With Resident Alien season 4 being renewed, it just doesn’t give the show a chance to continue the story of Harry Vanderspeigle, but also gives the actor who plays him an impressive accolade. Alan Tudyk is set to lead the Resident Alien cast for a fourth time, portraying the irreverent extraterrestrial even after the switch from Syfy to USA Network. After the cliffhanger ending of Resident Alien season 3, it’s a relief that showrunner Chris Sheridan is being given the chance to follow through on his plans to continue the saga. However, Tudyk’s career hits a new milestone as well.

Tudyk has become something of a sci-fi icon over the course of his acting career, coming to prominence as a result of playing Hoban “Wash” Washburne as part of the Firefly cast. He’s also lent his signature voice to countless characters in animations and video games, making him an incredibly versatile entertainer. Resident Alien stands out among Tudyk’s projects, but not just because of the quality of the show.

Resident Alien Overtakes Suburgatory To Become Alan Tudyk’s Longest-Running Live-Action TV Show

Suburagtory ran for 3 seasons

Resident Alien season 3 matched Alan Tudyk’s previous record when it came to how long a live-action TV show of his had run. At the time, it matched Suburgatory, a sitcom that ran from 2012 to 2014. Tudyk was part of the main cast for Suburagtory seasons 1 and 2 and continued to contribute regularly throughout the third and final season. With Resident Alien season 4 now confirmed to be happening, it takes the title of Tudyk’s longest-running live-action TV show.

Beginning in 2021, Resident Alien is Tudyk’s most successful live-action TV show since Suburgatory ended. While he has been cast as a main character in other live-action shows since then, such as Con Man and Adult Swim’s Newsreaders, none have allowed him to play a character for more than two seasons. Now, Tudyk has given been the opportunity to set a new career benchmark for the longevity of his live-action characters. If Resident Alien season 5 ever happens, there will be daylight between his respective spells on Suburgatory and Resident Alien.

Why Alan Tudyk Has Taken So Long To Hit This Milestone

Many of Tudyk’s recent projects have been voice roles

Interestingly, Resident Alien isn’t Tudyk’s first four-season show overall. He first hit the milestone while voicing various characters in Star vs. the Forces of Evil between 2015 and 2019. He’s also on the cusp of setting a brand-new career record with the renewal of Harley Quinn season 5, meaning he’s set to return to voice the Joker and other various Batman villains. So, although some of Tudyk’s live-action shows have run for a relatively long time, the voice work part of his career has been quietly flourishing in the background.

Tudyk has been kept so busy by his voice roles in animations and video games that his live-action acting has taken a back seat. That being said, he has still taken on a handful of physical roles since Resident Alien began back in 2021. So, while his work in front of the camera has recently been undergoing something of a renaissance, he’s constantly been working away in the recording booth throughout this time. The distinction between live-action acting and strictly voice work may seem small, but there are many actors who can’t do both.

Resident Alien Shows What Audiences Have Been Missing From Alan Tudyk All These Years

Tudyk is a very talented live-action actor

Tudyk is one of the best voice actors around, as he can range from his signature quirkiness to more down-the-middle performances. Resident Alien‘s extended run proves that his physical acting abilities haven’t diminished either. In fact, he’s better than ever before as he breathes life into Harry Vanderspeigle. The show gives Tudyk the chance to showcase skills that are often hidden when he only lends his voice to an animated character. Resident Alien also proves that Tudyk is capable of being a leading man. He may be part of the show’s ensemble cast, but he’s also definitely the main character.

Alan Tudyk has the rare ability to have audiences laughing one minute at how ridiculous he’s being, and then suddenly have them looking inward at themselves as they connect with such a bizarre performance. It’s possibly a tool in his arsenal that has long been undiscovered, but only a role like Harry Vanderspeigle could bring out something like that. On the other hand, his penchant for playing non-human characters, like I, Robot‘s Sonny, has long been a hallmark of his career. So, Resident Alien could arguably be a resurfacing of his best acting traits.