Multi-Season TV Shows

• The Dead Zone (2002–2007) – 6 seasons starring Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Smith.
• Haven (2010–2015) – 5 seasons loosely based on the novella The Colorado Kid.
• Under the Dome (2013–2015) – 3 seasons following a small town trapped under an impenetrable barrier.
• The Mist (2017) – 1 season reimagining the supermarket containment story across a whole town.
• Mr. Mercedes (2017–2019) – 3 seasons adapting the Bill Hodges detective trilogy, starring Brendan Gleeson.
• Castle Rock (2018–2019) – 2 seasons of an original psychological-horror anthology set in King’s multiverse.
• Chapelwaite (2021) – 1 season period-horror series based on the short story “Jerusalem’s Lot,” starring Adrien Brody.

Miniseries & Limited Series

• ’Salem’s Lot (1979) – Iconic 2-part CBS miniseries directed by Tobe Hooper.
• IT (1990) – Landmark ABC 2-part miniseries featuring Tim Curry’s legendary performance as Pennywise.
• Golden Years (1991) – Original sci-fi drama written directly for television by Stephen King.
• The Tommyknockers (1993) – ABC 2-part sci-fi horror starring Marg Helgenberger and Jimmy Smits.
• The Stand (1994) – Acclaimed 4-part ABC miniseries scripted by King himself.
• The Langoliers (1995) – 2-part ABC miniseries based on Four Past Midnight, directed by Mick Garris.
• Stephen King’s The Shining (1997) – 3-part ABC miniseries written by King to closely reflect his original novel.
• Storm of the Century (1999) – 3-part ABC original miniseries written exclusively for television by King.
• Rose Red (2002) – 3-part original haunted house miniseries written by King.
• ‘Salem’s Lot (2004) – TNT remake miniseries starring Rob Lowe, Andre Braugher, and Donald Sutherland.
• Kingdom Hospital (2004) – 13-episode ABC series developed and written by King (adapted from Lars von Trier’s The Kingdom).
• Nightmares & Dreamscapes (2006) – 8-episode TNT anthology adapting King’s short stories.
• Bag of Bones (2011) – 2-part A&E miniseries starring Pierce Brosnan.
• 11.22.63 (2016) – 8-episode Hulu time-travel thriller starring James Franco.
• The Outsider (2020) – 10-episode HBO supernatural crime miniseries starring Ben Mendelsohn.
• The Stand (2020–2021) – Paramount+ 9-episode remake featuring a new coda ending written by King.
• Lisey’s Story (2021) – 8-episode Apple TV+ limited series, all scripted by King and directed by Pablo Larraín.
• The Institute (2025) – MGM+ series adapting King’s 2019 telekinetic thriller.
• IT: Welcome to Derry (2025) – HBO prequel series exploring the dark history of Derry, Maine.

Made-for-TV Movies

• Sometimes They Come Back (1991) – Originally intended for Cat’s Eye, adapted as a CBS TV movie.
• Trucks (1997) – USA Network movie adapted from the short story that inspired Maximum Overdrive.
• Quicksilver Highway (1997) – Dual TV movie adapting King’s “Chattery Teeth” alongside a Clive Barker story.
• Carrie (2002) – NBC TV movie starring Angela Bettis, meant as a backdoor pilot for a series.
• The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2003) – ABC prequel TV movie to Rose Red.
• Desperation (2006) – ABC TV movie directed by Mick Garris and teleplay by King.
• Big Driver (2014) – Lifetime network movie adapted from Full Dark, No Stars, starring Maria Bello.

King Stories as Episodes of Anthology TV Shows

• Tales from the Darkside:
  • “The Word Processor of the Gods” (1984, S1E8)
  • “Sorry, Right Number” (1987, S4E9 – original script written by King)
• The Twilight Zone:
  • “Gramma” (1986, S1E18 – teleplay by Harlan Ellison)
• Monsters:
  • “The Moving Finger” (1991, S3E24)
• The X-Files:
  • “Chinga” (1998, S5E10 – episode co-written by Stephen King and Chris Carter)
• Creepshow (Shudder Series):
  • “Gray Matter” (2019, S1E1)
  • “Survivor Type” (2020, Animated Special)

Stephen King’s Acting Appearances & Cameos

Stephen King frequently turns up in screen appearances, particularly in TV adaptations of his work and comedic animated cameos.

TV Adaptations of His Work

• Golden Years (1991) – Bus Driver (Episode 5)
• The Stand (1994) – Teddy Weizak (Minor recurring role across multiple episodes)
• The Langoliers (1995) – Tom Holby (Chairman of the Board)
• The Shining (1997) – Gage Creed (Bandleader of the orchestra)
• Storm of the Century (1999) – Reporter on TV / Lawyer
• Rose Red (2002) – Pizza Delivery Guy
• Kingdom Hospital (2004) – Johnny B. Goode (Janitor)
• Under the Dome (2014) – Diner Customer (Season 2, Episode 1)
• Mr. Mercedes (2017) – Diner Customer / Dead Body in Kitchen (Season 1, Episode 6)
• The Stand (2020) – Man on the “Hemingford Home” poster (Ester Egg cameo)

Guest Roles on Other TV Shows

• The Simpsons (2000) – Plays himself in “Insane Clown Poppy” (S12E3).
• Frasier (2000) – Voice caller “Brian” in “Mary Christmas” (S8E8).
• Sons of Anarchy (2010) – Plays “Bachman,” the quiet bio-hazard cleaner in “Caregiver” (S3E3).
• Duncanville (2021) – Voice as himself in “That Jing You Do” (S2E1).