Scott Patterson Explains His Decision to Fully Embrace the Role of Luke: Exclusive Insights from ‘Gilmore Girls’ Star
Luke Danes is often recognized by his signature style: a blue backwards baseball cap paired with a plaid shirt. This look stirs nostalgia among “Gilmore Girls” enthusiasts, sparking a longing for a warm cup (or several) of coffee.
Scott Patterson has had the opportunity to revisit Stars Hollow—the charming backdrop of the beloved series—over the years. His latest return was for a Walmart commercial, where he reunited with his co-star, Lauren Graham. Now, fans can experience the magic of this fictional Connecticut town firsthand as part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.
“This place is where I made my bones,” Patterson shares with TODAY.com, seated in a recreated version of Luke’s Diner for the “Holidays Made Here!” event at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.
“Everything about this brings back wonderful memories of creating scenes. This is where we rehearsed, crafted, and developed those scenes, and I take great pride in it. It feels like sacred ground.”
Revisiting ‘Luke and Lorelai’
In early December, Walmart unveiled a 30-second commercial featuring Kirk (Sean Gunn) delivering a package to Luke at his diner, which turns out to be a gift for the coffee-loving Lorelai.
Patterson’s return to this fictional Connecticut haven comes eight years after Netflix’s “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” and 17 years following the conclusion of the original WB and CW series.
When the chance to reprise Luke for the holiday advertisement emerged, Patterson eagerly accepted the opportunity to reunite with Graham.
“It felt incredibly genuine and effortless, just like it always does,” he recalls about collaborating with his former on-screen romantic partner. “(Lauren is) a breeze to work with. With just a few lines for each of us, there was little chance to mess it up.”
“It was just delightful and enjoyable. There was absolutely no pressure. It resembled being back on set,” he adds.
“Gilmore Girls” debuted in 2000 and ran for seven seasons until 2007. The show has since gained new fans and has thrived on social media platforms, sparking discussions around the lives and loves of the Gilmore girls.
“The pilot is especially precious to me as it was the first time I recognized the incredible chemistry Lauren and I shared,” Patterson reflects on one of his favorite moments from “Gilmore Girls.” “I was in awe of her talent and thought, ‘This is going to be a lot of fun.’”
However, there was a time when Patterson felt the need to step back from the character of Luke.
“While filming the show, I often required breaks from being Luke due to the extensive hours involved,” he explains. “But during the periods of struggling to find work in the industry—where securing a consistent job can be difficult— I realized just how fortunate I had been. Losing that made me appreciate my time on the show even more.”
Patterson notes that he began truly appreciating the character of Luke during “A Year in the Life.”
“While working on those episodes again, it struck me how fascinating this phenomenon was, especially since it was on Netflix,” he adds. “Now audiences can download it, extending its global reach and introducing it to new fans.”
Experience Stars Hollow Yourself
Fans can visit the actual set as part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in California, which will be open until January 5. Visitors will even have the chance to walk into Luke’s and order a coffee.
Patterson mentions he typically enjoys his coffee “black, with a touch of honey.”
He also reveals a fun secret: he used to stash $100 bills in one of the shelves each season, “And it would always remain safe. Very trustworthy people.” He chuckles, “It’s not there now.”
The tour also features Lorelai’s house, Kim’s Antiques, Doose’s Market, and numerous other iconic locations with props from the series.
“I poured a lot of myself into this place, and I can still feel it when I walk in. It hits home,” he explains, recalling another particularly poignant location, “I just visited the Dragonfly Inn set… where they decided to place Richard and Emily’s dining room set from the Gilmore house.”
“Walking in there brought back so many memories because it’s the original furniture,” he says, noting how he honored the late Edward Herrmann, who played Richard Gilmore. “I approached Ed Herrmann’s chair, Richard’s chair, and touched it, and a flood of memories came rushing back.”
He describes the experience as overwhelming and incredibly emotional, stating that revisiting Stars Hollow brings him “deep joy,” and he hopes fans share in that sentiment as well.
