Liberty High sure has some high-profile alumni.

The cast of My So-Called Life, then and now: See the stars of the iconic coming-of-age series more than 30 years later

Liberty High sure has some high-profile alumni.

By Madeline Boardman

Madeline Boardman

Madeline Boardman is a former digital features director at **. She left EW in 2017.

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and Kevin Jacobsen

August 25, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET

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Devon Gummersall as Brian Krakow, A.J. Langer as Rayanne Graff, Claire Danes as Angela Chase, Wilson Cruz as Rickie Vasquez, and Devon Odessa as Sharon Cherski on ‘My So-Called Life’. Credit:

ABC/Courtesy Everett

On the list of one-season wonders in television history, *My So-Called Life* ranks near the top. Redefining what was possible for a teen drama, the mid-’90s series took a realistic approach in its exploration of Angela Chase (Claire Danes), a moody high schooler. Unafraid of tackling themes that were taboo for TV at the time — like alcohol abuse, queer identity, and homelessness — the ABC drama was refreshingly honest, attracting a group of young, loyal viewers who were devastated by its abrupt cancellation.

The legacy of *My So-Called Life* is etched in the many grounded teen dramas it helped inspire, from *Freaks and Geeks* to *Friday Night Lights*. It can also be found in the wildly successful careers of its stars, from future Emmy magnet Danes to Oscar winner Jared Leto to television veteran Wilson Cruz. Now, on the 32nd anniversary of the show’s pilot, we’re charting the lives and careers of the cast of *My So-Called Life* now that they’re all grown up.

Claire Danes (Angela Chase)

Claire Danes on ‘My So-Called Life’; Claire Danes speaks onstage at the ‘Homeland’ panel discussion during the 2016 Television Critics Association Summer Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Aug. 11, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection; Jerod Harris/WireImage

Claire Danes picked up early work with shorts and minor TV credits in the ‘90s before landing her breakout role as Angela Chase on *My So-Called Life*. The then-teenage star played the relatable high school student until the show’s wrap in 1995, also hitting the big screen as Beth March in 1994’s *Little Women* during this time.

In a 2018 appearance on *The Howard Stern Show*, Danes recalled filming one of the more intimate scenes from *My So-Called Life* with costar Jared Leto. “There were these stage directions in that scene where it says ‘Angela kisses Jordan’s face,’ and I was like, ‘What? What is *that *about? Why would she kiss his face?’” Danes remembered. “I had that question on set, and he had to try to teach me. It’s ridiculous!”

Danes returned to film soon after the series ended, starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann‘s *Romeo + Juliet* (1996), and going on to appear in *The Rainmaker* (1997), *Igby Goes Down* (2002), *Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines* (2003), *The Family Stone* (2005), and *Stardust* (2007) before she landed her first Emmy for the 2010 HBO film *Temple Grandin*.

The actress is now perhaps best known for her Emmy-winning role of Carrie Mathison on *Homeland*, a gig she held from 2011 to 2020. She further appeared in the miniseries *Fleishman Is in Trouble* and *The Beast in Me*, both of which earned her more Emmy nominations.

Danes has been married to fellow actor Hugh Dancy since 2009. They share three children.

Jared Leto (Jordan Catalano)

Jared Leto on ‘My So-Called Life’; Jared Leto attends the European premiere of ‘Suicide Squad’ at Odeon Leicester Square on Aug. 3, 2016, in London, England. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; David M. Benett/WireImage

After making a few small-screen appearances in one-off episodes of ’90s shows, Jared Leto landed his first major role as *My So-Called Life*’s Jordan Catalano. He played the high school rebel through the drama’s 1995 finale, reuniting with costar Claire Danes months later for *How to Make an American Quilt* (1995).

Because of how short-lived *My So-Called Life* ended up being, Leto admittedly doesn’t have the strongest of relationships with the series all these years later. “I think for some people, especially girls at that time, it mirrored something in their lives,” he told *Rolling Stone* in 2016. “I don’t know. It did make an impact for people, but it’s always been so imbalanced with what the experience was for me in my own life.”

Following the show’s ending, Leto added to his filmography, earning credits for *Urban Legend* (1998), *Girl, Interrupted* (1999), *Requiem for a Dream* (2000), *Panic Room* (2002), *Lord of War* (2005), and *Mr. Nobody* (2009). The performer also worked on his music career during this time, dropping studio albums as the frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Leto nabbed an Oscar in 2014 thanks to his turn as Rayon in *Dallas Buyers Club* (2013), and took on the roles of the Joker in *Suicide Squad* (2016) and *Zack Snyder’s Justice League* (2021), Paolo Gucci in *House of Gucci* (2021), the title role in *Morbius* (2022), Ares in *Tron: Ares* (2025), and Skeletor in *Masters of the Universe* (2026).

Leto dated Cameron Diaz from 1999 to 2003 and model Valerie Kaufman from 2016 to 2022.

A.J. Langer (Rayanne Graff)

A.J. Langer as Rayanne Graff on ‘My So-Called Life’; A.J. Langer as Erica Warner on ‘Private Practice’. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Colleen Hayes/ABC via Getty Images

A.J. Langer kicked off her acting career in the late-’80s and picked up early roles in episodes of *Drexell’s Class*, *Blossom*, *The Wonder Years*, and *Baywatch* before landing a part on *My So-Called Life* as Rayanne Graff, playing the eccentric pal to Angela and Rickie.

“With her, all my self-consciousness disappeared; she was very liberating,” Langer told author A.S. Berman in 2019 of playing Rayanne. “To me, who was quite a people pleaser, there was a joy, a freedom.”

Langer kept busy over the next decade, popping up in episodes of *Coach*, *Seinfeld*, and *It’s Like, You Know...*, as well as the 1996 film *Escape From L.A. *After a hiatus from acting during the 2000s, she completed a stint as Erica Warner on *Private Practice* from 2011 to 2012 and hit Lifetime in the 2013 TV movie *Kristin’s Christmas Past*.

The actress married royalty in 2004 when she exchanged nuptials with Charles Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon, with whom she shares two children. The couple divorced in 2026.

Wilson Cruz (Enrique “Rickie” Vasquez)

Wilson Cruz as Enrique ‘Rickie’ Vasquez on ‘My So-Called Life’; Wilson Cruz attends ‘United FORlando’ presented by the Wallis and the Los Angeles LGBT Center at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on July 16, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

Wilson Cruz picked up his first onscreen role with *My So-Called Life*, breaking TV ground by playing a teen LGBTQ+ Latinx character, Rickie Vasquez, as an out, gay actor — a rare feat for TV during the ’90s.

“I took [the role] as an opportunity to shed light on LGBT youth issues and give a voice to young people,” Cruz told EW in 2018. “I felt like, at that time, there weren’t a lot of people who were willing to take those roles. Here I was, not only willing but excited to take them — and to make a difference because of them.”

He followed up the debut gig with big-screen turns in *Nixon* (1995), *All Over Me *(1997), *Supernova *(2000), *Party Monster* (2003), and *He’s Just Not That Into You* (2009), and small-screen roles on *Ally McBeal*, *Party of Five*, and *The West Wing*. Cruz has also earned onscreen credits for *Grey’s Anatomy, 13 Reasons Why*, and *Star Trek: Discovery*,* *and voiced roles on *The Bravest Knight* and *The Casagrandes*.

Devon Gummersall (Brian Krakow)

Devon Gummersall as Brian Krakow on ‘My So-Called Life’; Devon Gummersall arrives at the premiere of ‘Some Girl(s)’ at Laemmle NoHo 7 on June 26, 2013, in North Hollywood, Calif. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Angela Weiss/Getty Images

Devon Gummersall landed one of his first roles as Brian Krakow on *My So-Called Life*.

“When we saw the first cut of the pilot, we all watched it together, and were just so proud of it and blown away,” Gummersall told *Elle* in 2016. “We were in love with the experience and each other… and then the show wasn’t picked up. All the actors got together and had this pow-wow; we were so devastated. We couldn’t believe that something so good could be ignored.”

The actor — who had previously appeared on *Step by Step* and *Blossom* — followed his turn as the smart student with credits for *It’s My Party* (1996), *Independence Day* (1996), *Felicity*, *Dick* (1999), *Roswell*, and *The L Word*. Gummersall has also appeared in episodes of *iZombie*, *Mad Men*,* *and* **The Pitt**.*

Claire Danes calls My So-Called Life an 'accurate account' of her teen experience

35 one-season TV wonders

Devon Odessa (Sharon Cherski)

Devon Odessa as Sharon Cherski on ‘My So-Called Life’; Devon Odessa attends Martell Cognac’s celebration of the season 5 finale of ‘Project Runway’ at STK restaurant on Oct. 15, 2008, in Los Angeles, Calif. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; David Livingston/Getty Images

Devon Odessa joined *My So-Called Life* as Angela’s childhood friend, Sharon Cherski.

“Everyone I meet thinks they went to high school with me,” Odessa told *Elle* in 2016 about the impact of the series. “It’s really funny.”

The rising star filled the next decade with projects like *Campfire Tales* (1997), *Nowhere* (1997), and *The Omega Code* (1999), as well as episodes of *Pacific Blue*, *Touched by an Angel*, and *That’s So Raven*. Odessa has intermittently returned to the screen, including in a 2011 episode of *Private Practice,* the 2024 horror film *Shark Girl,* and the second season of Apple TV’s *Sugar**.*

Bess Armstrong (Patty Chase)

Bess Armstrong as Patty Chase on ‘My So-Called Life’; Bess Armstrong as Dr. Elizabeth Oz on ‘Zoo’. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/CBS via Getty Images

*My So-Called Life* found its Patty Chase in Bess Armstrong, who played Angela’s mother.

“No matter how late I got home, the tyranny of my schedule was that my children were going to be getting up between 6:15 and 6:30 and I needed to make their lunches, pack their lunch boxes, feed them breakfast, make sure they got dressed, and on some days actually run carpool,” Armstrong recalled to A.S. Berman in 2020 of the show’s filming schedule. “But it’s just a version of what families are doing in any industry now to a certain extent, right? It’s always that juggling of careers and family. You don’t want to shortchange anybody, but that means that you burn your candle at both ends.”

The *Jaws 3-D* (1983) alum went on to book gigs in *Pecker *(1998), *Diamond Men* (2000), and episodes of *Touched by an Angel*, *The Nanny*, *Frasier*, and *One Tree Hill*. Armstrong has regularly recurred on such series as *House of Lies*, *Switched at Birth*, *The Good Doctor*, and, most recently, *Grey’s Anatomy* as Maureen Lincoln*.*

Armstrong has been married to executive John Fiedler since 1986.**

Tom Irwin (Graham Chase)

Tom Irwin as Graham Chase on ‘My So-Called Life’; Tom Irwin attends the premiere of ‘Devious Maids’ at Bel-Air Bay Club on June 17, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Tom Irwin found his spot on *My So-Called Life* as Angela’s father, Graham Chase. Irwin came into the role after building up his résumé in the ’80s and early-’90s, earning credits for* Light of Day* (1987), *Midnight Run* (1988), *Men Don’t Leave* (1990), *Deceived* (1991), and *My Life and Times*.

Irwin looks back on his *My So-Called Life* experience fondly, especially working with Armstrong as his onscreen wife. “There were several times when we would finish the scene and then Bess and I would just sit there in bed and talk for another hour or two, and just hang out on the set,” he told *Elle *in 2016. “I loved working with her.”

The actor followed *My So-Called Life* with a string of TV movies, then went on to appear in *The Haunting* (1999), *21 Grams* (2003), *Marley & Me* (2008), *On the Basis of Sex* (2018), *Amsterdam* (2022), and episodes of *Without a Trace*, *Lost*, *Grey’s Anatomy*, and *Devious Maids*. Irwin also has a recurring role on Apple TV’s *The Morning Show* as the president of the UBA network.

Lisa Wilhoit (Danielle Chase)

Lisa Wilhoit on ‘My So-Called Life’; Lisa Wilhoit at the DVD premiere of ‘Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story’ on Sept. 27, 2005. Mark Seliger/ABC via Getty Images; Mark Sullivan/WireImage

Lisa Wilhoit signed on to play Danielle Chase, the younger sister to Angela, on *My So-Called Life*. Wilhoit landed the gig after making an uncredited appearance in 1991’s *Hook*, and followed up with roles in *Adam and Eve* (2005), *The Kid & I* (2005), and episodes of *Social Studies*, *The Tom Show*, *7th Heaven*, and *Greek*.

Her most recent credit is for *Family Guy*, on which she has voiced Connie D’Amico for more than 20 years.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Teen”