The series Gilmore Girls is about the life of "Lorelai Gilmore" and her daughter "Rory", which are not only mother and daughter, but also best friends. The series was produced from 2000 to 2007 over seven seasons. In 2016, Netflix continued the series with four more episodes of 90 minutes each and called it Gilmore Girls: A year in the life.
The main characters of "Rory" and "Lorelai Gilmore" are played by Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham. "Rory" is an exemplary student, who dreams of studying at an elite University and later wants to work as a foreign correspondent. "Lorelai" became a mother at the age of 16, dropped out of school then moved out to get away from her parents. She raised "Rory" almost by herself.
Lauren Graham is still mainly featured in different TV series: from 2010 until 2014, she played a lead role in Parenthood, in which she met her current partner Peter Krause. Naturally, "Lorelai" reprised her role in the Netflix sequel in 2016.
Alexis Bledel is now in her thirties and married to her colleague Vincent Kartheiser, whom she had met on the set of the series Mad Men. Just like Lauren Graham, Alexis also returned for the Netflix sequel to play "Rory" for four more episodes in 2016.
Melissa McCarthy played "Lorelai's" best friend "Sookie St. James", who works as a cook in the same hotel as "Lorelai". They eventually start their own business and open up the "Firefly Inn" together.
For Melissa McCarthy, her role in Gilmore Girls was a career stepping stone. Melissa appeared in many Hollywood blockbusters after the show was cancelled and is currently one of the most sought-after actresses when it comes to comedies. At first, she was not going to return for Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life but then her schedule opened up and she had some guest appearances as "Sookie"!
Scott Patterson played the grumpy café owner "Luke Danes", who is secretly in love with in "Lorelai". After several attempts and rows between the two, they managed to become a 'real' couple at the end of the seventh season. Thank God!
After Gilmore Girls, Scott Patterson appeared in three parts of the Saw horror series and had a star role in the drama series The Event in 2010. Also, Scott Patterson came back as "Luke" in the sequel!
Keiko Agena played "Rory's" best friend "Lane Kim", which attempts to circumvent the strict rules of her very conservative Korean mother and secretly dreaming of a career as a drummer.
After Gilmore Girls, it got a little quieter for Keiko. By now, the Japanese can still be seen regularly on the big screen and on TV. She appeared in Transformers 3 and the series Shameless. In 2016, she returned as "Lane" in the Gilmore Girls sequel and had a great part on the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why.
Milo Ventimiglia played "Luke's" nephew "Jess", who begins a relationship with "Rory". But, with his nonconformist and often reckless behavior, he stirs up some trouble in the quiet and wholesome town of "Stars Hollow".
From 2006 to 2010, Milo played a major role in the series Heroes. In addition, he appeared in the film Grace of Monaco and has also been really successful with the NBC hit show This is Us. Milo also returned as "Jess" for the sequel of Gilmore Girls in 2016.
Jared Padalecki played "Rory's" first boyfriend "Dean", whom she then leaves for "Jess". At the beginning of the series, he moves into the town, starts to work at the local supermarket and very soon gets very popular in "Stars Hollow".
Jared has been starring as the lead in the series Supernatural since 2005. He is married and has two children by now and also returned as "Dean Forester" to "Stars Hollow" in the series sequel in 2016.
Kelly Bishop played "Lorelai's" mother "Emily Gilmore", who never forgave her daughter for becoming pregnant at the age of 16 and moving out of the family home, starting her own, independent life in "Stars Hollow".
After the end of Gilmore Girls, Kelly appeared in many TV series and had a recurring role in the series Bunheads in 2013. Fun fact: Did you know Kelly Bishop also starred in the 1987 cult film Dirty Dancing? She played the mother of "Baby". And yes, she also appeared in the new episodes of Gilmore Girls in 2016.
Edward Herrmann played "Lorelai's" father and "Rory's" grandfather "Richard Gilmore". The wise and well-situated lawyer had a bad relationship with his daughter since her pregnancy, but loves his granddaughter all the more - probably because she is a lot more like him than his own daughter ever was!
The great actor Edward Herrmann died on December 31, 2014, at the age of 71.
Liza Weil played "Rory's" classmate "Paris Geller". At first, she is wildly unpopular because of her very overbearing and obsessive behavior, but she ends up becoming "Rory's" best friend!
After the (preliminary) end of Gilmore Girls, Liza appeared in various TV productions. Since 2014, she played a major role in the drama series How to Get Away with Murder. Weil is married and has a daughter and of course, Liza again assumed the role of "Paris" in the Gilmore Girls sequel in 2016.
With the start of the fifth season, Matt Czuchry played "Rory's" friend "Logan Huntzberger", who comes from a rich family and enjoys his privileged life to the fullest. He also becomes her boyfriend!
Matt Czuchry played a major role in the series The Good Wife from 2009 until 2016 and featured in various film and theatre productions in recent years. Matt is also part of the Gilmore Girls sequel. In the fall of 2017, he has also been back on TV playing the leading part in the FOX medical drama The Resident.
