25 Years Since His Gilmore Girls Debut, Milo Ventimiglia Shares Heartfelt Reflection on Massive Milestone
Jess’s First Appearance
Viewers first saw Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano in the season two episode “Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy,” which aired October 25, 2001. The character became a fan favorite during the show’s seven-season run.
Jess’s story took him from a broody teenager to an empathetic author and publisher. The role helped launch Ventimiglia’s career; he later starred in Heroes and This Is Us, among other projects.
A Milestone That Surprised Him
In a Zoom interview with Good Housekeeping, Ventimiglia reflected on the anniversary while promoting his new Netflix film, A Dog’s Perfect Christmas. He said the year 2001 made him realize how much time had passed. “That’s pretty massive,” Ventimiglia said, recalling that he was 24 while filming Jess. He added that more years have now passed than the age he was at the time, calling that realization “pretty crazy.”
Why Fans Still Connect
Ventimiglia said he is impressed that audiences continue to gravitate toward Gilmore Girls and Jess. He credited creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino with writing a story that can resonate regardless of when someone watches it.
Ventimiglia said he does not know whether the show’s shared appeal will ever fade. “I love that people still embrace it, and they like Jess,” he said.
Key points
- Ventimiglia’s first appearance as Jess Mariano aired on October 25, 2001.
- The actor was 24 when he filmed the role and is reflecting on its 25-year milestone.
- He praised the show’s enduring appeal and said fans continue to embrace Jess.