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Laura Graham ("Lorelai Gilmore")
Lauren Graham plays witty Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, a show about the lives of a mother and her daughter in a
very nosy town. After Lorelai gave birth to her daughter Rory they moved to Stars Hollow where Rory grew up and Lorelai worked
at the Indepehdence Inn. Lauren Graham has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series and
a Screen Actors Guild Award for Female Actor in a Drama Series for her sarcastic yet sensitive portrayal of Lorelai Gilmore.
The role also earned Graham a Best Actress nod from Viewers for Quality Television, as well as an award as Best Actress in
a Drama from the Family Friendly Forum.
On the big screen, Graham will next be seen co-starring with Vin Diesel in The Pacifier and opposite Jeff Bridges in The Moguls.
She recently completed production on the independent film Seeing Other People, with Jay Mohr, Josh Charles and Andy Richter.
Last fall, Graham co-starred opposite Billy Bob Thornton in Miramax's hit film,Bad Santa, a black comedy about a man who masquerades
as Santa to rob shopping malls. In 2002, she appeared on stage at The Williamstown Theatre Festival starring in the comedy
Once in a Lifetime. This 1929 comedy about the advent of the talking picture marked the first collaboration between famed
playwrights George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Graham is a wonderful actress and very funny on the WB show.
Birthday: March 16 Hometown: Honolulu. HI
Scott Patterson ("Luke Danes")
An accomplished actor in film, television and theater, Scott Patterson brings his many talents to Gilmore Girls as Luke Danes,
the diner owner who serves up a dash of unsolicited advice with every order.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennyslvania and raised in New Jersey, Patterson attended Rutgers University while pursuing a degree
in comparative literature. He began studying acting in New York with renowned acting coaches Robert Lewis and Sondra Lee.
He was exposed to the teachings of such luminaries as Paul Newman, Arthur Penn and Frank Corsaro at The Actors Studio, where
he appeared in numerous productions such as Rasputin and Miss Julie.
Since then, Patterson appeared on the big screen in Little Big League with Timothy Busfield and Jason Robards, and in Three
Wishes with Patrick Swayze and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. He also starred in the independent films Highway 395 and Rhapsody
in Bloom with Penelope Ann Miller
Birthday: Sept. 11
Hometown: Philadelphia
Keiko Agena (" Lane Kim")
Keiko (pronounced Kay-ko) Agena stars in Gilmore Girls as Rory's (Alexis Bledel) brainy and somewhat eccentric best friend,
Lane Kim. For her performance in Gilmore Girls, Agena recently garnered the Ammy Award for Best Female Actor in a Television
Production. The Ammy Awards honor Asians and Asian-American achievement in film and television.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Agena began her acting career in the theatre there and continued at the performing arts
school now known as Mid-Pacific School of the Arts. As a student, she was one of only four actors nationwide chosen as a Presidential
Scholar in the Arts and was able to meet President Bush.
Birthday: Oct. 3
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Kelly Bishop (" Emily Gilmore")
Veteran actress Kelly Bishop has portrayed many memorable roles in film, television and the theater since her breakout performance
as one of the original cast members of the hit Broadway musical A Chorus Line.
The Colorado Springs native grew up in Denver, Colorado, where she trained to be a ballet dancer. At 18, she headed to New
York and landed her first job dancing in a year-round ballet company at Radio City Music Hall. Bishop danced in Las Vegas,
summer stock and on television until she was cast in 1967 in Golden Rainbow, her first Broadway role.
Her big break came when she was cast as the sexy, hard-edged Sheila in A Chorus Line. She won Tony and Drama Desk Awards for
her performance, giving her the confidence she needed to eventually leave the acclaimed original ensemble to pursue a dramatic
acting career.
Birthday: Feb. 28
Hometown: Colo. Springs
Liz Torres (" Miss Patty")
A multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominee for her portrayal of Mahalia on The John Larroquette Show, Liz Torres is an
actor, singer and comedienne. A native of the Bronx, Torres began her career in the small New York City clubs where she and
Bette Midler shared Barry Manilow as a musical conductor.
Torres considers her first big break to have been on The Tonight Show doing stand-up comedy. Since then, she has performed
in regular roles on numerous series including All in the Family, Over the Top, Phyllis and City. She has guest-starred on
Ally McBeal, The Nanny, L.A. Law, Quantum Leap, Murder, She Wrote, The Wonder Years, Wise Guys, American Family and many others.
She also appeared in the television movies Kate's Secret, Silent Storms and Poker Alice. In the latter, she co-starred with
Elizabeth Taylor.
For her performance in the series The Famous Teddy Z she also received an Emmy nomination and was honored with a Bravo Award
for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Comedy Series. She has also received two American Comedy Awards nominations for
Best Female Television Performer.
Birthday: Sept. 25
Hometown: New York, NY
Sean Gunn ("Kirk")
Sean Gunn has played Kirk, one of Stars Hollow's most colorful and eccentric citizens, since the first season of Gilmore Girls.
The character of Kirk has held jobs as a delivery man, a DSL installer, a wedding photographer, and an entrepreneur. He has
worked in the grocery store, the video store and as the town mailman.
The youngest of six children, Gunn's four older brothers all work in the entertainment industry, while his sister took a different
path and is an attorney. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Gunn always knew he wanted to be an actor. His love of performing
in high school plays led him to enroll in DePaul University's prestigious acting conservatory, the Goodman School of Drama.
After graduating, Gunn spent two years in Chicago, where he began a theater company with college friends. He directed many
productions and thought his career would be as a stage director until he landed several acting roles in commercials and films
shooting in Chicago. Deciding to take the plunge into acting, he relocated to Los Angeles where his first role was a guest
starring spot in a pilot. His early credits include roles in The WB series Angel and Brutally Normal, as well as Andy Richter
Controls the Universe, Yes, Dear, Going to California and 3rd Rock from the Sun.
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Alexis Bledel ("Lorelai 'Rory' Gilmore")
Alexis Bledel plays Rory Gilmore, a sweet girl born to her mother Lorelai who gave birth to Rory when she was 16. While
living in their hometown, Rory gets two loves, Dean Forrester, a boy madely in love with Rory from Chicago and reckless Jess
Mariano, nephew of diner owner Luke where Rory and her mother eat every morning. Alexis Bledel is quickly emerging as one
of Hollywood's brightest talents in both film and television. She made her television debut in The WB's acclaimed series Gilmore
Girls. For her portrayal of teenager Rory Gilmore, Bledel received the 2002 Family Friendly Forum Award for Best Actress in
a Drama. She was also nominated for Choice Actress in a Drama at the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Teen Choice Awards.
In 2005, Bledel will appear in four feature films, including a starring role in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, an adaptation
of the best-selling novel. The coming-of-age story also stars Amber Tamblyn and America Ferrera. Bledel will also be part
of the ensemble cast of the Robert Rodriquez film Sin City, with Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett, Rosario Dawson, and Brittany
Murphy. Other upcoming films include Bride and Prejudice, an Indian musical version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice,
directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), and the independent film Orphan King, for writer/director Andrew Wilder.
Bledel made her feature film debut in Tuck Everlasting, based on the acclaimed novel by Natalie Babbitt. The film also stars
Ben Kingsley, William Hurt, Sissy Spacek and Jonathan Jackson.
Bledel plays Rory wonderfully and as best as she possibly could.
Birthday: Sept. 16 Hometown: Houston, TX
Melissa McCarthy ("Sookie St. James")
A natural-born comedian with credits that include film, television, stand-up and theater, Melissa McCarthy returns for a fifth
season as clumsy culinary genius Sookie St. James in Gilmore Girls.
Born and raised in Plainfield, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, McCarthy first made her mark on the comedy stage, performing
stand up in New York at The Improv and Stand Up New York. At the same time, she received dramatic training from The Actors
Studio in New York and starred in a variety of stage productions throughout the city.
Since moving to Los Angeles, McCarthy's quick wit gets a workout almost every weekend as a member of The Groundlings Main
Company, a world-renowned improv and sketch troupe.
McCarthy's recent television and feature film work includes roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Life of David Gale, with
Kevin Spacey. Her previous credits include White Oleander with Michelle Pfeiffer, Pumpkin with Christina Ricci and Go, directed
by Doug Liman. In addition, McCarthy starred in John August's independent short film God as a young woman having gossipy phone
conversations and a short-lived spat with the Almighty.
Birthday: Aug. 26
Hometown: Plainfield. IL
Yanic Truesdale ("Michel Gerard")
Though Yanic (pronounced Ya-neek) Truesdale is a fresh face to American audiences, he has been one of Canada's busiest and
most popular actors for years. He made his American television debut in Gilmore Girls, the first role he auditioned for after
relocating to Los Angeles. His performance as the arrogant Frenchman Michel prompted Daily Variety to select him as one of
the "10 Actors to Watch" last season.
Truesdale was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He got into acting "by accident" at age 17 when he decided on a
whim to audition for acting school with a friend. Though his friend was turned down, Truesdale got in, and soon discovered
a passion for acting. He graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada when he was 20 and the talented actor was quickly
in demand.
His first big break came with a starring role in He Shoots, He Scores, a hugely popular Canadian television series about hockey.
A six-year role on the series The Duval Family followed, during which Truesdale also found time to co-host a live daytime
talk show for teenagers called Special Delivery.
Birthday: March 17
Hometown: Montreal, QC
Edward Herrmann (" Richard Gilmore")
Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Edward Herrmann boasts an impressive career that spans more than 30 years in theater, film
and television.
His work on Broadway includes Mrs. Warren's Profession, for which he won a Tony Award; The Philadelphia Story, for which he
earned a Tony nomination; Plenty and Love Letters.
On the big screen, Herrmann has created memorable characters in Nixon, Ritchie Rich, Born Yesterday, Lost Boys, Compromising
Positions, The Man With One Red Shoe, The Purple Rose of Cairo, A Little Sex, The Great Gatsby, Annie, Reds, The Great Waldo
Pepper, The Day of the Dolphin, Critical Care, Overboard, Big Business, Mrs. Soffel, Takedown, The Paper Chase, Double Take,
The Cat's Meow, Down and The Emperor's Club. Herrmann has a co-starring role in the Coen brothers feature film Intolerable
Cruelty, and recently wrapped production on the Gene Hackman film, Welcome to Mooseport.
He appeared on television in a six-episode story arc on The Practice, which earned him a 1999 Emmy Award. He also guest-starred
in the 200th anniversary episode of Law & Order and in a recurring role on Oz. Herrmann received additional Emmy nominations
for his work on St. Elsewhere, the movie Concealed Enemies and Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years.
Birthday: July 21
Hometown: Washington, DC
Liza Weil ("Paris Geller")
Liza Weil stars as the brainy Paris Geller on Gilmore Girls.
Although she was born in New Jersey, Weil spent much of her childhood traveling throughout Europe with her parents, who had
their own comedy troupe. When Weil was 12, her family settled in Pennsylvania, and her mother began taking her to New York
for auditions. At 16, she began traveling to the city alone for auditions.
Her first acting jobs came in regional theatre, summer stock and off-Broadway plays. She then moved to New York City to pursue
her dream full-time. She began doing student films at Columbia University, which led to an audition for an independent film
called Whatever. Weil landed the lead in the coming-of-age drama and made her film debut. Her other film credits include Stir
of Echoes, opposite Kevin Bacon, and Dragonfly with Kevin Costner.
After shooting Stir of Echoes, Weil moved to Los Angeles, landing memorable guest-starring appearances in ER, as the wife
of a murderous schizophrenic patient, and The West Wing, as an intern responsible for leaking a White House staffer's drug
and alcohol problem. Last year she appeared as a rape victim on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Birthday: June 5
Hometown: Landsdale, PA
Catch Gilmore Girls on ABC Family at 5pm/4pm central on weekdays and on The WB on Saturdays at 9pm/8pm central.
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