Between Lorelai and Rory's witty banter, the Gilmore family dysfunction, adorable romances, and the cozy, smalltown vibe of Stars Hollow, Gilmore Girls has held a special place in fans' hearts since its debut over 20 years ago. But the Amy Sherman-Palladino show would never have been half as successful as it was without the work of its talented actors.
Unbeknownst to some fans, the main cast has been in a few Disney productions. Whether the show or movie they're in is on Disney+, the Disney Channel, or created by Walt Disney Studios, quite a few Gilmore Girls actors have had their toes dipped in the Disney pool.
Lauren Graham (Mighty Ducks)
Lauren Graham played the beloved Lorelai Gilmore. Throughout the series, Lorelai's bond with her daughter Rory is the focal point of all of her decisions. Along the way, her love life brings plenty of highs and lows to the show — especially the moments that led to Lorelai's divorce from Christopher.
Graham has starred in several Disney movies, including The Pacifier (2005), Vampirina (2017), and Disney+'s The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (2021).
Alexis Bledel (Tuck Everlasting)
Alexis Bledel played everyone's favorite Yale student, Rory Gilmore. Fans of Gilmore Girls have watched Rory grow up over the years. From a young girl in high school to a college graduate finding her way, Rory's independence and meltdowns made her a relatable Gilmore Girls character. And while her future is debatable in the revival, fans still love Rory.
In 1998, Bledel played a student in the movie Rushmore, released by Disney's Touchstone Pictures. She was also one of the main characters, Winnie Jackson Foster, in Tuck Everlasting (2002).
Keiko Agena (Kim Possible)
Keiko Agena played Lane Kim, Rory's best friend. Unlike Rory, Lane stayed at Stars Hollow High instead of going to a private school like Chilton. Life without her best friend at school was tough for Lane, but the two caught up in adorable ways after school and on the weekends. Her different outlooks from Rory made Lane a true hero in Gilmore Girls.
Agena also played an animated hero in Kim Possible (2002-2007), Yori. Yori was Ron's love interest and a student at Japan's Yamanouchi Kinja school. Agena voiced Yori in four different episodes of the early-2000s Disney Channel show.
Kelly Bishop (Bunheads)
Kelly Bishop played the cunning and dry Emily Gilmore. Emily taught viewers how to host with class, along with how not to treat staff. As Lorelai's mother, Emily wanted more for her daughter. She wanted Lorelai to go to an Ivy League school to carry on the Gilmore name, but instead, Lorelai got pregnant at 16 and moved out a year later. Despite their rocky relationship, Emily was there for Lorelai and Rory when they needed her.
While Bishop isn't a part of Disney projects in the traditional sense, she did star in Bunheads (2012-2013). Bunheads is a drama that lasted one season on Freeform, a network owned by Walt Disney Television. Bishop was also a part of the original The Baby-Sitters Club series in 1990, which is syndicated on the Disney Channel.
Ed Herrmann (The North Avenue Irregulars)
The late, great Edward Herrmann played Rory's beloved grandfather, Richard Gilmore. Richard wasn't as snippy as his wife Emily but he did hold himself to a higher standard those he surrounded himself with. Due to his daughter's business sense, Lorelai and Richard had a lot in common — they just didn't always get along.
Outside of Gilmore Girls, Herrmann starred in several plays, show, and movies, including some in the Disney world. Herrmann starred in the 1979 comedy/mystery The North Avenue Irregulars (1979) that was created and produced by Walt Disney Productions. He was also in Born Yesterday (1993) and Treasure Buddies (2012).
Melissa McCarthy (Live-Action Little Mermaid)
Melissa McCarthy played TV best friend, Sookie St. James. Sookie was one of the best cooks in Stars Hollow and worked at the Independence Inn and Dragonfly Inn with Lorelai. Fans watched Sookie grow in the kitchen while expanding her family when she married Jackson.
In the Disney world, McCarthy is set to play Ursula the sea witch in Disney's live-action of The Little Mermaid (2023). McCarthy also made an appearance in The Kid (2000) and voiced Amy Hall in the Disney Channel's Kim Possible.
Sean Gunn (Guardians Of The Galaxy)
Sean Gunn portrayed Kirk Gleason perfectly. Some of the best Gilmore Girls episodes centered on Kirk. His quirky personality made most of his scenes humorous and his interactions with Luke and Lorelai were some of the best.
When Gunn moved on from Gilmore Girls, he created a great resume for himself in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is owned by Disney. Gunn plays Kraglin Obfonteri in the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor, and Avengers franchises.
Jared Padalecki (A Ring of Endless Light)
Jared Padalecki plays Rory's first boyfriend and love, Dean Forester. The two had a healthy relationship at the start, but over time, they grew apart and their bond became toxic. Rory and Dean's relationship timeline was bumpy when they engaged in an affair while Dean was married to someone else. Ultimately, they ended things for good when Rory was at Yale.
Padalecki also starred in the original Disney movie A Ring of Endless Light (2002).
Milo Ventimiglia (Ultimate Spider-Man)
Team Jess fans loved Milo Ventimiglia's portrayal of the Stars Hollow bad boy. In the series, Jess moved to Stars Hollow to live with his Uncle Luke. Luke knew that Jess would be a challenge but he had his hands full when Jess started making life hard for the town. Jess eventually found himself in a relationship with Rory but that ended almost as soon as it started.
In the world of Disney, Ventimiglia voiced Spider-Man Noir in the animated Disney series Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-2017).
Vanessa Marano (Finding Nemo)
Vanessa Marano's April Nardini wasn't a longstanding character on the series but she did have an important role. As Luke's daughter, April had no idea who her dad was until she was in middle school. Likewise, Luke wasn't aware that he had a daughter. Fans hated that April made Luke's life too complicated to follow through with his wedding to Lorelai. And because of that, her character wasn't well-received.
Marano provided additional voices in Finding Nemo (2003) and she also appeared in the Freeform show, Switched at Birth (2011-2017).