Claire Danes (Angela Chase)

Claire Danes initially worked in short films and small television appearances in the 1990s before her breakthrough came with the role of Angela Chase in Welcome to lifeThe then teenage star played the likeable high school student until the end of the show in 1995 and was also seen on the big screen as Beth March in “The Last Man” in 1994. Little Women During this time.

At a performance in 2018 on The Howard Stern ShowDanes recalled filming one of the more intimate scenes from Welcome to life with co-star Jared Leto. “In the scene, there were these stage directions that said, ‘Angela kisses Jordan’s face,’ and I was like, ‘What? What is The about what? Why would she kiss his face?'” Danes recalled. “I had that question on set and he had to try to teach me. It’s ridiculous!”

Danes returned to film shortly after the series ended, starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996) and later joined The Rainmaker (1997), Igby goes under (2002), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), The Family Stone (2005) and Stardust (2007) before receiving her first Emmy in 2010 for the HBO film Temple Grandin.

The actress is perhaps best known today for her Emmy-winning role as Carrie Mathison in Hometowna job she held from 2011 to 2020. She also appeared in miniseries such as The Essex Snake, Fleishman is in troubleAnd Full circle.

Danes has been married to fellow actor Hugh Dancy since 2009 and has three children with him.

Jared Leto (Jordan Catalano)

After a few appearances on the small screen in single episodes of 90s series, Jared Leto got his first major role as Welcome to lifeJordan Catalano. He played the high school rebel until the drama’s finale in 1995 and reunited with co-star Danes months later for How to make an American quilt (1995).

Because of the short lifespan Welcome to life Leto admittedly doesn’t have the best relationship with the series after all these years. “I think for some people, especially girls at the time, it reflected something in their lives,” he said Rolling Stone in 2016. “I don’t know. It impressed people, but it never resonated with my own experience.”

After the end of the show, Leto expanded his filmography to Urban legend (1998), Crazy (1999), Requiem for a dream (2000), Panic room (2002), Lord of War (2005) and Mr. Nobody (2009). The artist also worked on his music career during this time, releasing studio albums as the frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Leto received an Oscar in 2014 for his acclaimed role as Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club (2013) and took on the role of the Joker in Suicide Squad (2016) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Paolo Gucci in House of Gucci (2021), the title role in Morbius (2022) and Ares in Tron: Ares (2025).

Leto dated Cameron Diaz from 1999 to 2003 and model Valerie Kaufman from 2016 to 2022.

AJ Langer (Rayanne Graff)

AJ Langer started her acting career in the late 80s and received her first roles in episodes of Drexell’s class, blossom, Wonderful yearsAnd Baywatch before you place a part on Welcome to life as Rayanne Graff, who plays Angela and Rickie’s eccentric friend.

“With her, all my self-consciousness disappeared; it was very liberating,” Langer told author AS Berman about his role as Rayanne. “For me, who always wanted to please people, it was a joy, a freedom.”

Langer was busy over the next decade, appearing in episodes of trainer, SeinfeldAnd It’s like, you know…and the 1996 film Escape from LA

The actress, who married Charles Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon, in 2005, with whom she has two children, waned in her career and played Erica Warner in Private practice from 2011 to 2012 and reached Lifetime in the TV movie of 2013 Kristin’s past Christmas.

Wilson Cruz (Enrique “Rickie” Vasquez)

Wilson Cruz got his first film role with Welcome to lifeand broke new ground in television by playing teenage LGBTQ+ Latino character Rickie Vasquez as an openly gay actor – a rare feat in ’90s television.

“I used (the role) as an opportunity to raise awareness about LGBT youth issues and give young people a voice,” Cruz told EW in 2018. “I felt like there weren’t a lot of people willing to take on those roles at the time. And here I was, not only willing but excited to take them on – and make a difference through them.”

After his debut appearance, he appeared on the big screen in Nixon (1995), All over me (1997), Supernova (2000), Party Monster (2003) and He just doesn’t like you (2009) and roles on the small screen in Ally McBeal, Group of FiveAnd The western wing. Cruz has also earned onscreen credits for Grey’s Anatomy, 13 Reasons WhyAnd Star Trek: Discovery, and synchronous rollers in The brave knight And The Casagrandes.

Devon Gummersall (Brian Krakow)

Devon Gummersall took on one of his first roles as Welcome to lifeby Brian Krakow.

“When we saw the first cut of the pilot, we all saw it together and were just so proud and overwhelmed,” said Gummersall Elle in 2016. “We were in love with the experience and with each other… and then the show didn’t get picked up. All the actors came together and had this powwow; we were so devastated. We couldn’t believe something so good could be ignored.”

The actor, who previously worked at step by step And blossom — followed his time as a bright student with credits for It’s my party (1996), Independence Day (1996), bliss, Thick (1999), RoswellAnd The L-word. Gummersall also appears in episodes of iZombie, mad Men, And 9-1-1.

Devon Odessa (Sharon Cherski)

Devon Odessa joined Welcome to life as Angela’s childhood friend, Sharon Cherski.

“Everyone I meet thinks they went to high school with me,” said Odessa Elle about the impact of the series. “It’s really funny.”

The rising star filled the next decade with projects such as Stories around the campfire (1997), Nowhere (1997) and The Omega Code (1999) and episodes of Pacific Blue, A touch of heavenAnd That’s so RavenOdessa has temporarily returned to the screen, in a 2011 episode Private practice, the short film 2018 Flash, and the horror film of 2024 shark girl.

Bess Armstrong (Patty Chase)

Welcome to life found his Patty Chase in Bess Armstrong, who played Angela’s mother.

“No matter how late I got home, the tyranny of my schedule was that my kids had to get up between 6:15 and 6:30, and I had to make them lunch, pack their lunchboxes, feed them breakfast, make sure they were dressed, and even carpool on some days,” Armstrong recalled to AS Berman of the show’s shooting schedule. “But that’s just a version of what families do today in every industry to some degree, right? It’s always that juggling act between career and family. You don’t want to rip anyone off, but that means you’re stretching yourself on both ends.”

The Jaws 3D Alum booked appearances in tail (1998), Diamond Men (2000) and episodes of A touch of heaven, The Nanny, FrasierAnd OneTreeHill. Armstrong was in for 10 episodes House of Lies as Julianne Hotschragar; played Professor Beth Marillo in Switched at birth; joined Bosch as Judge Donna Sobel; and played Eileen Lim in The good doctor.

Armstrong has been married to manager John Fiedler since 1986.

Tom Irwin (Graham Chase)

Tom Irwin found his place on Welcome to life as Angela’s father, Graham Chase. Irwin took on the role after building his resume in the 80s and early 90s, earning credits for Light of day (1987), Midnight Run (1988), Men don’t go (1990), Deceived (1991) and My life and my time.

Irwin looks back on his Welcome to life Experience that I really cherish, especially working with Armstrong as his on-screen wife. “There were several moments where we finished the scene and Bess and I just sat in bed and talked for another hour or two and just hung out on the set,” he said. Elle“I loved working with her.”

The actor followed Welcome to life with a series of television films, then appeared in The Haunted House (1999), 21 grams (2003), Marley & I (2008), Based on gender (2018), Amsterdam (2022) and episodes of Without a Trace, Lost, Grey’s AnatomyAnd Sneaky maids. Irwin also has a recurring role in Apple TV+’s The morning show said UBA President Fred Micklen.

Lisa Wilhoit (Danielle Chase)

Lisa Wilhoit signed on for the role of Danielle Chase, Angela’s younger sister, in Welcome to lifeWilhoit got the job after making an uncredited appearance in 1991’s Hookand subsequently took on roles in Adam and Eve (2005), The child and I (2005) and episodes of Social Sciences, The Tom Show, A heavenly familyAnd Greek.

Your latest loan is for Family manin which she has lent her voice to Connie D’Amico for over 20 years.