Top 10 Celebs Who Were on Gilmore Girls Before They Were Famous
#10: Max Greenfield
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He stumbled into Luke’s Diner and our TV screens playing one of Dean’s bumbling buddies. Ready to par-tay during Dean’s last hoorah as a free man before Rory’s ex ties the knot, Max Greenfield’s appearance occurred only a few years before he became famous for playing a character who likely wouldn’t be caught dead in drunken escapades as seen in “Gilmore Girls”! Greenfield’s acting range was on full display in his third ever on-screen appearance as Lucas. The actor, who would go on to have several memorable TV moments playing Schmidt on “New Girl,” described his stop in Stars Hollow as “Some of my best work.” It's safe to assume many 'Gilmore' devotees would join the "Luke" club in agreement!
#9: Jane Lynch
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Many characters who cross paths with Emily Gilmore never escape her wrath - ask any maid who’s ever set foot in the Gilmore household - but there were a few instances throughout the series where Emily may have met her match! In the first season episode “Forgiveness and Stuff,” the Gilmore matriarch encounters one of her first major challengers: a nurse, played by Jane Lynch, who is simply doing her job! Lynch’s character’s ability to not give in to Emily’s demands is one of the first instances in the series where Emily is brought down to the same level as everyone else and shows she isn’t above being challenged. The actress is no stranger to playing authoritative characters: Any Gleeks or "Boston Legal" fans in the house?
#8: Nick Offerman
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Nick Offerman would go on to be known for playing quirky characters, and his character on “Gilmore Girls'' was certainly no exception! Before he played a lovable curmudgeon in Pawnee’s Parks and Rec department, Offerman appeared as Jackson’s brother Beau during seasons four and six! Beau Belleville fit right in with the quirky Stars Hollow townsfolk: he had little regard for other people, and no filter whatsoever, not to mention a raging (and extremely unrequited) crush on Lorelai. Hardly a stranger to the small screen by his mid-aughts appearances on “Gilmore Girls,” playing Beau helped show off Offerman’s comedic chops to the public, paving the way for his mustached and mighty opinionated character on “Parks and Recreation,” Ron Swanson!
#7: Krysten Ritter
The thought of Rory Gilmore putting pink highlights in her hair might be an odd one- so it would definitely take the influence of someone special to make it happen! By season seven, it’d been a long time since Rory had any new gal pals. Enter Lucy and Olivia. The former character is played by Krysten Ritter, whose influence allowed Rory to loosen up a little! Ritter, who previously starred on another teen drama TV staple “Veronica Mars,” began showing the world her versatile acting ability in the 2000s; TV devotees would soon learn Ritter could play roles ranging from a fun party girl, to a supportive girlfriend to her struggling partner, to a self-confident superhero. We can definitely ‘trust the 'b' in apartment 23’ to bring the entertainment!
#6: Jon Hamm
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A man who’s willing to try to outbid Lorelai on a free glass of wine, dressed in a dapper suit: Do you think Don Draper would approve of Peyton Sanders? A few years before Jon Hamm stepped into the Sterling Cooper offices, he played Peyton, an auctioneer who Lorelai met and upon which she unleashed her fast-talking and flirty banter in order to charm her future suitor. His character may have been a man of few words, but the buzz over Hamm's career would soon get louder. "Gilmore Girls" casting directors Mara Casey and Jami Rudofsky knew from the beginning Hamm was talented; Casey told the "Gilmore Guys" podcast "no one" had "taken the chance" on Hamm for "Mad Men"-sized roles yet, adding he had "always been great." Lorelai can pick 'em!
#5: Danny Pudi
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The Yale Daily News was quite a place to work and needed a strong staff to contain the empire that was editor-in-chief Paris during seasons six and seven! Among the brave staff was Raj, a bookish Yalie who took criticism from Paris’ successor Rory in stride, and held a particular opinion on fine dining. Despite only having a few lines across his four episodes, Danny Pudi was already poised for success; around the same time he was working in the Yale newsroom, he also spent time in County General Hospital and The White House after appearing on “E.R.” and “The West Wing." He would soon find his way back to school and his way to cult classic status playing Abed on “Community," a character who'd likely have "Gilmore" themed opinions!
#4: Leslie Odom Jr.
Leslie Odom Jr.’s penchant for playing studious men wasn’t limited to playing vice Presidents in hit musicals; he once took the podium to participate in a “young voices of journalism panel” with a journalist we all know and love: Rory! Odom Jr. played an editor from The Daily Princetonian, whom Rory refers to as “Pompous Princeton guy,” in season six. His performance as a confident champion of academia may have helped foreshadow some of his future acting credits, like his portrayal of Aaron Burr in “Hamilton,” and Sam Cooke in the 2020 film “One Night In Miami.” His fast-talking and fiery passion for preserving a free press could've potentially earned him a Gilmore seal of approval, but only maybe if he lost the tie.
#3: Chad Michael Murray
He was the bad boy armed with biblical references, and who believed no Chilton woman could resist his charms - until he met Rory “Mary” Gilmore. Tristan Dugray was the popular student used to getting whatever his heart desired, but things changed once Rory came on the Chilton scene. Tristan and Rory traded banter back and forth like it was ammo, but through the process of dodging Tristan’s pursuits with P.J. Harvey tickets and breaking up his fights with her boyfriend, Rory learns there’s some tenderness under his tough exterior. Chad Michael Murray felt tenderness toward “Gilmore Girls’' first bad boy on the block, too: He told “InStyle”, “I actually really enjoyed Tristan. Everyone rooted for him.” Everyone including Rory. Don’t tell, Dean!
#2: Adam Brody
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He was the boy of her audiophile heart. She was a girl wearing a Dead Kennedys shirt when they met. Could the attraction be any more obvious? Lane had dated and crushed on boys before, but none could compare to her first boyfriend Dave Rygalski! Lane’s dreams for a musically inclined man unfolded over nine episodes in season three as Dave went from being Lane’s bandmate to her beau; he even managed to charm the notoriously strict Mrs. Kim! Unfortunately, Lane and Dave’s relationship came to a close after Adam Brody was cast on “The O.C.” Thankfully, the beach-bound Brody's time spent in Stars Hollow had a lasting impact. He would later call the show’s signature writing style “Some of the best written stuff I’ve ever gotten to do.” Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Brandon Barash Jamie Competed for Paris’ Heart & She Didn’t Have to Write His Name in Her Revenge Notebook! Riki Lindhome Rory Was Seen Hanging Out with Logan’s Insightful friend, Juliet Scout Taylor-Compton A Precocious Girl Who Was Also Dean’s Little Sister Brandon Routh A Mischief-Making Character Who Flew into One of the Biggest Franchises Ever
#1: Rami Malek
Imagine if Lane Kim knew one of her friends from bible study would later play Freddie Mercury in his biopic! The actor, who would eventually portray one of the biggest superstars in history, would begin his career playing a character who was a little less rock and roll; Rami Malek’s small screen debut took place in Stars Hollow, where he played the eager Andy. Playing an eager character wasn’t difficult for Malek. His tenacity for breaking into the business through crafting the ultimate audition package for casting directors laid the groundwork for a prosperous career, which would soon pay off through a SAG membership with the help of "Gilmore Girls" casting director Mara Casey. Freddie Mercury would approve, darling!
