"Gilmore Girls" Characters and Actors Quiz

Answer: Lauren Graham

Lauren Graham is so identified with the character of Lorelai Gilmore that one does not remember some of her other roles. For instance, she was Billy Bob Thornton's girl friend in "Bad Santa"(2003). From 2010 to 2015 she was a featured player on "Parenthood".

She got her television break as a reoccurring character on "Caroline in the City" (1995). Her films include "The Pacifier"(2005), "Because I Told You So" (2007), and "Evan Almighty"(2007).

Answer: Alexis Bledel

It is not a well kept secret that 'Rory" is a nickname, as she shares the name of Lorelai with her mother and incidentally with her grandmother on the show, played by Marian Ross in several episodes. Bledel began her career on "Gilmore Girls" at the age of twenty playing the sixteen year old Rory. One of her boyfriends on the show, Milo Ventimiglia, was also her boy friend in real life for awhile. In 2014 she married Vincent Kartheiser, who played the creepy Pete Campbell on "Mad Men"(2007-2015).

Her films include "Tuck Everlasting" (2002), "Sin City" (2005), "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"(2005), "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" (2008), and "Post Grad" (2009.

Answer: Kelly Bishop

If you have seen Kelly Bishop as the society mother of Lorelai Gilmore, it may be a stretch for you to learn that she created the role of Sheila in "A Chorus Line" on Broadway and won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical in 1976. She was also Jennifer Grey's mother in "Dirty Dancing" and played the mother in "Private Parts"(1007) and "Wonder Boys"(2000).

Answer: Edward Herrmann

Certainty the most distinguished actor to be a part on "The Gilmore Girls" was Edward Herrmann. In the lead he was listed as making a 'special' appearance. An actor, director, writer, and comedian, he made his mark mostly in films and television. His first notable role was as a law student in "The Paper Chase"(1976) and his last was as narrator for a cancer documentary in 2014, the disease that took him that same year.

Answer: Carole King

If you missed Carole King's appearance on "The Gilmore Girls", it is understandable as she had only brief screen time as proprietor of Stars Hollow's music store. However, her voice is heard in all 153 episodes singing:

"Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead

If you're out on the road
Feeling lonely, and so cold
All you have to do is call my name
And I'll be there on the next train

Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead"

Her album "Tapestry" sold 25 million copies.

Answer: Melissa McCarthy

She got her big break as chef Sookie and Lorelai's best friend on "The Gilmore Girls" and became a megastar in both film and television. Her supporting role in "Bridesmaids" (2011) earned her an Academy nomination for Best Supporting Actress. "Mike & Molly" (2010-2016) was a popular sitcom, perhaps a couple of clicks above others of that genre.

Answer: Scott Patterson

Scott Patterson toiled as a minor league base ball pitcher for six years until turning to acting in 1987. He has worked steadily in films and television but often one episode at a time. His seven years as the grumpy but lovable Luke Danes on "The Gilmore Girls" has been his most memorable role. The chemistry between Luke and Lorelai is apparent but mostly unfulfilled.

Answer: Sally Struthers

Sally Struthers was one of the more recognizable names attached to "The Gilmore Girls" although her role was not a regular but a reoccurring role. She had been awarded two Emmy Awards for her role as Gloria Stivic in the ground-breaking "All in the Family"(1971-1979).

Her spinoff sitcom was unsuccessful. On "Gilmore Girls" she played a nosy air headed neighbor who always had something to say at town meetings.

Answer: Liz Torres

Liz Torres is a comedian who has had many appearances on network television programs as a regular, reoccurring, or one shot jig. On "The Gilmore Girls" she plays Miss Patty who has a ballet school in Stars Hollow, even though it is hard to conceive her robust figure in a ballet costume.

She alludes to a show business background and works on developing a Sophie Tucker/Elaine Stritch one person show. Her studio is used for occasional town meeting. Among the notable shows she has made contributions include "The John Larroquette Show" where she received two Emmy nomination for her supporting comedy role.

Answer: Sean Gunn

Sean Gunn played a cable installer in an episode in the first year on "The Gilmore Girls" and was invited back for other seasons as a reoccurring character. Kirk pops up at many places in Stars Hollow as an employee who is clueless about the business and customer relations. Gunn has kept busy with minor projects with his brothers.

He served as a 'stand in for Bradley Cooper in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014). How he did this isn't clear since the character is a simulated animated raccoon. He gets my vote as the most irritating character on the show.

Answer: Michael Winters

Taylor Doose is the town busybody. He chairs the town meetings, acts as a booster to town projects, and is often arrogant and ruffles the feathers of town residents, particularly when it benefits his own self interest. He owns a grocery store and an ice cream parlor, the latter bringing him to a dispute with Luke Danes.

Michael Winters is a veteran actor with "Deep Impact" (1998) and "The Temp" (1993) on his resume. He has appeared as a character actor in long list of television programs.

Answer: Liza Weil

Paris Geller is intelligent, bossy, controlling, and arrogant. She goes out of her way to make Rory Gilmore's life at Chilton School miserable but as time passes we learn her vulnerabilities and Rory becomes perhaps her only friend she can depend on.

Liza Weil comes from an acting family that primarily work in community stock theaters. Since "Gilmore Girls" she has made a number of short experimental films and participated in Internet series. She has had reoccurring roles in "Scandal" (2012) and "How to Get Away with Murder" (2014).

Answer: Keiko Agena

Keiko Agena played Rory Gilmore's best friend in Stars Hollow. Dominated by her mother, she often has to devise elaborate schemes to pursue her dream of being a rock drummer.

Keiko is a highly regarded Oriental actress and has a long list of television appearances.

Answer: David Sutcliffe

Christopher is Rory Gilmore's father. When Lorelai found that she was pregnant at sixteen, she refused to marry him. He pops up from time to time and they try to rekindle their romance but circumstances always seem to put the kibosh on it (i.e. his ex-girl friend is pregnant with his child).

David Sutcliffe is a career actor having appeared in several made-for-television movies and guest character performances in a number of television series.

Answer: Yanic Truesdale

Yanic Truesdale is a French/Canadian actor who played Michel Gerard on "The Gilmore Girls". Michel is a concierge working for Lorelai Gilmore. He is aloft, arrogant, and condescending and his French accent may be hard to understand to the untrained ear.

Much of his work has been in French language productions aimed at French-Canadian audiences. A toss-up between he and Kirk as the most irritating.