17 celebrities you probably forgot appeared on 'Gilmore Girls'
Molly Thomson
- The CW's "Gilmore Girls" aired 20 years ago and it's had a number of famous actors on it.
- "Parks and Recreation" star Nick Offerman appeared on an episode.
- "Mad Men" actor Jon Hamm and "Glee" star Jane Lynch also appeared on "Gilmore Girls."
"Gilmore Girls" has a knack for launching careers.
Melissa McCarthy, who played Sookie, and Milo Ventimiglia, who played Jess, both appeared on The CW series before finding widespread fame — but those well-known characters are far from the only celebrities on the show.
Eagle-eyed fans bingeing the show can find a surprising number of famous cameos, from young Victoria Justice to "Park and Recreation" star Nick Offerman.
Read on to look back on some of the show's celebrity cameos.
Chad Michael Murray played the popular kid.
Although best known for his starring role on "One Tree Hill," Chad Michael Murray had a memorable stint as Chilton's popular kid Tristan Dugray.
He harbored an intense crush on Rory, which manifested in him calling her "Mary" and picking fights with Dean. Sadly, he left for military school at the beginning of season two.
Adam Brody was (briefly) Lane's boyfriend.
Who could forget Lane's secret boyfriend, Dave Rygalski?
He pretended he was a Christian guitarist to get Mrs. Kim's approval and read the entire Bible front-to-back so he'd be able to take Lane to the prom.
Adam Brody's character eventually left for college in California so the actor could join the cast of "The OC" as Seth Cohen.
Victoria Justice was just a little girl when she appeared on the show.
Before she ever starred on "Victorious," Victoria Justice played a little girl at a "Lord of the Rings"-themed birthday party during season four.
Her character wasn't given a name, but she wore elf ears and told Sookie that her carrot "tastes like diapers."
Melora Hardin played a therapist.
Melora Hardin, best known as Jan on "The Office," played a therapist on "Gilmore Girls." The Gilmores set her up with Christopher at Friday night dinner.
She also counseled Lorelai to ask Luke to elope — and we all know what happened after that.
Arielle Kebbel played Dean's wife.
The "Aquamarine," "John Tucker Must Die," and "90210" actress played Dean's unlucky-in-love wife Lindsay.
Not only did Dean not appreciate the effort she went through to cook him dinner, but also he cheated on her emotionally and physically with Rory while she was in college.
Jane Lynch couldn't handle Emily Gilmore's antics.
You'd be forgiven for forgetting Lynch's brief cameo on "Gilmore Girls." She played a hospital nurse who quickly got sick of Emily's antics after Richard's heart attack during season one.
Danny Pudi's role was as a writer at Yale.
Before starring on "Community," Danny Pudi played a writer at the Yale Daily News.
Nick Offerman played Jackson's brother.
Nick Offerman, famous for playing Ron Swanson on "Parks and Recreation," played Jackson's brother, Beau, during season four.
Leslie Odom Jr. played a pompous Princeton guy.
Leslie Odom Jr. of "Hamilton" fame appeared as "pompous Princeton guy" Quentin Walsh during season six of "Gilmore Girls."
During a Young Voices of Journalism panel at Yale, Rory held her own against the verbose, opinionated young scholar.
Alex Borstein was on later seasons of Gilmore Girls.
The Independence Inn's most temperamental harpist, Drella, currently stars in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," though we will always have a soft spot for her role in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie."
Borstein also played Emily Gilmore's stylist in later seasons of "Gilmore Girls."
Billy Burke briefly appeared as Lorelai's love interest.
Billy Burke played Lorelai's fishing-loving romantic interest, Alex. The relationship fizzled without fanfare or storyline in season three.
You may recognize him now as Charlie Swan, Bella's dad in the "Twilight" franchise.
Riki Lindhome had a small role.
The "Garfunkel and Oates" star played Juliet during the later seasons of "Gilmore Girls."
Juliet was one of Logan's friends and a member of the Life and Death Brigade.
Krysten Ritter played one of Rory's college pals.
The "Jessica Jones" star played Lucy, one of Rory's artsy college friends from season seven.
Unfortunately, due to boyfriend drama (really, Marty?), she didn't make too many appearances. Still, props to her for getting Rory to let loose and put streaks in her hair.
Bryce Johnson was Lorelai's young date.
Who can forget Lorelai's young date Paul? Bryce Johnson's character mostly served as a means to amp up the Lorelai-Luke tension, and as a clever punchline.
Fortunately, he was given a much meatier role on "Pretty Little Liars" as Detective Wilden.
Jon Hamm made a cameo on a terrible date
The "Mad Men" star had a cameo as Peyton Sanders on season three.
While the on-screen advertising executive could woo any woman on "Mad Men," he had a harder time impressing Lorelai Gilmore — and the pair had a terrible date.
Max Greenfield tried to start a club.
The "New Girl" star played Lucas, an unremarkable attendee of Dean's bachelor party, during season four. He tried to start a club with Luke because his name was also Luke.
Seth MacFarlane played one of Lorelai's fellow grads.
The "Family Guy" creator played one of Lorelai's fellow business-school graduates.
"Enjoy your champagne and caviar at the Ritz, your highness," he sniped at her on the show.
Read More:
THEN AND NOW: 'Gilmore Girls' characters on their first and last episodes
11 errors and plot holes you never noticed on 'Gilmore Girls'
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