fourth season ended, Castiel was one of the show's breakout characters, prompting the producers to upgrade Misha Collins from a supporting role to a series regular beginning in Season 5.

When Michael Emerson signed on to play Ben on "Lost," he was contracted for three episodes. But after his character was so well received, his contract was extended to eight episodes, and eventually to a position as a series regular. According to producers, the moment at the end of "The Whole Truth" when Ben asks for milk was the moment they knew he was a "keeper."

Miles O'Brien, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"

In one of the best examples of a mere extra ascending to TV fame, Colm Meaney appeared in the pilot episode of "The Next Generation" as an unnamed extra. He appeared sporadically in episodes for the next three seasons, finally getting a name in the fourth season episode "Family." His role eventually grew to be so important on the show that he was offered a starring role on the "Deep Space Nine" spin-off series, an honor that he shared with only his on-screen wife and Worf.