Summary
The musical-comedy drama seasonGleepremiered on Fox in 2009 and ran for six seasons with 121 episodes, creating breakthrough roles for many young, talented triple-threat actors. Though it’s been almost a decade since the series ended in 2015,Gleestill gets rewatchedand watched often thanks to its popularity on streaming services and its lasting prevalence in pop culture. As a musical show,theGleecast covered hundreds of songsand even sang 25 original songs written for the series.
Someone who might have never seen the series might have heardGlee’smost famous performance, “Don’t Stop Believing,” or seen one of the many viral social media posts including performances and comedic clips.Gleehas become somewhat of a meme in and of itself, thanks to over-the-top characters and a truly hilarious, sometimes twisted script. Yet, at the heart of it is a strong ensemble full of relatable characters, and some viewers love to hate or hate to love. There are always questions about apotentialGleeremake or reboot, but it wouldn’t work without the original cast and characters.
Lea Michele As Rachel Berry
June 28, 2025
Actor:Lea Michele was born in New York City and began her career as a performer as a child in a series of Broadway musicals.Michele’sbreakthrough stage performance was in 2006’s biggest musical,Spring Awakening. This led her to her first starring television role inGlee. Michele continued working withGleecreator Ryan Murphy on his showScream Queensonce Glee ended. AfterScream Queens, Michele continued to work onscreen and on her solo music. After controversy regarding her onset behavior in 2020, Michele returned to Broadway in 2022 inFunny Girl.
Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known(2022)
Herself
Character:Lea Michele played Rachel Berry, the self-appointed New Directions' glee club captain and lead singer. She had big ambitions to go to New York and be on Broadway, a dream she played out over all six seasons.
Glee: Rachel’s Broadway Twist Could’ve Worked With 1 Key Change
Glee’s controversial season 5 storyline of Rachel Berry leaving Broadway could have worked with a different surprising twist to redeem her character.
Matthew Morrison As Will Schuester
July 22, 2025
Actor:Matthew Morrison was born in California and, like other fellowGleecast members, got his start in Hairspray, originating main roles inHairspray(2002) andThe Light in the Piazza(2005), earning him a Tony Award nomination.Gleewas Morrison’s breakthrough television roleand it helped launch his recording career. FollowingGlee, Morrison returned to Broadway inFinding Neverland(2015). In 2019, he reunited withMurphy forAmerican Horror Story: 1984. Morrison has been a coach/judge on the dance competition showThe Greatest Dancerand continues to perform onstage and onscreen in musical roles.
Paris Christmas Waltz(2023)
Leo Monroe
Character:Morrison played New Directions head coach Will Schuster, who was once a member of the club in high school and wanted to help return it to its glory days. Many viewershateGlee’sWill Schuesteras he continually overstepped boundaries with his students, even if he was well-meaning.
Jane Lynch As Sue Sylvester
July 27, 2025
Actor: Jane Lynch was born in Illinois and was one of the cast members with a strongly established filmography beforeGleethanks to movies likeBest In Showand40-Year-Old Virginand the television seriesTwo and a Half MenandThe L Word. After winning an Emmy Award forGlee, Lynch has hosted shows and had many voice-acting roles, including for theWreck-It Ralphfranchise.Lynch won another Emmy forThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselin 2019 and was nominated again forOnly Murders in the Buildingin 2022.
Two and a Half Men(2004-2014)
Weakest Link(2020-present)
Herself/Host
Character:Jane Lynch played Sue Sylvester, the coach of the Cheerios, William McKinley High School’s cheerleading squad, in all six seasons ofGlee. She had a mission to “destroy the glee club” and the life of her nemesis Will Schuester, though she occasionally saved them as well.
Glee: 10 Times Sue Sylvester Was Actually The Hero
Sue Sylvester was a great series villain, but over the show’s six seasons, she managed to have moments of genuine goodness.
Cory Monteith As Finn Hudson
August 24, 2025
Actor: Canadianactor Cory Monteith started his career with minor film roles, television guest roles, and a recurring role inKyle XY. He first got to show his drumming skills in MTV’sKaya.Gleewas Monteith’s breakthrough roleand the role for which he is best remembered. In 2011, he starred inMonte CarloandSisters & Brothers. Monteith died of an overdose during production ofGleeseason 4 in 2013, leading to a touching tribute episode to him and his character. His final television appearance came as a guest onMasterChef, and he had two posthumously released films.
McCanick(2013)
Simon Weeks
Character:Cory Monteith played Finn Hudson inGlee, the star football player who became the New Directions’ co-captain. He was depicted as a jock susceptible to peer pressure who had a true heart of gold and untapped talent and potential.
Chris Colfer As Kurt Hummel
June 21, 2025
Actor:Chris Colfer had just graduated from high school in California when he bookedGlee. He had only one prior acting credit, the short film,Russel Fish: The Sausage and Eggs Incident. Colfer earned multiple awards for hisGleeperformance. In 2012, Colfer wrote, produced, and starred inStruck by Lightning. AfterGlee, Colfer appeared inAbsolutely Fabulous: The Movieand had a few other minor onscreen roles. The same year asStruck by Lightning, Colfer started publishing hisLand of StoriesYA book series. He has published over 20 books and focuses primarily on being an author.
Russel Fish: The Sausage and the Eggs Incident(2009)
8(2012)
Ridley Jones(2021)
Kosy
Character:Chris Colfer played Kurt Hummel, who was bullied for being gay but found a place of acceptance in the glee club.Kurt’s powerful coming-out story inGleehelped change the landscape for LGBTQ+ representation onscreen.
Amber Riley As Mercedes Jones
July 16, 2025
Actor: CalifornianAmber Riley made her television debut inGleeand had major singing appearances throughout its run. Riley later won season 17 ofDancing with the Starsin 2013 and season 8 ofThe Masked Singerin 2022. In 2023, she was a judge onMamma Mia! I Have a Dream. More notably, Riley won an Olivier Award for her performance in aDreamgirlsrevival in the West End in 2017. She has mainly focused on her singing and theatre career sinceGleeended, but she has many television credits.
Dancing with the Stars(2013)
Various characters
Disney Junior’s Ariel(2024-)
Ursula (voice)
Character:Amber Riley playedMercedes Jones inGlee, a self-proclaimed diva known for “parking and barking,” or standing center stage and hitting huge notes at the end ofsongs. Mercedes was often pitted against Rachel for glee club competition solos.
Kevin McHale As Artie Abrams
July 06, 2025
Actor:Kevin McHale was born in Texas and started his career as a lead singer of the boy band NLT(“Not Like Them”), with whom he appeared inBratz. His other acting experience was limited to guest roles before he landedGlee. McHale was signed to Capital Records/Roc Nation in 2014 and makes original music in his spare time. In 2019, he released his first solo album,Boy, and competed inThe X Factor: Celebrity. McHale often works with former co-star Jenna Ushkowitz. Together, they host aGleerewatch podcast,And That’s What You Really Missed, on iHeartRadio.
Ross (voice)
RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race(2022)
Chic-Li-Fay/Contestant
Character:Kevin McHale played Artie, one of five characters who was a series regular throughout all six seasons. As a smooth-singing wheelchair user,McHale’sGleecasting as Artie is considered controversial, as he isn’t a wheelchair user, and has said he’d never return for aGleereboot as Artie for this reason.
Jenna Ushkowitz As Tina Cohen-Chang
June 01, 2025
Actor: Jenna Ushkowitz was born Min Ji in South Korea before being adopted by a New York family.At 3, Ushkowitz started appearing in commercials andSesame Street, making her Broadway debut inThe King and I(1996). She was in the ensemble ofSpring Awakeningwith Michele beforeGlee. In 2015, Ushkowitz produced the documentaryTwinsters. The following year, she appeared on Broadway inWaitressandThe 24 Hour Plays. Ushkowitz has two Tony Awards for producing,Once On This Island(2018) andThe Inheritance(2020). As aforementioned, she and McHale host aGleerewatch podcast on iHeartRadio.
Cassidy (also director)
Princess Power(2023-2024)
Queen Ryung (voice)
Character:Jenna Ushkowitz played Tina Cohen-Chang, who underwent some ofGlee’s most dramatic character shifts, starting as a goth girl who faked a stutter. Her character’s changes in personality even became a running joke in the series, withTina getting the short end ofGlee’swriting stick.
Dianna Agron As Quinn Fabray
August 03, 2025
Actor: Dianna Agron had herfirst notable television performances in 2006 and 2007 in recurring roles inVeronica MarsandHeroes. The same yearGleepremiered, in 2009, Agron wrote, directed, produced, and starred in her first short film,A Fuschia Elephant. While onGleeand afterGlee, she mainly appeared in films, includingI Am Number Four,The Family,Novitiate,Shiva Baby, andClock. In 2023, she had her first starring television role post-Gleein Netflix’sThe Chosen One.
The Chosen One(2023-)
Sarah
Character:Dianna Agron played the head cheerleader and mean girl Quinn Fabray inGlee, though she had a smaller role after graduating in season 4. Quinn’s character went through great character development, though sometimes not always for the better.
Glee: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Quinn Fabray
Glee’s Quinn Fabray grew a lot throughout the series, although not everything about the head cheerleader made sense.
Naya Rivera As Santana Lopez
August 16, 2025
Actor: Naya Rivera was born in California andstarted as a child actor in 1991 inThe Royal Familyand appeared in many other series, includingFamily Matters,Smart Guy, andThe Bernie Mac Show. She startedGleein a recurring role before being upgraded to the main cast in season 2. After the series ended, Rivera starred inDevious Maids,Mad Families, andStep Up: High Water. Rivera died by drowning in 2020, and her final project,Batman: The Long Halloween,was released posthumously and dedicated to her memory.
Batman: The Long Halloween(2021)
Selina Kyle/Catwoman (voice)
Character:Naya Rivera played the groundbreaking Santana Lopez inGlee, embodying her character’s journey of coming out as a lesbian.Santana is one ofGlee’smost beloved charactersfor her quotable witty remarks and rants, smooth singing voice, and strong character development.
