Are Liz Torres And Sally Struthers From Gilmore Girls Friends In Real Life?
While "Gilmore Girls" follows the lives of mother-daughter-duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), it's the town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut that brings so much heart to the show. It's the oasis that Lorelai escapes to after giving birth to Rory, hoping to give her a different upbringing compared to her own. The picturesque small town includes a diner, a locally owned antique store, regular town meetings, and a gazebo right in the middle of town. Characters like Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), Mrs. Kim (Emily Kuroda), and Taylor Doose (Michael Winters) bring plenty of unique charm to this tight-knit community. Of course, Stars Hollow would not be complete without Miss Patty (Liz Torres) and Babette Dell (Sally Struthers). These fabulous ladies are the keepers of all Stars Hollow knowledge, keeping up their appearances at town meetings and events, making sure that no stone is unturned when it comes to gathering information on the latest current events in Stars Hollow. From Rory and Lorelai's breakups to Jess' sudden departure, Miss Patty and Babette keep tabs on all local breaking news.
The pair are a dynamic duo that offers laughs, charm, and heart throughout the show's seven seasons. But their friendship is not just for the camera. In fact, their story began decades before "Gilmore Girls" ever hit the airwaves.
Torres and Struthers became friends while working on a classic sitcom
Before playing Babette, Sally Struthers was known to many as Archie Bunker's (Carroll O'Connor) progressive daughter Gloria Bunker-Stivic on the hit 1970s sitcom "All in the Family." While the cast and crew took in the show's success, there was friendship brewing behind the scenes. Before she became the owner of Miss Patty's School of Ballet on "Gilmore Girls," Liz Torres played Teresa Betancourt during season 7 of "All in the Family." In episode 6, "Archie's Operation: Part 1," Teresa meets Archie while helping him prep for his procedure. Teresa would later board at the Bunker's home and become good friends with Gloria. That on-screen friendship became a real-life connection that's continued on for over 40 years (via Vanity Fair).
While they've kept in touch for decades, the pair told Vanity Fair that neither of them knew about the other's role on "Gilmore Girls" until they arrived on set. Torres recalled running to Struthers for a hug when they first arrived in Stars Hollow. And they made sure to keep each other company while filming, both noting that their continuous conversations started to annoy some crew members. Struthers told Vanity Fair, "We'd talk about people we like, people we couldn't stand, gossip, show business news, memory lane from her career and mine. We'd sing together ... " The pair would once again reunite on screen in 2016's "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," each reprising their beloved roles.