‘Friday Night Lights’ Actors Who Appeared in the TV Series & the Film

Dan Clarendon
Comments
Connie Britton as Sharon Gaines in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Tami Taylor in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006); Brad Leland as John Aubrey in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Buddy Garrity in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Clear schedules, full résumés, can’t lose. Starting with Friday Night Lights’ premiere episode on October 2, 2006, the NBC football drama started reusing talent from the 2004 film of the same name.

In fact, more than 120 people have both productions on their filmographies, including stunt performers, electricians, camera operators, hair stylists, and several actors (Connie Britton included).

As the small-screen Friday Night Lights turns 20, scroll down to scope out cast members the TV show shares with its big-screen predecessor.

Connie Britton as Sharon Gaines in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Tami Taylor in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Connie Britton

Britton played the head coach’s wife in both the film and the TV show — though she had much less to do as Sharon Gaines, wife of Gary (Billy Bob Thornton) in the former, than she did as Tami Taylor, wife of Eric (Kyle Chandler) in the latter.

Brad Leland as John Aubrey in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Buddy Garrity in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Brad Leland

In the film, Leland played John Aubrey, a pushy booster of the Permian High School football team. And in a little bit of history repeating, Leland also played Buddy Garrity, a pushy booster of the Dillon High School football team, in 73 episodes of the TV series.

Timothy F. Crowley as a referee in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Coach Crowley in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Timothy F. Crowley

Crowley had a bit part in the film, playing a referee at the state championship game. The actor had a much bigger role in the TV series, playing Coach Crowley, one of Eric’s assistants, across four dozen episodes.

Katherine Willis as a booster in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Joanne Street in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Katherine Willis

Willis played a booster in the film, one who urges Gary Gaines to put Permian running back Boobie Miles (Derek Luke) on defense, too. In the TV show, she portrayed Joanne Street, mother of star quarterback Jason Street (Scott Porter), across 13 episodes.

Marco Perella as a booster in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as as a "big shot" in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Marco Perella

Perella also played one of the boosters Gary goes up against in the film, then had a small part as a “big shot” in a redistricting meeting in the series’ third-season episode “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall.”

Mark Nutter as a recruiter in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Mitchell Street in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Mark Nutter

Nutter played a recruiter in the film and then returned to the FNL franchise as Mitchell Street, Jason’s father, in 12 episodes of the TV show.

Brian Thornton as a recruiter in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Coach Dickens in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Brian Thornton

Thornton took on a recruiter role in the film, too, then played two different coaches in the TV show: Coach Gainey of the Brant Vikings in a Season 1 episode and Coach Dickens of the Laribee Lions (seen here) in two Season 2 episodes.

Tommy G. Kendrick as an Odessa doctor in 'Friday Night Lights' (2004) and as Dr. Campbell in 'Friday Night Lights' (2006)
Universal Pictures, NBC

Tommy G. Kendrick

Kendrick played a doctor in both the film and the TV series. In the former, his doc character examines Boobie’s ACL tear. In the latter, his M.D. treats Lorraine Saracen (Louanne Stephens), grandmother of Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford).

Friday Night Lights (2004)Friday Night Lights (2006)Brad LelandConnie Britton



Conversation

Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.

Register or sign in to join the conversation.