Lauren Graham is still well-known for playing determined young mother Lorelai Gilmore.Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore. Warner Bros./Online USA via Getty Images Before taking on the fast-talking, coffee-guzzling role of Lorelei in "Gilmore Girls," Graham started acting in commercials for Lean Cuisine, Cascade dishwasher detergent, and other products.In the 1990s, she had bit parts on several popular TV shows, including NBC's "Law and Order" and "Seinfeld." The actor also had larger roles on ABC's "Townies" and NBC's "Conrad Bloom."While starring on the show, Graham also appeared in films including "Bad Santa" (2001) and "Evan Almighty" (2007).Graham has continued her acting career, and she's become a published author.Lauren Graham in 2025. Steve Eichner/Variety via Getty Images Graham's largest role after "Gilmore Girls" was Sarah Braverman on NBC's "Parenthood."The actor also appeared as herself on Bravo's "Project Runway," worked on Disney Junior's "Vampirina," and was featured on NBC's "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist." A few of Graham's movies include "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" (2009) and "Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life" (2016).In 2016, she reprised her role as Lorelai for Netflix's "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" miniseries.In addition to acting, Graham wrote four books in the span of a decade: "Someday, Someday, Maybe," "Talking as Fast as I Can," "In Conclusion, Don't Worry About It," and "Have I Told You This Already?"More recently, she starred in the Tubi original series "The Z-Suite" and the 2024 movie "Twinless."Alexis Bledel played Lorelai "Rory" Gilmore, a bright and ambitious teenager with a strong relationship with her young mother.Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore. Warner Bros./Online USA via Getty Images Book-loving, Yale-bound Rory Gilmore was Bledel's first major acting role. Before the show, she'd only had an uncredited role in "Rushmore" (1998).While starring in "Gilmore Girls," Bledel also appeared in movies such as "Tuck Everlasting" (2002) and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" (2005).Bledel has continued acting and has even won an Emmy.Alexis Bledel in 2024. Dia Dipasupil/WireImage/Getty Images After "Gilmore Girls," Bledel went on to star in several movies, including "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" (2008), "Post Grad" (2009), "Violet and Daisy" (2011), and "Crypto" (2019).In addition to playing an older (if not wiser) Rory in Netflix's "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," Bledel appeared on other hit series, including AMC's "Mad Men" and Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale."Bledel's work on "The Handmaid's Tale" earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress on a Drama Series in 2017.Scott Patterson played Luke Danes, Star Hollow's grouchy diner owner.Scott Patterson played Luke Danes on "Gilmore Girls." Nina Prommer/Getty Images Before playing Lorelai's will-they, won't-they love interest, Luke, Patterson had a professional baseball career.He got his start acting in movies like "Little Big League" (1994) and "Three Wishes" (1995). On NBC's "Seinfeld," he played Elaine's "sponge-worthy" boyfriend, and he portrayed Grace's high-school crush on "Will & Grace."During his years playing Luke, Patterson also worked on Cartoon Network's "Justice League Unlimited" and "Her Best Move" (2007).Patterson still acts but also hosts a "Gilmore Girls" podcast.Scott Patterson in 2024. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Patterson has played several leading characters since turning in his backward baseball cap on "Gilmore Girls."He worked on three movies in the "Saw" franchise, as well as "Other People's Children" (2015), "Batman: Gotham by Gaslight" (2018), and "Con Man" (2018).The actor has also continued to find success on TV shows like The CW's "Aliens in America," Fox's "90210," and NBC's "The Event."Patterson found his way back to Stars Hollow for Netflix's "Gilmore Girls" reboot.Most recently, he appeared on CTV's "Sullivan's Crossing" alongside fellow "Gilmore Girls" alum Chad Michael Murray.In 2021, Patterson also started hosting a "Gilmore Girls" rewatch podcast, "I Am All in With Scott Patterson," which is still running.Kelly Bishop portrayed Lorelai's mother and Rory's grandmother, Emily Gilmore.Kelly Bishop played matriarch Emily Gilmore. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images As Emily Gilmore, Bishop wore a lot of skirt suits and delivered devastating insults to anyone who crossed her or her family. In a 2018 "Q with Tom Power" interview, the actor said she based her interpretation of Emily on her own grandmother.Before that iconic role, Bishop had a successful background in theater, film, and television.In Hollywood, she was well known as Baby's mother in "Dirty Dancing" (1987) and also appeared in "Six Degrees of Separation" (1993) and "Wonder Boys" (2000).Much of her success also came from theater, with roles in "On the Town" (1971), "Six Degrees of Separation" (1990), and "Bus Stop" (1996).She won a Tony award in 1976 for playing Shelia in "A Chorus Line."Bishop has reunited with showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino several times.Kelly Bishop has had a widely celebrated career. Hatnim Lee/Getty Images After playing Emily Gilmore, Bishop reunited with "Gilmore Girls" showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino to star on ABC Family's "Bunheads" and appeared on "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life."The actor also continued her theater career, starring in the 2011 revival of "Anything Goes" alongside her future "Bunheads" costar Sutton Foster.More recently, Bishop appeared in "The Salzburg Story" (2018), "Art of Falling in Love" (2019), and "The Watchful Eye" (2023). The actor also had a supporting role as matchmaker Benedetta on Amazon Prime's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," another Sherman-Palladino show.In 2024, she wrote about her storied career in her memoir, "The Third Gilmore Girl."Edward Herrmann played Richard Gilmore, Lorelai's father and Rory's grandfather.Edward Herrmann portrayed Richard Gilmore for seven seasons. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Herrmann acted in dozens of roles and narrated several documentary series, such as PBS' "Nova" before donning a bow tie and hiding behind a newspaper as Richard on "Gilmore Girls."In 1976, Herrmann won a Tony the same year as Kelly Bishop for his role in "Mrs. Warren's Profession."He also earned Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the made-for-TV films "Eleanor and Franklin" (1976) and "Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years" (1977). In the 1982 movie adaptation of "Annie," he was again cast as the 32nd president.Often, he was cast as wealthy characters, as in "Overboard" (1987), "Richie Rich" (1994), and "Nixon" (1995).During his run on "Gilmore Girls," he also worked on ABC's "The Practice," "Oz," and several documentaries.Herrmann's acting career continued until his death in 2014.Edward Herrmann died in 2014. AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams, File After "Gilmore Girls," Herrmann remained an actor and narrator.He appeared on popular shows like ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," NBC's "30 Rock," and CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Good Wife." He also had a small voice role in "The Wolf of Wall Street" (2013).In addition to narrating films and series such as "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies" and "The Roosevelts; An Intimate History," he lent his signature voice to many audiobooks, including Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken," Daniel James Brown's "The Boys in the Boat," and Doris Kearns Goodwin's "The Bully Pulpit."In 2014, the actor died from brain cancer at the age of 71, leaving behind a wife and three children.The "Gilmore Girls" reboot featured the death of his beloved character Richard.Before Melissa McCarthy played Sookie St. James, she had minor credits on other television shows.Melissa McCarthy played Sookie St. James on "Gilmore Girls." Mark Sullivan/WireImage via Getty Images McCarthy had just started working in the entertainment industry as a comedian and actor before she joined the cast as bubbly chef Sookie St. James.She appeared in a single episode of "Jenny," a 1997 NBC sitcom starring her cousin Jenny McCarthy. In 1999, she had a small part in the movie "Go."While starring in "Gilmore Girls," she worked on movies like "The Kid" (2000), "Charlie's Angels" (2000), and "The Life of David Gale" (2003).McCarthy has found incredible success in comedy since her time as Sookie.Melissa McCarthy at the 2025 Golden Globes. John Nacion/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty Images After "Gilmore Girls," McCarthy continued working on television, starring on ABC's "Samantha Who?" and CBS' "Mike and Molly." She also returned with much of the rest of the cast for "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life."While known for some of these earlier roles, the comedic actor became a breakout star thanks to 2011's "Bridesmaids." She followed it up with a string of other funny roles in "Identity Thief" (2013), "The Heat" (2013), "Tammy" (2014), "Spy" (2015), "Ghostbusters" (2016), "Life of the Party" (2018), and "Thunder Force" (2021) several of which she also produced.McCarthy has also stepped into dramatic roles in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" (2018), "The Kitchen" (2019), and Hulu's "Nine Perfect Strangers."More recently, she appeared in "Thor: Love and Thunder" (2022), "The Little Mermaid" (2023), and "Unfrosted" (2024). In 2024, she played Doreen, Charles-Haden Savage's sister, in an episode of Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building."Keiko Agena's career was gaining momentum when she was cast as Rory's best friend, Lane Kim.Keiko Agena played Lane Kim on "Gilmore Girls." Jimi Celeste/Getty Images Before picking up a pair of drumsticks as rocker Lane, Agena had a few roles in film and on television, including parts on ABC/The WB's "Sister, Sister," Fox's "Beverly Hills, 90210," NBC's "ER," and The WB's "Felicity."When she wasn't playing Lane in the early '00s, Agena had roles on Lifetime's "Strong Medicine," Disney Channel's "Kim Possible," and CBS' "Without a Trace."Agena has continued to act and star in podcasts.Keiko Agena in 2023. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Since "Gilmore Girls," Agena has kept busy in her career.She appeared in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (2011) and showed up on ABC's "Castle" and "Scandal," Fox's "House," and Showtime's "Shameless" before reprising her role as Lane on "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life."Agena also acted on Netflix's "13 Reasons Why," AMC's "Better Call Saul," Fox's "Prodigal Son," and Apple TV+'s "Central Park."After hosting her own podcast, "Drunk Monk," a "Monk" rewatch show, she began appearing in fiction podcasts, including "Trap Street."Jared Padalecki played Rory's first boyfriend, Dean Forester.Jared Padalecki played "Gilmore Girls'" Dean Forester. Albert L. Ortega/WireImage via Getty Images Padalecki was a relative newcomer to Hollywood when he was cast as Dean, the floppy-haired grocery store worker who struggled to get over Rory after their breakup.While on "Gilmore Girls," he acted in movies such as "Cheaper by the Dozen" (2003) and "New York Minute" (2004).Post "Gilmore," Padalecki found fame during his time on "Supernatural."Jared Padalecki in 2024. Rick Kern/Getty Images While still on "Gilmore Girls," Padalecki landed one of the lead roles on The CW's "Supernatural," which ran for 15 years. The show aired its final episode in November 2020.Padalecki also continued acting in films like "House of Wax" (2005) and "Friday the 13th" (2009), and he returned as Dean on "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life."For four seasons, he had the titular role in The CW's "Walker." He also guested on CBS' "Fire Country" and will reunite with his "Supernatural" costars Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins in season five of Amazon Prime's "The Boys."Milo Ventimiglia portrayed Jess Mariano, Luke's nephew and one of Rory's boyfriends.Milo Ventimiglia brought drama to Stars Hollow as Jess Mariano. Ron Davis/Getty Images With small roles on NBC's "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," ABC/The WB's "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and NBC's "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," Ventimiglia wasn't yet a big star when he appeared on "Gilmore Girls."He played Jess, Luke's sarcastic, Jack Kerouac-loving nephew who fell for Rory. The character nearly got his own spinoff set in Venice, California, but it never materialized.While playing Jess, Ventimiglia also appeared on NBC's "American Dreams."Ventimiglia had big roles in "Heroes" and "This Is Us."Milo Ventimiglia in 2024. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Ventimiglia continued his successful acting career after playing Jess.He's had starring roles on NBC's "Heroes," ABC's "The Whispers," and NBC's "This Is Us," which earned him three Emmy nominations.He's also acted in "That's My Boy" (2012), "Grown Ups 2" (2013), "Creed II" (2018), and "The Art of Racing in the Rain" (2019). In between, he appeared in "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" to give some hope to "Team Jess" fans.In more recent years, Ventimiglia joined season four of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," starred in ABC's "The Company You Keep," and appeared in "Land of Bad" (2024).Matt Czuchry played Logan Huntzberger, Rory's love interest at Yale.Matt Czuchry's "Gilmore Girls" character Logan loved calling Rory "Ace." E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Fusion PR _LA via Getty Images Czuchry had a handful of acting roles on his resum before being cast as trust-fund troublemaker Logan Huntzberger.Most notably, he'd appeared on other teen shows, such as Fox's "Freaks and Geeks," The WB's "Young Americans," and The WB/The CW's "7th Heaven."In 2006, in the midst of his role on "Gilmore Girls," he appeared on an episode of UPN/The CW's "Veronica Mars."Czuchry has had long-running roles on "The Good Wife" and "The Resident."Matt Czuchry has had a successful TV career. JC Olivera/FilmMagic/Getty Images In 2016, Czuchry returned as Logan to pursue a complicated relationship with Rory in "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life."He also had recurring roles in TV shows such as NBC's "Friday Night Lights," CBS's "The Good Wife," and Fox's "The Resident."On "The Resident," Czuchry worked alongside Tanc Sade, who played Logan's best friend, Finn, on "Gilmore Girls."Most recently, the actor joined the cast of FX's "American Horror Story: Delicate."Paris Geller, Rory's academic rival and eventual friend, was played by Liza Weil.Liza Weil played Paris Geller on "Gilmore Girls." Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage via Getty Images Weil originally auditioned for the role of Rory. Instead, Sherman-Palladino wrote the part of studious, intense Paris specifically for her.Prior to "Gilmore Girls," Weil had small parts in a few movies and on TV shows, including Nickelodeon's "The Adventures of Pete and Pete" and "Stir of Echoes," so she's only one degree of separation from Kevin Bacon.Weil has spent a fair amount of time in Shondaland.Liza Weil on "The Cleaning Lady" in 2024. FOX via Getty Images Weil was one of the returning characters in "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life." Sherman-Palladino also brought her on for several episodes of ABC Family's "Bunheads."But her largest roles since playing Paris were in Shonda Rhimes shows, as Amanda Tanner on "Scandal" and Bonnie Winterbottom on "How to Get Away With Murder."Some of her more recent projects include "Women Is Losers" (2021), Fox's "The Cleaning Lady," and "The Passenger" (2023).Chad Michael Murray was cast as Rory's cocky classmate Tristin Dugray.Chad Michael Murray played Tristin Dugray on "Gilmore Girls." Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images In the 1990s, Murray spent time modeling for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Skechers. In 2000, he guested on MTV's "Undressed."Not long after, he scored the role of Tristin Dugray, Chilton Academy's prankster who teased Rory. He left during the show's second season.After leaving "Gilmore Girls," Murray spent years on "One Tree Hill."