Although this striking blue-eyed brunette eventually achieved small-screen stardom, she had to suffer through a string of flops first. In between recurring roles on hit series such as
NewsRadio and
Law & Order in the '90s, Graham starred in a succession of short-lived shows and was even filming one,
M.Y.O.B., when she landed her signature role as a sexy and sarcastic single mom on
Gilmore Girls. A winning combination of beauty and quirkiness, Graham brought her talents to the big screen in a number of supporting roles, including a memorably naughty turn as a sex-crazed Claus lover in the outrageous comedy
Bad Santa.
Lauren Graham Fast Facts:- Parents divorced when she was 5 and her father, Lawrence Graham, raised her.
- Participated in equestrian competitions in high school.
- Was in high school when she landed her first paying acting job as a pregnant teen in a Planned Parenthood training film.
- Was living with actress Connie Britton in New York City just before Britton was cast in Spin City and Graham landed a recurring role on Caroline in the City.
- Lauren Graham Relationships:
- Chris - Half Brother
- Donna Grant - Mother
- Karen Graham - Stepmother
- Lawrence Graham - Father
- Maggie - Half Sister
- Lauren Graham Awards:
- 2002 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- College:
- Attended New York University, New York, NY; Columbia University, Barnard College, New York, NY (BA in English); Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX (MFA in Theater, 1992)
