Currently, Gilmore Girls is enjoying a small revival on Netflix. Since October 1st, many Millennials and Generation X-ers are re-discovering the wonderfully witty TV show. Not surprisingly, a few actors appeared on Gilmore Girls in small or recurring roles before they found stardom. Here are 11 examples.
Jon Hamm
Before he starred as Don Draper on AMC’s Mad Men, Jon Hamm appeared briefly as the very boring Peyton Sanders from the episode “Eight O’Clock at the Oasis” from season three. Peyton and Lorelai didn’t have a second date.
Nick Offerman
He played Jackson Belleville’s brother Beau in two episodes; “The Festival of Living Art” in season four and “Always a Godmother, Never a God” in season six.
Victoria Justice
A 10-year-old Victoria Justice was featured in the episode “The Hobbit, the Sofa, and Digger Stiles” from season four. She didn’t like Sookie’s cooking. How dare you?!
Max Greenfield
Before he played Schmidt on New Girl, Max Greenfield appeared as one of Dean’s drunken friends in “Chicken or Beef?” from season four.
Nasim Pedrad
One of Nasim Pedrad’s first TV appearances was on the episode “Bridesmaids Revisited” from season six. She would later go on to be a regular on Saturday Night Live and the new sitcom Mulaney.
Danny Strong
Danny Strong is known as an Emmy Award winning screenwriter for HBO’s Game Change, but before that he appeared on Gilmore Girls as Doyle McCaster, the editor of the Yale Daily News and Paris’ boyfriend. Strong was on the TV show for four seasons.
Krysten Ritter
Before she was the B**** in Apt 23, Krysten Ritter played Lucy, one of Rory’s Yale friends in season seven.
Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch played an annoyed nurse in the episode “Forgiveness and Stuff” from season one. She was not happy with Emily Gilmore, but then again, who is?
Adam Brody
A year before The O.C., Adam Brody played Lane Kim’s first real boyfriend Dave in season three.
Brandon Routh
Before he played the Man of Steel in Superman Returns and Evil Ex #3 Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Brandon Routh played a tall and good-looking concert goer in season one. Apparently, his name was Jess.
Danny Pudi
The geek actor played Raj, one of the staffers at the Yale Daily News in season six and season seven. Danny Pudi went on to play Abed on Community and in a cameo role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.