Gilmore Girls Actors in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

1 Alex Borstein

Borstein had not one, but two roles on "Gilmore Girls" — and she almost had a major role! She played Sookie in the original version of the pilot, but was forced to turn down the role due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, she appeared in the first season as the Independence Inn's harpist Drella and in later years as the quirky stylist Miss Celine.

Borstein has won two consecutive Emmys for best supporting actress in a comedy thanks to her scene-stealing role as Midge's loyal manager Susie in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

1 / 8

2 Liza Weil

Image Source: Everett Collection

Weil's "Gilmore Girls" role was a true fan favorite. Her portrayal of neurotic, ambitious, prickly Paris Gellar took her from being the show's villain to one of its best characters, appearing in all seven seasons and the 2016 Netflix revival.

Season three of "Mrs. Maisel" reunited Weil with her "Gilmore" overlords, the Palladinos, and all we could think was "what took so long?" Weil plays Carole Keen, a bass guitarist in Shy Baldwin's band who becomes Midge's confidant and pal on tour.

2 / 8

3 Emily Bergl

Image Source: Getty / Steve Zak

Bergl recurred in the earlier seasons of "Gilmore Girls" as Francie, Chilton's resident mean girl who needles Paris and undermines her and Rory's friendship in a high school power grab.

Bergl first arrived in a small role in the second season of "Maisel" as Tessie, Susie's sister. Since then, she's continued to appear in both the third and fourth seasons.

3 / 8

4 Brian Tarantina

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

The beloved character actor, who died in 2019, had small but memorable roles in both shows. In the original "Gilmore Girls" and in the revival series, he appeared as Bootsy, one of the quirky denizens of Stars Hollow. He also recurred on "Maisel" as Jackie, the emcee at the Gaslight where Midge performs.

4 / 8

5 Christopher Eigeman

Image Source: Getty / Stephen Lovekin

Eigeman had one of the most unfortunately nicknamed characters on TV during his season-long "Gilmore Girls" stint. He played Jason Stiles, aka "Digger," a former childhood rival of Lorelai's who became Richard's business partner and, for a time, Lorelai's boyfriend. Eigeman made a cameo in the 2016 Netflix revival as well.

In the fourth season of "Maisel," Abe starts writing full-time for a newspaper. Eigeman plays Gabe, his smart-aleck but supportive editor.

5 / 8

6 Kelly Bishop

Image Source: Getty / Jason LaVeris

Bishop is true TV (and theater) royalty, beloved for her role as imperious but complicated matriarch Emily Gilmore. She played the series-regular role through all seven seasons of "Gilmore Girls" and the Netflix revival.

After also starring in the Palladinos' short-lived "Bunheads," Bishop makes it three for three with an appearance in the fourth season of "Maisel." She plays Benedetta, one of New York City's premier matchmakers who is very territorial and very displeased at Rose's intrusion into their world.

6 / 8

7 Scott Cohen

Image Source: Getty / Jamie McCarthy

Cohen's sweet, patient English teacher Max Medina was simply not meant to be Lorelai's true love, but we loved him nonetheless! Cohen appeared on and off throughout the first three seasons of "Gilmore Girls" before departing from the series.

On "Maisel," Cohen appears as Solomon Melamid, the patriarch of a very wealthy, very powerful, and very large Jewish family that is interested in enlisting Rose's services as a matchmaker.

7 / 8

8 Milo Ventimiglia

Image Source: Getty / Jose Perez

Before he was the late Jack Pearson on "This Is Us," Ventimiglia got his big break playing Jess Mariano on "Gilmore Girls." Luke's troubled, bad-boy nephew manages to offend nearly the entire town but grows close to Rory. He was a series regular for two seasons and popped up from time to time for two other seasons, plus the Netflix revival.

Ventimiglia's character on "Maisel" is something of a mystery, though he's definitely playing someone who connects with Midge. In June 2021, while the fourth season was in production, Daniel Palladino did a Q&A at the Nantucket Film Festival and revealed why they finally decided the time was right to reunite on screen with Ventimiglia. "You have to see it in context because it's actually a very different thing we're doing with him," he said (via TVLine). "We needed someone of his caliber and his handsomeness, so we asked Milo to do it. But you have to see it in the context."

8 / 8