‘Gilmore Girls’: Scott Patterson Reveals Which 1 of His Co-Stars Is ‘Nothing Like’ Their Character

Scott Patterson’s opening up about Gilmore Girls. The 62-year-old actor, best known for playing the show’s diner owner Luke Danes, recently named who among the Gilmore Girls cast is “nothing like” the character they play. Is it Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore)? No. Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore)? Try again. It’s Michael Winters, or as fans of the popular 2000s series know him, Taylor Doose. 

Taylor Doose is an uptight Stars Hollow resident on ‘Gilmore Girls’

Gilmore Girls wouldn’t be the TV show it is without the quirky yet lovable people who live in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, with Rory and Lorelai. Among them is Taylor. He’s all about making the town just so. He maintains an impeccably mowed lawn and is on the town’s beautification committee. 

Not only that but Taylor’s also a business owner and Stars Hollow’s most politically active resident. He owns multiple properties, or as Luke describes it, he’s “systematically buying up the town.” Taylor owns Doose’s Market, an apartment building, and later, much to Luke’s dismay, Taylor’s Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe. In addition to that he’s town selectman. As such Taylor runs town meetings and organizes events in Stars Hollow. And he does it all while wearing a cardigan.

Throughout the series it’s Taylor who issues the proper permits and reprimands those who don’t abide by town ordinances. On numerous occasions his insistence on following the rules angers Stars Hollow residences including Luke, Lorelai, and Jackson Belleville (Jackson Douglas).  

Scott Patterson says Michael Winters is ‘nothing like’ Taylor Doose

While promoting his Gilmore Girls rewatch podcast I’m All In in May 2021, Patterson made a guest appearance on UsWeekly’s Costar Secrets. He talked about Milo Ventimiglia, who played his on-screen nephew Jess Mariano, and, of course, Winters. The 62-year-old actor said Winters is different from Taylor in real life. 

“He’s nothing like that character,” Patterson said. “He’s just a wonderful, warm, witty, heartfelt guy. I mean, you just love him.” 

He continued, saying, “Every time I see him on set, I just hug him [and say], ‘Thank God you’re here.’ He’s just such a great guy. Such a great actor. [A] classically trained actor. He’s just so good at it.”

So Winters and Patterson don’t have a relationship similar to their Gilmore Girls characters when cameras aren’t rolling. Instead of arguing in Luke’s Diner or on the streets of Stars Hollow as Taylor and Luke do, the actors actually get along. 

Michael Winters reprised his role as Taylor Doose in the ‘Gilmore Girls’ Netflix revival

Taylor continued to be Luke’s foil when Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life premiered in 2016. The Netflix revival caught up with Lorelai, Rory, and the rest of Stars Hollow nearly a decade after the original series went off the air. Winters signed on for the project and reprised his role as Taylor. Where was his character nine years later? Being Taylor. He organized events in town and still annoyed Luke. 

Watch Gilmore Girls and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life on Netflix.