What happened to the stars of Gilmore Girls 25 years after the show's debut
Gilmore Girls first premiered in 2000 and has since become a beloved series, with many of its stars going on to achieve great success in Hollywood
Gilmore Girls, first broadcast in 2000, continues to charm audiences globally even after 25 years. And with autumn on the way, many fans will be settling down for a rewatch of the cosy show.
The beloved series had a brief revival on Netflix in 2016 and has been available for streaming on the platform since then. Many Gilmore Girls alumni have secured big roles, with fan favourites like Melissa McCarthy becoming major Hollywood stars.
Others have landed permanent roles on long-standing series, including Liza Weil in How to Get Away with Murder, and Jared Padalecki, best known for his role as Sam Winchester in CW's Supernatural across 15 seasons.
Feeling nostalgic? Here's what the cast are up to now.
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Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore
Lorelai Gilmore is one of the most popular characters in the Gilmore Girls series, largely due to Lauren Graham's irresistible charm.
Lauren made her Broadway debut in Guys and Dolls in 2007 and also went on to secure a series of successful TV roles. She portrayed Sarah Braverman in Parenthood from 2010 to 2015, appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2017, and lent her voice to the show Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist in 2020.
She has also starred in films such as Evan Almighty, Because I Said So, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
In 2022, she broke up with her longtime partner, Parenthood co-star Peter Krause, after 12 years together.
Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore
Alexis Bledel, famed for her role as Rory Gilmore in the series, truly encapsulated her character's ambitious nature.
Her first major film role came in 2005 with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, in which she starred alongside Blake Lively, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn.
Her performance in The Handmaid's Tale won her an Emmy in 2017. She also had a recurring role in Mad Men, where she met and later married co-star Vincent Kartheiser, though they divorced in 2022.
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Scott Patterson as Luke Danes
Scott Patterson, recognised for his portrayal of diner owner Luke Danes on Gilmore Girls, has enjoyed a successful television career, including roles on 90210 and The Event.
Interestingly, he branched out into the horror genre, featuring in Saw IV, V, and VI. In 2021, he thrilled Gilmore Girls fans by launching the podcast I Am All In, where he discussed the series episode by episode.
Edward Herrmann as Richard Gilmore
Edward Herrmann was already a seasoned actor when he joined Gilmore Girls as Richard Gilmore, boasting a career that began in 1971 and included roles in Beacon Hill, M*A*S*H, St. Elsewhere, The Practice and Oz.
Post-Gilmore Girls, he appeared in shows like Grey's Anatomy, Law and Order and The Good Wife.
Sadly, Herrmann passed away in 2014 after a battle with brain cancer, and his death was poignantly incorporated into the Netflix reboot of the series, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
Kelly Bishop portrays Emily Gilmore
Kelly Bishop, famed for her role as Emily Gilmore, had a successful acting career prior to joining the cast of Gilmore Girls, with roles in films such as Dirty Dancing and the musical A Chorus Line, which won her a Tony Award.
After Gilmore Girls, she appeared in TV shows like Law and Order: SVU, Mercy, Army Wives, Bunheads, The Good Wife and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Jared Padalecki as Dean Forester
Rory's first boyfriend on the show came back for a brief appearance during the reunion.
Following his time on Gilmore Girls, he gained further recognition for his role as Sam Winchester on Supernatural, which enjoyed an impressive 15-season run from 2005 to 2020.
Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano
Milo was cast as Rory's second boyfriend, bad boy Jess, who is also Luke's nephew.
Post-Gilmore Girls, Milo secured the role of Peter Petrelli on the popular TV show Heroes from 2006 to 2010.
His most notable role to date is Jack Pearson on NBC's This is Us, earning him three Emmy nominations.
Matt Czuchry as Logan Huntzberger
Matt Czuchry, who portrayed Rory's university boyfriend Logan, joined the Gilmore Girls' cast in its fifth season.
Before this, he had roles in shows like Veronica Mars, Seventh Heaven, The Practice and Young Americans.
He later appeared on the cult high school show Friday Night Lights, as well as The Good Wife from 2009 to 2016 and The Resident on FOX.
Liza Weil as Paris Geller
Liza Weil, renowned for her role as Paris Geller, Rory's ambitious best friend in Gilmore Girls, had already made appearances in several shows such as The West Wing, E.R. and Law and Order: SVU prior to joining the cast.
After Gilmore Girls, she featured in a number of Shondaland productions, including Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder.
Liza has also secured roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Westworld and was previously married to actor Paul Adelstein from 2006 to 2017.
Melissa McCarthy as Sookie St. James
Melissa McCarthy, who portrayed hotel chef and Lorelai's closest friend Sookie, is one of the most recognised faces from Gilmore Girls.
Her comedic career skyrocketed following the show, with the actress starring in films such as Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters, Can You Ever Forgive Me? and the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
She also enjoyed a long-standing role in the TV sitcom Mike and Molly and has been nominated for two Oscars and Golden Globes, in addition to winning two Emmy Awards.
Melissa married actor Ben Falcone in 2005 and they have two children together.
Keiko Agena as Lane Kim
Keiko Agena, despite having minor roles in shows like Sister, Sister, Felicity and Beverly Hills, 90210 before joining Gilmore Girls, is perhaps still best known for her portrayal of Rory's childhood friend, Lane Kim.
Post-show, Keiko has starred in a variety of series including Scandal, Private Practice, Shameless, Grimm, 13 Reasons Why and Better Call Saul.
Sean Gunn as Kirk Gleason
Kirk Gleason, initially presented as an eccentric neighbour occasionally seen on the show, quickly became a fan favourite due to Sean Gunn's comedic performance.
Gunn has since entered the Marvel Universe, thanks to his role in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, directed by his brother James Gunn.
His acting portfolio also includes roles in popular programmes like Glee, Bunheads, Bones and October Road.
Both Gilmore Girls and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life are currently available for streaming on Netflix and the original series is available to watch free on ITVX.
