How Old The Gilmore Girls Cast Was Compared To Their Characters

Gilmore Girls is a comfort show defined by a fast-talking, coffee-drinking cast led by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. The characters soon found a forever spot in viewers’ hearts before the actors who played them moved on to other projects. The characters were captivating due to their relatable struggles, entangled relationships, and unique quirks. Over a decade had passed, and one revival show later, Gilmore Girls continues to hook the audience with its relevant themes.

The Gilmore Girls cast went on to act in different roles in film, theater, and television, but their identities are forever linked to the incredible universe that Amy Sherman-Palladino created. The profound impact they have left through the series will remain a testament to the show’s lasting success. Part of the reason Gilmore Girls’ main characters’ have such broad appeal is their varied ages. Most of the actors who played them weren’t far in age from their on-screen counterparts.

13

Lauren Graham (33) As Lorelai Gilmore (32)

The Actress Was 40 Years Old By The Series Finale

Gilmore Girls’ fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore was played by Lauren Graham, who was 33 years old when she joined the cast and 40 years old by the series finale. At the heart of Gilmore Girls is the relationship between Lorelai and her daughter, Rory, though her tense connection with her parents also plays a big role. When she gets pregnant at 16, Lorelai makes the brave decision to leave her wealthy parents’ estate and raise Rory on her own.

Lorelai doesn’t celebrate her birthday frequently on-screen, but one season 3 episode sees her turning 35. This means she’s 32 when the show opens, making her just a year younger than Graham. Having Graham so close in age to Lorelai worked perfectly for her as she slowly aged on the series and put the actress and her character in similar places in life during those moments on the show.

12

Alexis Bledel (19) As Rory Gilmore (16)

One Of The Most Enduring Characters In The Series

Alexis Bledel was just 19 when she began playing 16-year-old Rory Gilmore, a role she continued until she was 25. Bledel played the part of the high-achieving daughter of Lorelai, whose life is a blend of Stars Hollow quirkiness and Ivy League ambition. Her journey from a small-town girl to a Yale graduate captures the essence of Gilmore Girls, highlighting the unique relationship she has with her mother.

Rory’s relationships, educational pursuits, and career aspirations offer a relatable coming-of-age story that resonates with viewers, making her one of the most enduring characters in the series. By making a 19-year-old play someone who is 16, it allowed Bledel to play the character honestly, with the actress having a few more years of experience than her character but also still looking young. By the time Rory ends up in college, Bledel still looks just the right age to play the character during that period of her life.

11

Kelly Bishop (56) As Emily Gilmore (Early 50s)

The Actress Was 63 Years Old By The Series Finale

Kelly Bishop was 56 years old when she first started playing Emily Gilmore, and she continued in the role until the age of 63. One of the most well-known characters in Gilmore Girls, the matriarch of the Gilmore family is a portrayal of upper-class society in Hartford, Connecticut. Even though she has a tumultuous relationship with Lorelai, Emily uses every manipulation tactic in her book to ensure that she gets to have a great one with her granddaughter, Rory.

Emily roots for Rory’s success every step of the way, hoping to make up for what she perceives as her daughter’s shortcomings and be a source of pride for the family. At 56, Bishop was close to the same age as Emily Gilmore, and by the time she reached 63, she was perfectly able to play the doting grandmother while still young enough to clash with her own daughter. When she returned to Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Bishop was 73.

10

Edward Herrmann (57) As Richard Gilmore (Early 50s)

Richard Plays A Pivotal Role In Gilmore Girls

Edward Herrmann was 57 years old in the first episode of Gilmore Girls, portraying a character in his early 50s. He played Richard Gilmore until the series finale when he was 64. Much like Kelly Bishop, he played close to his real age, which made it seem realistic that he was a grandfather at the time of the original series run. Richard plays a pivotal role in Gilmore Girls, and his absence is felt in Netflix’s Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life revival.

The patriarch represents the traditional values that Lorelai often clashes with, and that’s responsible for the lack of communication in the father-daughter dynamic. However, Richard’s relationship with his granddaughter is an adorably close one. Herrmann passed away in 2014, and the revival includes a touching tribute to his character. Lauren Graham talked about his loss and how it affected the revival (via ABC News), saying “He would have loved this [new series].”

“He would have loved this [new series]. His death was just a loss for us personally. It’s given the show a new complexity and depth. It’s a nice tribute to him.”

9

Melissa McCarthy (30) As Sookie St. James (Early 30s)

The Actress Was 37 Years Old By The Series Finale

Melissa McCarthy was 30 years old when she made her Gilmore Girls debut as Sookie St. James, and she was 37 in her final appearance of the show. McCarthy offered a peek at her comedic abilities through her role as the loving cook and Lorelai’s best friend. She was supportive of Lorelei in almost all her endeavors, from her business to her romantic relationship with Luke.

Sookie and Lorelai have one of the best and most relatable friendships on the show, and that is largely because of the actresses’ closeness in age, on top of their character’s ages. Sookie was a main cast member for all seven seasons of the series, but went down to a guest star in Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. This is because, by the time the revival released in 2016, McCarthy was a major movie star and scheduling conflicts prevented her from having more screen time.

8

Scott Patterson (42) As Luke Danes (Mid To Late 30s)

He Was 49 Years Old By Gilmore Girls’ Conclusion

Scott Patterson was 42 years old when he began portraying Stars Hollow’s loyal, rough-around-the-edges diner owner and 49 by Gilmore Girls‘ conclusion. Luke became an icon known for his plaid shirts and endless supply of coffee. He is a reliable friend to Lorelai and a love interest that viewers have rooted for for years. Luke went through a lot of transformations after his first appearance in Gilmore Girls.

The series indicates that the character is a bit older than Lorelai — but not by much. However. since Patterson was 42 when the show started, that made him nine years older than Lauren Graham, and he had to maintain his younger look as he aged into his late 40s in order to appear close to the same age as the protagonist. By the time A Year in the Life rolled around, Graham was 49 and Patterson was 58.

7

Keiko Agena (27) As Lane Kim (16)

The Secret Life Of Lane Kim: Age Gap, Rebellion, And Unfulfilled Dreams

When it comes to the Gilmore Girls’ cast ages, perhaps the biggest surprise is that Keiko Agena, who played Rory’s friend, Lane Kim, was 27 years old when she first joined the series. Like Rory, Lane is 16 years old when Gilmore Girls opens, so there’s a significant age difference between her and the actor who plays her. Rory’s rebellious rock-n-roll best friend is a steadfast part of her life.

The show highlights her transition from a teen trying to navigate living with a conservative mother to a young adult with her own rock band and twins. Some believe Gilmore Girls failed Lane Kim, leaving her dreams unfulfilled. This was the toughest to cover up. While Alexis Bledel was close in age to Rory, Kim was turning 30 when her character was supposed to be only 19. However, she kept her youthful appearance throughout much of the series, and it never seemed out of place.

6

Jared Padalecki (18) As Dean Forester (16)

Tracking Jared Padalecki’s Journey as Dean Forester

Rory’s first love interest, Dean Forester, was played by Jared Padalecki, who was just 18 years old when Gilmore Girls premiered. Padalecki was 23 when he made his final appearance in Gilmore Girls season 5. Dean is a central figure in Rory’s teenage life, and he’s 16 years old when they begin dating. Their relationship starts out as a wholesome teenage love, and as it progresses, it becomes more complicated, leading Dean to eventually break things off when he’s tired of Rory’s feelings for Jess Mariano.

Of course, Padalecki left Gilmore Girls to join the cast of Supernatural, where he played a college student, so he kept up playing the same age even on his new show, and no fans of either show batted an eye thanks to the actor’s youthful appearance. He did appear as a guest in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, and while he is younger than Bledel, he has aged a lot more in his appearance over the years, and they no longer look the same age.

5

Milo Ventimiglia (24) As Jess Mariano (18)

Milo Ventimiglia’s Jess Mariano Shakes Up Stars Hollow

Milo Ventimiglia was 24 when he first started playing Jess Mariano, the rebellious teen who brings a bit of trouble to Rory’s life. When he first appears in Gilmore Girls season 2, Jess is a troubled 18-year-old sent to live with his uncle Luke, in the hopes of straightening him out. The romantic storyline between Jess and Rory evolves over the years, with Jess’ character adding more drama and unpredictability to the show.

While Ventimiglia was five years older than Bledel at the time, he was still able to play off the age difference and came across realistically as an 18-year-old. Part of this is because he was considered a troublemaker and delinquent, and television and movie fans have gotten used to seeing these characters played by rugged-looking actors. From James Dean to Luke Perry, the bad boys always look like they are in their 20s when they’re meant to be in their teens, and it worked well here on Gilmore Girls.

4

Matt Czuchry (28) As Logan Huntzberger (22)

Exploring The Rich And Charming Boyfriend

Matt Czuchry was 28 years old when he first appeared as Logan Huntzberger in season 5 of Gilmore Girls, and he was 30 when the character made his exit. Logan is Rory’s third boyfriend, who first shows up at the age of 22 in the Gilmore Girls episode “Written in the Stars.” As Rory’s life begins to evolve at Yale University, her relationship with Logan brings her into a world of wealth and privilege.

Logan is a rich and charming — but sometimes reckless — boyfriend. His relationship with Rory introduces a new dynamic as he showers her with grand gestures and lavish gifts. While he was 28 and playing a character six years younger, since the two were in college when they met, this worked well. People age differently in college, so he didn’t need to look like a teenager and could play off a younger 20ish person at the age of 28, and no one was ever the wiser.

3

Liza Weil (23) As Paris Geller (16)

From Nervous Teen to Ambitious Leader

Liza Weil was 23 years old when she started portraying the ambitious, nervous, and fast-talking Paris Geller in Gilmore Girls‘ episode “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton.” The actor was 30 years old by her last appearance in “Unto the Breach.” Beginning her Gilmore Girls run at 16, Paris is fiercely competitive with Rory when she first starts attending the exclusive school. Self-motivated and stressed out most of the time, Paris transforms into a mature adult and a loyal friend to Rory.

Out of all the teen characters in Gilmore Girls, Weil was the one who looked the least like a teen. While Keiko Agena was four years older and playing the same age, Weil always looked like the oldest high school student in any scene. However, as the characters began to get older, especially when they reached their teenage years, she maintained close to the same appearance and looked to fit in much better in the back half of the series than she did in her early appearances.

2

Yanic Truesdale (30) As Michel Gerard (Late 20s)

Age is Just a Number

Yanic Truesdale was 30 when he first played the beloved Michel Gerard. The sarcastic concierge who works with Lorelai at the inn provides a humorous comedic addition to Lorelai and Sookie, albeit with a less bubbly personality. Even though he was a few years older than his on-screen character, Truesdale played the role impeccably, leaving an impression with his accent and quick insults.

This was a situation where the age never really mattered. He wasn’t a high school student, and he wasn’t someone who needed to look the same age as his significant other. Plus, Truesdale was only a couple of years older than Michel and aged at the same rate as his character would have aged. The actor could have even been a bit older, as Michel was always impeccably dressed in suits at work, and looked distinguished at all times.

1

Sean Gunn (26) As Kirk Gleason (Late 20s)

Exploring Sean Gunn’s Unexpected Age

Sean Gunn was 26 when he first brought the quirky Kirk Gleason to life in Gilmore Girls, playing a character roughly in his late 20s. Kirk is one of many characters that represent the small town of Stars Hollow, and he holds a staggeringly high of jobs. His presence and entrepreneurial spirit are always a source of comedy, giving Kirk some of the best moments in Gilmore Girls.

This was one of the only cases where someone played a character older than them. Since Gunn was 26 and his character was getting close to 30, he just had to keep playing Kirk as the weird guy who brought laughs almost every time he appeared on the screen. He was around for every season and was a recurring character in A Year in the Life, where many fans who didn’t know him from Gilmore Girls now recognize him from his role in his brother, James Gunn’s, movies in the MCU.

Gilmore Girls

4.5

In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.

Cast

Lauren Graham
, Scott Patterson
, Sean Gunn
, Keiko Agena
, Matt Czuchry
, Alexis Bledel
, Yanic Truesdale
, Kelly Bishop
, Melissa McCarthy
, Edward Herrmann
, Liza Weil
, Jared Padalecki
, Milo Ventimiglia

Release Date

October 5, 2000

Seasons

7