On October 5th, 2000, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore made their first appearances on screen and immediately won over the hearts of all Gilmore Girls viewers. Spanning until May 2007, this series followed the iconic mother-daughter duo and their companions through their life in small town Stars Hollow, Connecticut, detailing their ups and downs in work, school, family, and more. In honor of the show’s twentieth year anniversary, let’s take a look at what the Gilmores and a couple of their closest companions have done since the finale. 

Melissa McCarthy (Sookie St. James)

Though Sookie St. James was widely known for being an incredible chef, her character proved her to be an even better friend. Always there for the Gilmores with moral support, Sookie was definitely a lovable sidekick. Actress Melissa McCarthy, one of the more popular names of the cast, has carried a number of roles since Gilmore Girls. From movies like Bridesmaids (2011) and Ghostbusters (2016) to other TV shows like Mike & Molly (2010-2016), McCarthy’s career has done nothing but surge over the past couple of decades. Most recently, she starred in and produced a comedy-action movie, Superintelligence (2020). It is clear that McCarthy has had no trouble with her career since her stint in Stars Hollow and shows no sign of slowing down. 

Keiko Agena (Lane Kim)

Much like Sookie, Lane proved herself as a dependable sidekick for Rory throughout the series, always willing to help her through tough times. More than just Rory’s friend, Lane’s struggles with her strict mother, causing her to always sneak around and eventually become independent, provided both comic relief and an interesting plot line throughout the series. After her role as Lane Kim, actress Keiko Agena has landed smaller parts in a wide range of projects. Viewers of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020) saw a familiar face as Agena portrayed one of main character Hannah Baker’s teachers in season one and two of the series. Currently, the actress has been keeping herself occupied with her role as Dr. Edrisa Tanaka in the crime series Prodigal Son (2019-present). 

Though all of these actresses and the rest of the Gilmore Girls cast may have moved on from the show and followed their own path, it’s safe to say that they will always be remembered for their contributions to the show and the impact they had on their devoted viewers. 

Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore)

Rory Gilmore was only fifteen at the start of the series, a young, intelligent girl with dreams of going to Harvard and seeing the world. The show followed her growth as she moved from Chilton to Yale and blossomed into the woman she had dreams of becoming. Though Bledel is widely recognized as Rory, she has made her mark in other roles, as well. Towards the end of Gilmore Girls’s run on television, the actress notably starred in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in 2005, also returning for the sequel released in 2008. A third movie of the series is set to be in the works; though the timeline of when it will be released is currently unknown, Bledel is set to come back to her role of Lena Kaligaris. The actress has also secured a spot on Hulu’s series The Handmaid’s Tale (2017), which is currently still running. Though everyone misses watching Rory grow up on screen, it’s pleasing to see her actress succeed in her own life as well.  

Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore)

Quick-witted and kindhearted, Lorelai Gilmore goes beyond just being Rory’s mother and encompasses the warm spirit of Stars Hollow, bringing cheer to the townspeople and her audience alike. Since Gilmore Girls ended, actress Lauren Graham has been involved in different minor roles including appearances in HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present) and NBC’s Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (2020). The actress has also written memoirs such as In Conclusion, Don’t Worry About It (2018) in recent years. 

She took to Twitter on October 6th to comment on the show’s milestone, tweeting:

“So many nice 20th Anniversary messages today, thank you again. Spoke to Amy tonight and the Twitterless Sherman-Palladinos wanted me to express their thanks and appreciation as well. We love you, @GilmoreGirls fans. Xo☕”

The heartfelt message helped to commemorate the show and express Graham’s gratitude for the dedicated viewers that have supported the Gilmores for the past twenty years. Though the actress may have moved onto new projects since the end of the show, she makes it clear that Lorelai Gilmore will always hold a special place in her heart.