Gilmore Girls' Most Famous Guest Stars

Celebrate the show's 15th anniversary with a look back.
By Madeline Boardman
Updated April 07, 2016 at 04:47 PM EDT

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Jon Hamm

Credit: Warner Bros.

Five years before he became Don Draper, Jon Hamm played a man named Peyton Sanders on Gilmore Girls. The star joined the show as a bad date for Lorelai Gilmore in the 2002 episode "Eight O'Clock at the Oasis."

 

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Seth MacFarlane

Credit: Warner Bros.

Seth MacFarlane stepped in front of the camera for two episodes of Gilmore Girls in 2002 and 2003, playing two different characters. The Family Guy star appeared as Emily Gilmore's lawyer Bob in season 3's "I Solemnly Swear," and Zach, a guy Lorelai attends business school with in the season 2 episode "Lorelai's Graduation Day."

 

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Jane Lynch

Credit: Warner Bros.

The Glee actress appeared in one episode of Gilmore Girls in 2000, long before she became Sue Sylvester. Lynch played a nurse in "Forgiveness and Stuff," tending to Richard Gilmore during his stay in the hospital after suffering heart problems.

 

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Nick Offerman

Credit: Warner Bros.

The Parks and Recreation actor had a memorable turn on Gilmore Girls as Beau Belleville. Offerman played Jackson's older brother in 2003's "The Festival of Living Art" and 2005's "Always a Godmother, Never a God."

 

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Nasim Pedrad

Credit: Warner Bros.

Before making her way to Saturday Night Live, Pedrad had a brief stint on a 2006 episode of Gilmore Girls. The hilarious star played an unnamed waitress in the season 6 installment "Bridesmaids Revisited."

 

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Max Greenfield

Credit: Warner Bros.

Greenfield may have taken some inspiration for New Girl's Schmidt from the character he played in a 2003 episode of Gilmore Girls. He appeared in "Chicken or Beef?" as Lucas, a boisterous member of Dean's bachelor party.

 

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Madeleine Albright

Credit: Warner Bros.

The former Secretary of State made an appearance on Gilmore Girls as herself. Albright came to Rory Gilmore in a dream in 2005's "Twenty-One Is the Loneliest Number."

 

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Ben Falcone

Credit: Warner Bros.

Falcone made an appearance in his now-wife Melissa McCarthy's show in 2003. The Bridesmaids star played Mr. Brink in the episode "Say Goodnight, Gracie."

 

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Carole King

Credit: Warner Bros.

Not only did King provide the famed theme song for the show, she also picked up a role on Gilmore Girls. The iconic singer played Sophie Bloom, the owner of a local music store, in 2002's "Help Wanted," and 2005's "To Live and Let Diorama" and "He's Slippin' 'Em Bread... Dig?"

 

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Danny Pudi

Credit: Warner Bros.

The Community actor was featured in four episodes of Gilmore Girls as Yale Daily News staffer Raj. Pudi made appearances in 2006's "French Twist," "Go, Bulldogs!," "You've Been Gilmored," and "Friday Night's Alright for Fighting."

 

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Victoria Justice

Credit: Warner Bros.

Just 10 years old at the time, Justice earned her first television credit for Gilmore Girls' 2003 episode "The Hobbit, the Sofa, and Digger Stiles." She played "Jill #2," an attendee at a birthday party where Lorelai Gilmore and Sookie St. James were working.

 

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Colin Egglesfield

Credit: Warner Bros.

The Something Borrowed actor picked up a small role on Gilmore Girls in 2004. He played a guy named Sean in "Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist," hitting on Rory Gilmore while she's on a spring break trip.

 

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Mary Lynn Rajskub

Credit: Warner Bros.

The 24 star had two small roles on Gilmore Girls. She played a girlfriend in a movie that Kirk made in 2002's "Teach Me Tonight," later returning as a troubadour in 2006's "Partings."

 

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Norman Mailer

Credit: Warner Bros.

The famed writer appeared in Gilmore Girls' aptly titled 2004 episode "Norman Mailer, I'm Pregnant!" He played himself, joining Lorelai Gilmore and Sookie St. James at their inn.

 

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Paul Anka

Credit: Warner Bros.

The singer, who was the namesake for Lorelai Gilmore's dog, joined Gilmore Girls as himself in 2005. He was featured with Lorelai in a dream sequence in the episode "He's Slippin' 'Em Bread... Dig?"

 

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Abigail Spencer

Credit: Warner Bros.

Abigail Spencer popped up in the sixth season of Gilmore Girls, joining the 2006 episode "Bridesmaids Revisited" as Megan. The True Detective actress played a bridesmaid at Logan's sister's wedding.

 

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By Madeline Boardman