23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (2024)

01of 24

Supernatural knew them when

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (1)

In its 15 seasons, Supernatural has hosted a lot of actors who've since made a name for themselves in other shows, movies, plays, and more. Here are 23 you might've forgotten shared the screen with Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) way back when.

02of 24

Adrianne Palicki

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (2)

Supernatural role: Palicki first appeared in the pilot as Jess, Sam's college girlfriend. Over the years, she'd star in four episodes total.

Best known for: One year after the Supernatural pilot, in 2006, Palicki started her run as Tyra on Friday Night Lights. She's since starred on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Orville, and more.

03of 24

Dustin Milligan

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (3)

Supernatural role: In 2008, Milligan had a memorable part as Corbett in the beloved "Ghostfacers" episode.

Best known for: Milligan is now best known for playing Ted on Schitt's Creek.

04of 24

Sarah Drew

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (4)

Supernatural role: In 2010, Drew played Nora (and then a possessed Nora) in "Swap Meat."

Best known for: Although Drew started her role on Grey's Anatomy in 2009, it'd take a few seasons before April Kepner caught on.

05of 24

Alden Ehrenreich

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (5)

Supernatural role: Ehrenreich guest-starred on the second episode of Supernatural, "Wendigo," as the brother of a missing person.

Best known for: Thirteen years after his Supernatural role, Ehrenreich played a young Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

06of 24

Lauren Cohan

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (6)

Supernatural role: Cohan played Bela Talbot on six Supernatural episodes in 2007 and 2008.

Best known for: Cohan went on to have a memorable arc on The Vampire Diaries, and appeared on other shows before landing her best-known role, Maggie on The Walking Dead.

Marie Avgeropoulos

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (7)

Supernatural role: In 2009, Avgeropoulos played a high schooler in the episode "After School Special."

Best known for: Avgeropoulos is now known for playing Octavia Blake on The 100.

08of 24

Dylan Minnette

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (8)

Supernatural role: In 2009, Minnette appeared in the season 4 episode "Family Remains." (Spoiler: The ghost turned out to be a real girl.)

Best known for: Minnette, who also played Jerry Grant Jr. on Scandal, is best known for playing Clay Jensen on the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and Ghostface victim Wes Hicks in Scream.

09of 24

Sterling K. Brown

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (9)

Supernatural role: In 2006 and 2007, Brown appeared on four episodes of Supernatural as Gordon Walker, a fellow hunter who would eventually be turned into a vampire.

Best known for: Brown spent many years on Army Wives but really broke through with his role as Randall Pearson on This Is Us, which has launched him into being one of the most sought-after actors today.

10of 24

Annie Wersching

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (10)

Supernatural role: In 2007, Wersching guest-starred in the Supernatural episode "Playthings" as the owner of an inn.

Best known for: Wersching went on to appear on General Hospital, 24, Bosch, The Vampire Diaries, Timeless, Marvel's Runaways, and most recently, Star Trek: Picard.

11of 24

Ashley Benson

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (11)

Supernatural role: In 2008, Benson appeared in the episode "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester," as a witch.

Best known for: Benson spent seven years playing Hanna Marin on the Freeform hit Pretty Little Liars.

12of 24

Torrance Coombs

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (12)

Supernatural role: Coombs had a minor role in the season 2 episode "Hollywood Babylon"—as an actor, of all things.

Best known for: Coombs would go on to appear on The Tudors, Reign, The Originals, and more.

13of 24

Tracy Spiridakos

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (13)

Supernatural role: In 2007, Spiridakos played a nurse in the season 3 episode "Bedtime Stories."

Best known for: Since then, Spiridakos is known for her work on Revolution and Chicago P.D.

14of 24

Cory Monteith

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (14)

Supernatural role: Monteith had a very small role in Supernatural's second episode, "Wendigo."

Best known for: Monteith memorably played Finn Hudson on the Fox hit Glee, which premiered in 2009. Tragically, he died of an accidental overdose in 2013.

15of 24

Katie Cassidy

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (15)

Supernatural role: Cassidy had a recurring arc as the original Ruby during Supernatural's third season.

Best known for: Now Cassidy is best known for her work on another CW show: Arrow.

16of 24

Tiera Skovbye

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (16)

Supernatural role: In 2008, Skovbye played a young Bela before returning in a different role in 2013.

Best known for: Before taking on the role of Polly Cooper, Betty's sister, on Riverdale, Skovbye was on Once Upon a Time.

17of 24

Leslie Odom Jr.

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (17)

Supernatural role: In 2011, Odom played a crossroads demon in a season 7 episode.

Best known for: Since then, Odom has appeared in 2017's Murder on the Orient Express and was nominated for an Academy Award for 2021's One Night in Miami. However, he is perhaps best known for playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton on Broadway.

18of 24

Candice King

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (18)

Supernatural role: King played one of Dean's high school girlfriends in "After School Special."

Best known for: King is now known for playing Caroline Forbes on eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries.

19of 24

Bellamy Young

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (19)

Supernatural role: Young was the first person to play Lucifer on the series, in the season 5 premiere.

Best known for: Three years later, she'd appear as Mellie Grant on Scandal, and the rest is (fictional) history.

20of 24

Manny Jacinto

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (20)

Supernatural role: In 2013, Jacinto appeared in the season 8 episode "Pac-Man Fever."

Best known for: Three years later, Jacinto would start his run as Jason Mendoza on NBC's hit comedy The Good Place.

21of 24

Brett Dier

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (21)

Supernatural role: Dier played Dylan in the season 5 episode "99 Problems" (and he didn't last long).

Best known for: Dier is now most recognizable for playing Michael Cordero Jr. on Jane the Virgin.

22of 24

Madison McLaughlin

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (22)

Supernatural role: Beginning in 2012, McLauglin played Krissy Chambers in two episodes of Supernatural.

Best known for: McLaughlin went on to have roles on Chicago P.D. and Arrow.

23of 24

Finn Wolfhard

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (23)

Supernatural role: In 2015, Wolfhard appeared in the season 11 episode "Thin Lizzie."

Best known for: Wolfhard is best known for playing Mike Wheeler on the popular Netflix series Stranger Things and Richie Tozier in It and its sequel.

24of 24

Kathryn Newton

23 actors who were on 'Supernatural' before their big break (24)

Supernatural role: Newton first appeared as Claire Novak in 2014 (and would've been a central character in the Wayward Sisters spin-off, which never saw the light of day).

Best known for: Newton has since appeared on Big Little Lies, Blockers, The Society, and has a role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.