The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: The Veronica Mars Edition

The fan favorite UPN/WB series Veronica Mars ran for three seasons from 2004 to 2007, making series lead Kristin Bell, easily, a household name and garnering a very loyal and dedicated fanbase.

The show also helped launch the careers of regular cast members Amanda Seyfried (Les Miserables), Chris Lowell (Private Practice and The Help), Kyle Gallner (The Haunting, Nightmare on Elm Street and the upcoming CBGB), Julie Gonzalo (Eli Stone and Dallas), Jason Dohring (Moonlight and Ringer), Ryan Hansen (Party Down, 2 Broke Girls and Burning Love), Tessa Thompson (Heroes and Copper) and soap star Michael Muhney (The Young & the Restless).

The cult favorite series also made a difference for some actors whose careers have turned out quite impressive over the last few years. Let’s take a look at them in this Veronica Mars Edition of the first time ever I saw your face:

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain:

WHO SHE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: She played Sarah Williams in the November 9, 2004 episode entitled “The Girl Next Door”. Sarah was a new neighbor at the apartment complex where Veronica and her dad lived, who turned out to be a runaway, raped by her step-father. Besides an episode of ER earlier that same year, this was Jessica’s only other TV appearance.

WHAT SHE’S DONE SINCE THEN: Where should I start? Jessica has appeared in the following box office films over the last three years: Mama, Zero Dark Thirty, Lawless, The Help, The Tree of Life, Coriolanus and The Debt. She also has several big projects coming up soon, including The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, Miss Julie and Interstellar

Armie Hammer

Armie Hammer:

WHO HE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: He played Kurt in the October 16, 2006 episode entitled “Wichita Linebacker” in which Veronica is hired by a Hearst college football player to find his stolen playbook. Besides a blink and you probably missed him episode of Arrested Development, this was Armie’s first TV appearance.

WHAT HE’S DONE SINCE THEN: He has appeared in the box office films The Social Network, J. Edgar and Mirror Mirror. He will also be seen this summer in the big budget remake film The Lone Ranger; and he is attached to appear in the upcoming remake film The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

David Blue

David Blue:

WHO HE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: He appeared in the November 28, 2006 episode entitled “Spit & Eggs” in a bit role that was described as “Beefy Resident”, who helped out Veronica as she was being chased by Hearst College rapist Mercer Hayes. Besides a tiny role in a 2002 episode of Scrubs, this was the first real TV role for David.

WHAT HE’S DONE SINCE THEN: David may not have appeared in huge box office films like Armie and Jessica, but he has become a fan favorite among TV viewers by playing likeable roles in the short-lived series Moonlight, a recurring role on Ugly Betty and a series regular role in the sci-fi series Stargate Universe.

David Giuntoli

David Guintoli:

WHO HE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: He appeared as the “Sneed Batmen Guy” in the May 1, 2007 episode entitled “Un-American Graffiti” that finds Veronica investigating vandalism to a restaurant. Besides an appearance in an episode of Ghost Whisperer, this was David’s first time in a TV role.

WHAT HE’S DONE SINCE THEN: David is the star of the NBC fairytale drama Grimm, but since his Veronica Mars episode he has appeared in episodes of Love Bites, Private Practice, Hot in Cleveland, The Deep End, Crash, Cold Case, Without a Trace, The Unit, Eli Stone and Privileged as well as the independent film Weather Girl.

Lucas Grabeel

Lucas Grabeel:

WHO HE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: He appeared in two different episodes of Veronica Mars, first as “Wanna Score Boy” in the November 23, 2006 episode entitled “Ahoy Mateys” and then as Kelly Kuzzio in the March 15, 2006 episode entitled “Versatile Toppings”. Prior to that he appeared in an episode of Boston Legal and the made-for-TV movie Halloweentown High.

WHAT HE’S DONE SINCE THEN: Since that time, Lucas has starred in the High School musical franchise of made-for-TV movies as well as the show’s follow-up film Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure and the made-for-TV sequel Return to Halloweentown as well as episodes of CSI and Smallville. He is now one of the stars of the popular ABC Family series Switched at Birth.

Valorie Curry

Valorie Curry:

WHO SHE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: In her first ever TV role, Valorie appeared in five episodes of Veronica Mars throughout 2005 and 2006 as Jane Kuhne.

WHAT SHE’S DONE SINCE THEN: TV viewers will know recognize Valorie from her chilling role in the new FOX thriller The Following as well as a role in the final Twilight franchise film. He also appeared in episodes of Psych and CSI: NY.

Max Greenfield

Max Greenfield:

WHO HE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: He appeared in 11 episodes of the series throughout 2005, 2006 and 2007, playing Leo D’Amato. Prior to that he appeared in an episode of The O.C., the short-lived series Modern Men, Sleeper Cell, Gilmore Girls and Boston Public.

WHAT HE’S DONE SINCE THEN: He now stars in the FOX comedy New Girl as well as episodes Happy Endings, Hot in Cleveland, Undercovers, No Ordinary Family, Lie to Me, Castle, Raising the Bar, Melrose Place, Ugly Betty, Greek and Life.

Dianna Agron

Dianna Agron:

WHO SHE PLAYED ON VERONICA MARS: She appeared as Jenny Budosh in one episode in 2006 entitled “President Evil” and two episodes in 2007 entitled “Papa’s Cabin” and “Weevils Wobble But They Don’t Go Down”. Prior to that she appeared in small roles in episodes of Close to Home, CSI: NY, Drake & Josh and Shark.

WHAT SHE’S DONE SINCE THEN: TV viewers know her as Quinn Fabray from Glee, but have also seen her in the box office movies I Am Number Four and Burlesque as well as guest roles in Numb3rs and Heroes.

The show also didn’t stop at the above actors and actresses. Veronica Mars had a slew of special guest stars and recurring players, including Jane Lynch (Glee), Steve Williams (21 Jump Street and Supernatural), Joss Whedon (director, series creator and writer extraordinaire), Charisma Carpenter (Buffy and Angel), Harry Hamlin and his wife Lisa Rinna, Alona Tal (Supernatural and Cult), Ken Marino (Burning Love and Party Down), Tina Majorino (Grey’s Anatomy), Erica Gimpel (Profiler), Krysten Ritter (Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23), Patrick Fabian (Joan of Arcadia), Jamie Ray Newman (Red Widow and Eureka), Ed Begley, Jr., Steven Guttenberg, Aaron Ashmore (Warehouse 13), Paula Marshall (Gary Unmarried), Cress Williams (Hart of Dixie), Alyson Hannigan (Buffy and How I Met Your Mother), Jessy Schram (Falling Skies and Once Upon a Time), Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me), Richard Grieco (21 Jump Street and Booker), Sam Huntington (Being Human), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Dana Davis (Franklin & Bash and Heroes), Gil Birmingham (the Twilight franchise), Bonita Friedericy (Chuck) and Kayla Ewell (The Vampire Diaries).

Do you have a favorite guest star from the three years that Veronica Mars aired on TV? Please share your thoughts in our comments section below.