12 Stars Who Appeared on ‘Tru Calling,’ Now 20 Years Old
Two decades ago, Eliza Dushku opted to exit the Slayerverse, forgoing a proposed Faith-centric Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff in favor of Fox’s supernatural procedural Tru Calling.
In the latter project, the actor played Tru Davies, whose city-morgue job takes a twist when she starts communing with the recently deceased and traveling back in time to forestall their deaths — or, at least, finish the jobs they started.
Dogged by mixed reviews and flagging ratings, Tru Calling only lasted for one full season and a curtailed second season before Fox toe-tagged it and sent it to the TV morgue. But Dushku did share the screen with many established and future TV stars on the short-lived series, as you’ll see below. With Tru Calling turning 20 on October 30, below are a dozen famous faces who have the show on their résumés.
Zach Galifianakis
This star of Baskets and the Hangover movies starred as Davis, Tru’s boss — and eventual confidant — at the city morgue.
A.J. Cook
Before her long-running role as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau on Criminal Minds, this actor starred in Tru Calling’s first season as Lindsay Walker, Tru’s best friend.
Matt Bomer
Another cast member of Tru’s first season, this White Collar and Fellow Travelers star played Luc Johnston, a photographer and love interest for Dushku’s character.
Jason Priestley
This Beverly Hills, 90210 vet joined Tru Calling midway through Season 1, playing Jack Harper, a character who shares Tru’s abilities but works to keep the timeline intact.
Eric Christian Olsen
Before playing Marty Deeks on NCIS: Los Angeles, Olsen portrayed Tru Calling’s Jensen Ritchie, one of Tru’s fellow med students in Season 2.
Lizzy Caplan
This star of Masters of Sex and Fatal Attraction recurred in Tru Calling’s second season, playing the role of med student Avery Bishop.
Parry Shen
Now known for his role as Brad Cooper in General Hospital, Shen recurred in Tru Calling season 2 as Tyler Li, another med-school classmate of Tru’s.
Cobie Smulders
Smulders was still a couple years away from her How I Met Your Mother debut when she played Sarah Webb, girlfriend of Tru’s brother, in Season 1’s “Brother’s Keeper.”
Leonard Roberts
After costarring with Dushku in Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s fourth season, this actor — also of Heroes and Major Crimes fame — played the character Blake in the Season 1 episode “Past Tense.”
Christina Hendricks
Kal Penn
Penn, who starred in the Harold & Kumar films (and played one of Smulders’ love interests in HIMYM), guest starred as med student Steven in Season 1’s “Haunted.”
Missy Peregrym
From TV Guide Magazine
'America's Got Talent': Simon Cowell Teases Big Changes in Season 20 as Mel B. Returns
The show’s judges and host preview the landmark season and reflect on how they’re keeping it fresh. Read the story now on TV Insider.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services