Gilmore Girls: 10 Actors You Forgot Were On The Show

The Gilmores are well-known for their love of junk food, their extensive knowledge of pop culture, Lorelai’s (Lauren Graham) wacky ways and Rory’s (Alexis Bledel) more studious nature. The mother-daughter duo often stole the screen and forced us to make them a part of our lives in a way only they can–in other words, we’ve been Gilmored.

Still, Gilmore Girls featured the likes of many recognizable celebrities. When we weren’t completely enamored in the storylines of the Gilmores, we took the time to notice who they were sharing the screen with. That said, here are 10 actors you forgot were on the show.

10 Krysten Ritter

The future star of Jessica Jones appeared as Lucy back in the day, a college friend of Rory’s. Unfortunately, her character’s presence is brief, despite having appeared in a few episodes.

Still, Lucy was one of those fun friends that is the opposite of Rory in every way in all the best ways. She introduces Rory to new things, as Lucy is very artistic, and helps Rory grow her horizons in that manner. We didn’t get to see where Lucy ended up in the revival, but we hope she achieved greatness.

9 Marion Ross

If you’re a fan of Happy Days, then you’ll recognize this actress immediately, as she played housewife Marion Cunningham throughout the show’s run. While she played sweet housewife on the beloved sitcom, she played rough-around-the-edges, privileged and snotty “Trix” on Gilmore Girls.

She is Lorelai’s grandmother, the woman whom Lorelai is named after. She is detested by Emily (Kelly Bishop) and beloved by Richard (Edward Herrmann). Trix could be judgmental, harsh and all-around annoying, but she did love her son and cared for Lorelai and Rory, albeit in her own way.

8 Chad Michael Murray

Known for his roles on One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek, Murray managed to secure a recurring guest role as Tristan Dugray on Gilmore Girls as well. Tristan wasn’t exactly the most likable character–even Rory could hardly stand him. Tristan was spoiled, privileged and a bit of a player. That didn’t stop Paris (Liza Weil) from majorly crushing on him.

Unfortunately for Paris, Tristan had a thing for Rory. It never worked out, but the Rory-Tristan-Paris love triangle caused drama for each of the three people involved, especially between Rory and Paris as Paris believed Rory was trying to steal him at one point. Tristan was eventually shipped to military school, but his character was intriguing to watch while it lasted.

7 Billy Burke

Before he was Police Chief Charlie Swan in the Twilight Saga, Burke was making appearances as Alex, a love interest of Lorelai’s in Season 3. Alex seemed perfect for her. He accepted Lorelai for who she was, he was honest with her, and he took her to a spa. Lorelai learned to fish for him, she must have liked him a lot to do something she has no experience in and didn’t necessarily wish to have experience in.

It’s not plainly written what caused them to break up (other than the fact that audiences desperately wanted Lorelai and Luke to get together). Regardless, it feels like Lorelai lost a real shot at true love by letting Alex slip away.

6 Sherilyn Fenn

Audrey Horne of Twin Peaks appeared as not just one, but two very different characters on Gilmore Girls. We first see her as the blonde and colorful Sasha, the girlfriend of Jess’s absentee father, Jimmy (Rob Estes). When Jess goes to California to find Jimmy, he first runs into Sasha and finds she has a daughter who likes to read and a penchant for taking in stray dogs.

Later, Fenn has a more significant role as Anna Nardini, the mother of Luke’s long-lost daughter. Anna is at first okay with Luke being involved in their daughter’s life, then has a shocking personality twist in which Luke has to go to court and fight for partial custody. Knowing that, we like Sasha better.

5 Kathleen Wilhoite

Wilhoite made a splash in the ’80s in films like Murphy’s Law and Road House, along with television credits that include appearances on Family Ties, Ghost Whisperer and Twin Peaks in addition to her role as Jess’s (Milo Ventimiglia) mother Liz Danes in Gilmore Girls. Wilhoite does a splendid job of portraying the flighty, eccentric Liz that irritates her brother Luke (Scott Patterson) and her son Jess. At the end of the day, though, she does care for them, and vice versa.

It took her some time to figure out her life, but when she did, we got to see it unfold in a heartwarming way. Family isn’t perfect but you love them and are there for them anyway (the Danes family is notorious for this life lesson).

4 Seth MacFarlane

MacFarlane is well-known as the creator of Family Guy, but what most may not know is that he made a brief appearance in a Season 2 episode of Gilmore Girls. He played Zach, a fellow student graduating with Lorelai from college that turns out to be a real jerk.

The guy is fighting with his ex the whole time and constantly mocks the production Emily is making at the graduation in Lorelai’s honor. This turns out to be one of Lorelai’s greatest nightmares as she is embarrassed in front of everybody–and Zach certainly wasn’t helping things by incessantly teasing Lorelai for being the spoiled rich girl, especially when she had no control over what her mother was doing.

3 Sebastian Bach

Bach made his guest appearance as Gil, the guitarist that replaces Dave in Lane’s (Keiko Agena) band Hep Alien. While Lane and the other members held a certain skepticism towards Gil for his age, he proves them wrong by showing he can rock and roll like no one’s business.

Gil is a gifted musician, obviously because he’s played by Sebastian Bach, frontman for the band Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. He teaches the other members of Hep Alien the true spirit of rock ‘n roll and never fails in looking awesome.

2 Victoria Justice

Before she was a Nickelodeon star, pointy-eared Victoria Justice appeared in a Season 4 episode as one of the little girls at a Lord of the Rings party that Lorelai had planned and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) was catering. Justice offended Sookie by taking a bite out of a carrot and then putting it back on its platter, and then claiming it tasted like a “diaper.”

She was a kid at the time, but Sookie’s cooking (even if you haven’t tasted it), certainly never tasted like “diapers.” Victoria’s food palate has certainly grown since then, and she’d probably better appreciate the lavish dishes Sookie had prepared for that party in the present.

1 Mädchen Amick

Sherilyn Fenn wasn’t the only Twin Peaks alum to grace the Gilmore Girls set. Amick, who played Shelly Johnson on Twin Peaks, guest-starred in the role of Sherry Tinsdale, the girlfriend of Rory’s father Christopher.

Sherry is seriously organized and makes even the best of planners look like amateurs. Rory and Lorelai find Sherry to be intense and with good reason. Sherry later abandons Christopher and their young daughter for a job in Paris–Sherry was never really the family type, but what she did was still wrong. We love Mädchen, especially in her most recent role in Riverdale. Sherry, not so much.

About The Author

Kacie Lillejord
(374 Articles Published)

A Seattle native, Kacie has loved entertainment in the forms of books, films, television and music since day one. Inspired by a filmmaker relative, Kacie has been pursuing a career in the film and television industry in Los Angeles ever since. A graduate of The University of Arizona, Kacie has written for her college newspaper The Daily Wildcat, Harness Magazine, 25YL, and now has added Screen Rant to her resume. She loves writing and all things pop culture.

More From Kacie Lillejord