Gilmore Girls cast ages: How old was the cast then (and now)?

Ever since its premiere on The WB in 2000, Gilmore Girls has been one of the most beloved series on television. Thanks to its enduring success on Netflix, the show hasn’t waned in popularity since and has only added more fans over 20 years later.

The comedy-drama series centers on Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a formidable mother-daughter unit who are only 16 years apart. In their little corner of the universe known as Stars Hollow, they encounter a colorful collection of characters and then some.

All these years since its conclusion, fans around the world are still rewatching the hilarious series over and over again. But have you ever wondered how close in age Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel are in real life? Was Bledel older than Rory? Were Sookie and Lane actually only a couple years removed off-screen? These are the things we search for on our millionth watch…

Since we have already found out what the cast of one of our favorite shows has been up to since the series and its four-episode revival ended, let’s rewind to the past. How old was the cast back then compared to their characters and how old are they now? Here are the Gilmore Girls cast ages! *Updated on March 22, 2024

Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore

Lauren Graham was born on March 16, 1967, which makes the Lorelai Gilmore actress 57 years old as of March 2024. When Gilmore Girls premiered in October 2000, Graham was 33 years old, which was only one year older than her character. In May 2007 when the series ended, Graham was 40 years old. During Netflix’s 2016 reunion miniseries, Graham was 49 years old, making Lorelai around 48. Graham has become the best-selling author of four books and also appeared in such television titles as Parenthood, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore

Alexis Bledel was born on Sept. 16, 1981, and the Rory Gilmore actress turned 42 years old in 2023. In the beginning of the series, Rory was 16 years old and beginning her sophomore year of high school, but Bledel had just turned 19 by the time the series premiered. When Gilmore Girls ended, Bledel was a few months from turning 26, and when she returned to the role of Rory in 2016, the actress was 35 years old. Bledel went on to win an Emmy Award for her role as Ofglen in The Handsmaid's Tale.

Melissa McCarthy as Sookie St. James

Melissa McCarthy was born on Aug. 26, 1970. The Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actress turned 53 years old in 2023. When McCarthy landed her breakthrough role in The WB dramedy in 2000, she was 30 years old. By the end of the series she was around 37, and when she made her cameo in A Year in the Life, McCarthy was 46. McCarthy has become a breakout movie star, appearing in titles like Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters, The Little Mermaid, and more.

Keiko Agena as Lane Kim

Keiko Agena, who plays Rory’s best friend Lane Kim, was born on Oct. 3, 1973, which means the actress was eight years older than Alexis Bledel. The actress turned 50 years old in 2023. When the series began in 2000, Agena was 27 years old, and when it ended in 2007, she was 34. Agena was 43 when the cast reunited in the Netflix miniseries.

Scott Patterson as Luke Danes

Our grumpy but lovable diner owner Luke Danes was played by Scott Patterson, who was born on Sept. 11, 1958, making him almost 10 years older than his on-screen girlfriend Lauren Graham. While he turned 65 years old in 2023, Patterson was 42 years old when the series began and 49 when the series ended on The CW. The actor was 58 during the Netflix revival. Patterson hosts a podcast about his time on the series and most recently stars in The CW's Sullivan's Crossing.

Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore

Kelly Bishop, who plays the iconic Emily Gilmore, was born on Feb. 28, 1944, making the star 80 years old as of March 2024. In 2000 at the series’ start, the actress was 52 years old, and when the series ended in 2007, Bishop was 63. During the Netflix revival, Bishop was 72 years old. In September 2024, Bishop will publish her memoir titled The Third Gilmore Girl.

Edward Hermann as Richard Gilmore

Richard Gilmore was brought to life by the incredible Edward Hermann, who was born July 21, 1943, making him hardly a year older than his on-screen wife Kelly Bishop. The actor was around 57 when the series began and 64 when the series ended. Sadly, Hermann passed away on Dec. 31, 2014 at the age of 71.

Liza Weil as Paris Geller

Liza Weil delivered an inimitable performance as Rory’s frenemy Paris Geller. The actress was born on June 5, 1977 and is currently 46 years old as of March 2024. When the series began, Weil was 23 years old playing a 16-year-old. By the end of the series, Weil was 30, and when she reprised her role in A Year in the Life, the How to Get Away with Murder star was 39.

Jared Padalecki as Dean Forrester

Jared Padalecki, who plays Rory’s first boyfriend Dean, was born on July 19, 1982, which is about a year younger than Bledel. He’s currently 41 years old as of March 2024. When the series began, Padalecki was around 18 years old, making him the actor closest in age to their teen character. When he left the series in 2005, he was 23, and when he made his cameo as Dean in the revival, the Supernatural star was 34.

Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano

Milo Ventimiglia, who plays Rory’s fan-favorite second boyfriend Jess, was born on July 8, 1977, making the actor one month younger than Liza Weil and 46 years old as of March 2024. When he joined the series in 2001, he was 24 years old playing a teenager. Ventimiglia left the series at the end of season 3 but returned for cameos later on. The Emmy-nominated This Is Us star made an appearance as Jess in A Year in the Life at 39 years old.

Matt Czuchry as Logan Huntzberger

Matt Czuchry, who plays Rory’s third and most polarizing boyfriend Logan Huntzberger, was born on May 20, 1977, making the actor the same age as Weil and Ventimiglia at 46 years old as of March 2024. Czuchry joined the series in 2005 during season 5 when he was 28. At the time, Logan was around 21 years old. He ended the series at 30 years old, and when The Good Wife and The Resident star returned for the revival, he was 39.

Sean Gunn as Kirk Gleason

Sean Gunn was born on May 22, 1974, making the Kirk actor 49 years old as of March 2024. When he first appeared as the quirky Stars Hollow everyman in October 2000, Gunn was 26 years old, and when the series ended in May 2007, he was almost 32. When he made his Kirk comeback in November 2016, he was 42 years old. Since Gilmore Girls, Gunn has appeared in a number of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. He's the younger brother of director James Gunn.

Yanic Truesdale as Michel Gerard

Yanic Truesdale was born on March 17, 1970, which makes the Michel actor 54 years old as of March 2024. When he first started playing Lorelai and Sookie's best frenemy and coworker in October 2000, Truesdale was 30 years old. By the end of the series in May 2007, he was 36, and when he appeared in A Year in the Life, he was 46. After the series, he's had roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Melissa McCarthy's Netflix series God's Favorite Idiot, and he's reteaming with Amy Sherman-Palladino for a new series.

All seven seasons and the revival of Gilmore Girls are available to watch on Netflix.