23 actors who were on Supernatural before their big break

Supernatural knew them when

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.

Adrianne Palicki

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.

Dustin Milligan

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.

Sarah Drew

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.

Alden Ehrenreich

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.

Lauren Cohan

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

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.

Dylan Minnette

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.

Sterling K. Brown

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.

Annie Wersching

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.

Ashley Benson

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.

Torrance Coombs

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.

Tracy Spiridakos

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.

Cory Monteith

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.

Katie Cassidy

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.

Tiera Skovbye

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.

Leslie Odom Jr.

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.

Candice King

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.

Bellamy Young

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.

Manny Jacinto

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.

Brett Dier

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.

Madison McLaughlin

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.

Finn Wolfhard

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.

Kathryn Newton

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.