Luke Danes Actor Scott Patterson Says He’d Love to Play Kirk on Gilmore Girls Instead
There’s something heartwarming when someone so connected to a beloved role says they’d love to play someone completely different on the same show. That’s exactly what Scott Patterson did when he recently revealed that, if he hadn’t been cast as the iconic Luke Danes on Gilmore Girls, he’d have loved to take on the delightfully oddball role of Kirk Gleason. The confession is charming, funny and makes you appreciate just how deeply he loves the show, its characters and the little town of Stars Hollow.
Patterson, now 67, has revisited the series in full thanks to his new podcast, I Am All In…Again! with Scott Patterson, and in that process he says his affection for Kirk grew. In an exclusive chat with People, he mused, “If I had a chance to play any other character on that show, it would’ve been Kirk — talk about fun. I wanna be a hot dog for a day. Why not?” That quote made fans smile, because Kirk’s many odd jobs, quirky demeanor and willingness to dress up as a hot dog all characterized his off-beat, joyful presence on the show.
It’s meaningful because Scott Patterson has long been the guy we picture sitting behind the counter of Luke’s Diner, flipping burgers, wearing his backwards baseball cap and offering Lorelai Gilmore coffee with a no-nonsense attitude. Becoming Kirk would have meant stepping into a completely different energy: one of joyful chaos, harmless mischief, and comic relief. Patterson’s words show he appreciates that role just as much, and perhaps even sees a bit of himself in that adventurous, unpredictable spirit.
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In the interview he admitted he is more like Lorelai Gilmore in personality than he is like Luke, even though he knew he was perfect for Luke from the moment he read the pilot. “When I read the pilot, I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s not gonna be hard. It felt like it was written for me.’” That level of comfort in a role is rare. But the fact that he then expresses desire to explore something wildly different speaks volumes about his own range and love of the show’s world.
He didn’t just say he’d play Kirk — he even pitched the idea of a full-length Kirk movie: “I think there’s a world … what could be really fun is if somebody financed a real full-length Kirk feature film. Like ‘A Film by Kirk.’” The idea fans might have fun with: Kirk getting his own movie, his own starring moment, the zany but endearing odd-job-hero of Stars Hollow taking center stage.
When you consider how fan-devoted the Gilmore Girls audience remains, it’s not hard to imagine that such a spin-off or special could well flourish. Patterson’s reflections feel honest: he doesn’t resent being Luke, he treasures it, but he also gives space for another character to shine. There’s humility in that, and a genuine affection for the community the show built.
What this all reminds me of is how special it is to be part of something that becomes more than a show — it becomes memory, comfort, connection. Patterson shining light on Kirk reminds us that what makes a show beloved is often the characters on the margins, the weird ones, the ones who do odd jobs or dress in hot-dog suits just to keep things weirdly wonderful. Luke may be the main cup of coffee, but Kirk is the chocolate muffin you didn’t expect and then loved.
For those of us who revisit Gilmore Girls, this revelation from Scott Patterson adds a fresh layer of appreciation. It shows the cast aren’t just playing roles—they’re inhabiting lives, relationships, little jokes, town happenings that live on in our minds long after the screen dims. And who knows — maybe one day Kirk will get his starring moment, and we’ll all get to sit back in Stars Hollow once more, cup of coffee in hand, watching the lovable chaos of Kirk Gleason rule.
