Don’t you hate when you start getting into a show and it abruptly announces its’ end? Whether it’s due to poor ratings or a toxic work environment or the actors, it’s so sad when a show ends and you have to say goodbye to beloved characters and actors. Well, dry your tears, because here are five actors and actresses that had fan favorite short-lived roles, but went on to be in other great movies and shows that you can watch now.
Sarah Niles
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Sarah Niles took on a short-lived role in the show “Riches.” Started in 2022, the series was about a rich man with a very successful cosmetics business who falls victim to a stroke. Because of this, all of his family’s secrets were exposed, leading to the business being at risk.
Niles took the role of Claudia, a more villainous role than what she would usually do. Unfortunately, the show was canceled due to a drop in ratings. So, where is the English actor now?
Niles was able to snag a role in Amazon MGM’s Heads of State, which was released on July 2nd, 2025. The action movie is about U.S. President Will Derringer and British Prime Minister Sam Clarke who are known by the public to not get along. Despite this, when a common enemy poses a threat to the world, the two are forced to work together to ensure everyone’s safety.
Niles plays the role of Simone Bradshaw, who is the Chief Advisor of President Derringer. The movie gave Niles the opportunity to work with other well-known people in the industry including Idris Elba and John Cena, and will hopefully open up more doors for her in the future.
Jurnee Smollett
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Jurnee Smollett had a short, yet memorable role on “Lovecraft Country,” a show about Atticus Black who goes on an adventure with his friend and uncle to find his missing father during the Jim Crow era of America.
Smollett plays the role of Letitia, the friend helping Atticus on his journey. The show ended due to a toxic work environment (Screen Rant), so what has Smollett been up to recently?
Smollett was recently in the show “Smoke,” which premiered on June 27th, 2025. Based on a true story, the show follows an arson investigator who works with a police detective to catch two arsonists that seem to be playing sick games.
Detective Michelle Calderon, who is played by Smollett, works closely with the arson investigator to help solve the case. A new episode will be airing on July 11th that you don’t want to miss.
William Catlett
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William Catlett’s short but memorable role was on “Love Is__.” The show captures the journey of a Black couple who have two completely different upbringings and are just trying to follow their dreams. Click here to watch snippets of the show.
Yasir, played by Catlett, is an unemployed writer who is in a money crunch and lives with his ex. While the show generally had good reviews, it was brought to a close in part because the producer, Salim Akil, husband of Mari Brock Akil, was accused of domestic violence (Deadline). However, this did not stop Catlett from continuing to act.
Released on May 8th, 2025, the feel good young adult series, “Forever,” was inspired by a Judy Blume book. Two childhood friends find each other in the future. They then have to learn to deal with the ups and downs of their first real relationship.
Catlett plays Quincy, the father of the main character, Keisha Clark. Catlett appears in three episodes. With a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, this is a show you won’t want to miss.
McKinley Freeman
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McKinley Freeman had a role in “Our Kind of People,” which aired in 2021. It was about a mother, Angela, attempting to take back her family name and leave her mark with a hair care line that enriches black natural beauty. However, she finds out her mom has a dirty secret that will leave an impact on the whole community.
Freeman plays the role of Nate Robinson, who is a love interest from Angela’s past. Unfortunately, the show didn’t hit the mark and ended up with low ratings. Despite this, Freeman was able to land other roles in the future.
“Reasonable Doubt” follows Jax Stewart, a defense attorney with a strong sense of justice. While she has quite abnormal understanding of the law, she’s known to be an amazing lawyer.
Freeman plays as Lewis Stewart, Jax’s husband. The show was released in 2022, but is still running with two seasons.
Glynn Turman
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Glynn Turman’s short-lived role was in “Black Cake.” It was about Eleanor Bennet who died of cancer, leaving behind her children. In her wake, she also left a flash drive that has some interesting information about the family’s past.
Turman, who played as Bennett’s lawyer and close friend, has to take care of her estate, her kids, and fulfill her dying wishes. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled due to lack of viewership. So, what is Turman up to now?
Recently, Turman played in Tyler Perry’s Straw, a movie about a woman, Janiyah who was fired from her job and kicked out of her house in the same day. Due to a huge misunderstanding, she seemingly attempts to rob a bank, holding a few customers hostage in the process.
Turman stars as her boss who fired her, then called the cops on her when robbers came to rob his store coincidentally at the same time Janiyah went to collect her last check. The movie shows how so much can go wrong in such a short period of time. It’s a tear jerker that may change your perspective on a number things.
