Summary

• Neil Flynn had a 17-year streak on television, starring in two sitcoms.
• Flynn's ability to improvise and add spontaneity to scenes set him apart as a natural comedic performer.
• Despite not being a household name, Flynn's talent for both comedy and heartfelt moments showcases his underrated acting abilities.

Longevity on television is the dream of a lot of performers, but there's one actor who had a lengthy run on the small screen with roles on two shows back to back. It takes a mixture of talent, discipline, and a little bit of luck to stay in the industry, let alone for such a long stretch. While many actors have spent years entertaining TV audiences, there are often gaps in their resumes as they wait to be cast in a new role.

A continuing presence on TV is often a sign of an actor beloved by fans, but even the most successful and adored actors can't guarantee they'll always have work. The entertainment landscape is unpredictable, and sometimes the most unsuspecting actors are afforded the most employment security. One actor in particular enjoyed a consistent patch during his career.

Neil Flynn Was In Scrubs & The Middle For A Combined Run Of 17 Years

Flynn played the Janitor and Mike Heck in these two sitcoms, respectively.

From 2001 to 2009, Neil Flynn starred as the eccentric Janitor in the comedic medical TV show Scrubs. Flynn helped to propel the Bill Lawrence show to success along with fellow cast Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke. Flynn's role was intended to be short-term, as Scrubs' Janitor was originally imaginary, but the character proved so popular that he was installed as a permanent fixture on the show. An eight-year stretch on TV is already a feat that many actors don't achieve, but Flynn was less than halfway through his streak when Scrubs ended.

Flynn was immediately cast as Mike Heck in The Middle when he left Scrubs after season 8. Flynn played the patriarch of the Heck family opposite his TV wife, played by Patricia Heaton, from 2009 to 2018, which was longer than he played the Janitor in Scrubs. Both sitcoms were hits thanks to their ensemble casts, but Flynn contributed his unique style of comedy to each, and this allowed him to play two of the funniest sitcom characters of all time.

Although Neil Flynn left Scrubs after season 8, he did have a cameo in the opening episode of Scrubs season 9 to explain the Janitor's exit.

Why Neil Flynn Is Such An Underrated Comedic Actor

He plays to his strengths

Although Scrubs and The Middle were scripted comedies, reading lines isn't when Neill Flynn is at his best. With a talent for improvisational work, he would often come up with jokes and dialogue on the spot, instilling a level of surprise and spontaneity not only to the scene but also to his fellow actors. The talent for unscripted scenes is not a skill possessed by all actors, and Flynn's ability to do so in a comedic setting is what makes him such a natural performer.

Even though Neil Flynn is not a household name, his 17-year streak goes to show how underrated he is as both an actor and a comedian. In his performances as the Janitor and Mike Heck, the sarcastic comments and witty quips are what made people laugh, but the thing that set him apart was his ability to switch from a comedic moment to one that's more earnest, and it's in those scenes that the true talent of Neil Flynn can be witnessed.