16 Unforgettable ‘Mindy Project’ Guest Stars
Ed Helms
Ed Helms scored a two-episode arc in Season 1 as Dennis, a kind but boring Wall Street banker who shares a promising first date with Mindy but then falls off the map—and quite literally, when he reemerges in episode 6 and slips down a flight of stairs. Mindy makes out with him to prove a point to her best friend (remember Gwen?), then subsequently discards him for her new sports attorney boyfriend, Josh (Casual‘s Tommy Dewey).
Seth Meters
After a bookstore meet-cute, Seth Meyers’ Matt indulges Mindy’s high maintenance food habits by repeatedly buying her fro-yo until, true to form, she decides she probably doesn’t even like fro-yo and opts for a soft pretzel. He pops up again in Season 4, this time as himself, grief-stricken about losing his dog after Mindy’s first crop of Later Baby spring breakers gets drunk and cuts his leash.
James Franco
When Mindy takes a hiatus from Shulman & Associates to work with Casey (Anders Holms) in Haiti during Season 4, James Franco’s Dr. Paul Leotard sets up shop in her office as her temporary replacement. Mindy, however, doesn’t take kindly to the new “Dr. L.” When she returns, she challenges him to a comedic drinking contest that, by episode’s end, puts him in hot water with the entire practice.
Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele makes a brief but enjoyable appearance in Season 1 as Nick, one of the reporters courting Mindy to host a news segment after seeing her adorably embarrassing taxicab PSA.
Shonda Rhimes
In Season 3, Shonda Rhimes guests as herself, but with a comedic twist: she plays a brilliant TV producer with a penchant for beer pong.
Vanessa Bayer
Saturday Night Live‘s Vanessa Bayer checks in during Season 2 as Mary, an ingratiatingly boring woman Danny dates because she’s “calming, like a white noise machine.”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Frustrated by her relationship with Danny, Mindy wishes herself into an alternate reality in the Season 4 premiere, where Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays her über rich, ultra handsome husband Matt Sherman, an Emmy Award-winning producer for Real Housewives.
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen makes a one-episode cameo in Season 1 as Sam, Mindy’s childhood camp crush turned U.S. soldier. They actually could have been a good match, had he not been deployed back to Afghanistan.
Max Greenfield
Mindy spends Season 2 episode “Think Like A Peter” scouring New York City for Max Greenfield’s Lee, a smooth-talking first grade teacher with whom she had a one night stand, and is trying to return the scarf he left behind in pursuit of some delusional rom-com fantasy. Turns out, Lee left it on accident, and is actually married, though he does return briefly in Season 3 when Morgan brings in a parade of Mindy’s ex-something-or-others to track down her potential baby daddy.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox nails her Season 3 stint as Tamra’s stylist cousin Sheena. Mindy enlists her to help find an outfit for the office photo shoot, but ends up getting a lesson in self-worth instead.
Hannibal Buress
Blink and you might miss Hannibal Buress’ Season 1 cameo as Shulman & Associate’s deadpan officemate, Derek.
Chrissy Teigen
When Mindy runs into the man who took her virginity at an L.A. bar in Season 3, she ends up in a tussle with his girlfriend, Chrissy Teigen’s Grace.
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert drops in for Season 4 as Father Michael, Danny’s raunchy-turned-righteous priest.
John Cho
It’s hard to forget John Cho’s memorable Season 3 turn as Big Murder, Mindy’s brother Rishi’s business savvy drug drealer.
Greta Gerwig
One of Mindy’s more recent guest stars, indie darling Greta Gerwig joined Season 6 as Danny’s frazzled fiancé, Sarah.
Laura Dern
Laura Dern makes a scene-stealing appearance in the Season 3 finale as Dr. Ludmilla Trapezikov, Mindy’s thickly accented, overly blunt OBGYN.
After five years, six seasons, and far too many love interests to count, The Mindy Project will ring in its last chapter this fall.
The show—Office vet Mindy Kaling’s comedic brainchild—has been bolstered by a dynamic and ever-shifting ensemble cast, but perhaps its most impressive feat is its burgeoning list of celebrity guest stars, featuring everyone from James Franco to Laura Dern. So, as the series nears its final wrap, TV Insider rounds up the highlights.’
The Mindy Project, Season 6, Tuesdays, Hulu
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...and Lee Pace.
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