Sam and Dean met many guest characters in Supernatural Season 1, with talented actors bringing them to life. Here are our 10 favourites!
The Story of Supernatural
Created by Eric Kripke (The Boys) Supernatural Season 1 began in September 2005. The Winchester brothers – Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) started what would become a 15-year journey on The CW, originally The WB.
As the brothers move from place to place, Season 1 primarily uses an anthology format. Sam and Dean are the only consistent element, with a new cast of characters populating each episode.
With a total of 22 episodes, the Winchesters brothers have plenty of adventures. After all, it’s only the beginning of a long, epic saga.
“Saving people, hunting things. The Family Business.”
Dean Winchester, Season 1 Episode 2, “Wendigo”.
So, without further ado, here are Courageous Nerd‘s most memorable guest stars from Season 1.
Alden Ehrenreich
Episode: “Wendigo” (1×02)
Years before landing the part of a lifetime as Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich guest-starred on Supernatural‘s second episode. He played “Ben Collins”, a young boy whose older brother is taken by a Wendigo. Sam, Dean, Ben and Ben’s sister Haley (Gina Holden) set out to save him.
Ehrenreich would have been approximately 15-16 years old during his guest star appearance. Over 10 years later in 2016, he was cast as infamous space smuggler Han Solo. Directed by Ron Howard, Solo also starred Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover and Thandiwe Newton.
Amy Acker
Episode: “Dead In The Water” (1×3)
By the time Amy Acker guest-starred on Supernatural Season 1, she was already a recognisable television star. Acker played “Fred” Burkle and Illyria on The WB’s Angel between 2001-2004. Her other notable TV roles include Alias, Person of Interest and The Gifted.
On Supernatural, Acker played “Andrea Barr”, a young mother who meets Sam and Dean while mysterious deaths occur in her town. Meanwhile, it seems Andrea’s young, mute son Lucas (Nico McEowan) may be at the centre of the mystery.
Cory Monteith
Episode: “Wendigo” (1×02)
Future Glee actor Cory Monteith had an early role on Supernatural. Much like Ehrenreich, Monteith appeared in the show’s second-ever episode, “Wendigo”. In addition to this, Monteith also guest-starred on Kyle XY, Smallville and Stargate: SG-1.
His appearance as “Gary” was brief, due to the character’s death, but a stepping stone to his later success.
Four years after Supernatural, Monteith landed his breakthrough on FOX’s Glee, playing high school quarterback Finn Hudson. Tragically, Monteith died in July 2013 from a drug overdose. He was just 31 years of age.
Julie Benz
Episode: “Faith” (1×12)
Prior to her appearance on Supernatural, actress Julie Benz played Darla on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. She recurred as the vampire across both series from 1997-2004.
Later, Benz had a starring role as “Rita Bennett” on Showtime’s crime drama Dexter from 2006-2010. This series also featured fellow Supernatural actor Mark Pellegrino (Lucifer) as her character’s ex-husband, Paul Bennett. However, Pellegrino does not appear as Lucifer until much later in the series.
In “Faith”, Benz played “Layla Rourke”, a woman dying of a brain tumour. After a self-proclaimed healer, Roy LeGrange (Kevin McNulty) apparently rescued Dean from death, Layla hoped he could save her, too. Layla and her mother had been regular visitors to the healer’s public speakings for several months before the Winchesters arrived.
Adrianne Palicki
Episode: Pilot (1×01, with limited further appearances throughout the series
Although Jessica Moore appears several times throughout Supernatural, “Pilot” – *spoiler alert* – is the only time she’s actually alive. In case you are unfamiliar, Jess is Sam’s girlfriend, who he met at college.
Adrianne Palicki plays Jess, who may recognise from later roles on Friday Night Lights, Agents of Shield and The Orville.
So, while Jess is a small part of the story, her death sets up the show’s storyline. Without Sam’s grief and desire for revenge, the events of Season 1 and by extension, the series, would not have happened.
Loretta Devine
Episode: “Home” (1×09), later returns in Season 13
Loretta Devine, known for her role on Grey’s Anatomy, appears in the 9th episode of Supernatural Season 1. She plays “Missouri Moseley”, a psychic medium. Missouri is revealed to be an old friend of John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Sam and Dean’s father.
After her Season 1 guest spot, Devine does not reappear as Missouri until Season 13. She was originally set to return in the Season 1 finale, but after Devine was unavailable, the character of Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) filled the spot instead.
Taylor Cole
Episode: “Provenance” (1×19), later returns in Season 8
Taylor Cole plays Sarah Blake, an art dealer caught up with Sam and Dean late in Season 1. In the episode, it turns out that people have died after purchasing a specific painting. Although initially taken aback, Sarah helps the brothers in that episode.
Furthermore, Jessica’s death was still very much on Sam’s mind in Season 1. Sarah is perhaps the first of Sam’s post-Jessica love interests to show that while Jess is gone, he can still find someone to be with.
However, while Sarah gets a mention from Dean in the following episode, the romance with Sam does not go the distance.
Tyler Johnston
Episode: “Bugs” (1×08)
Before Tyler Johnston appeared in a Season 1 episode before returning as Samandriel in Season 8. In his first stint, Johnston played “Matthew Pike”, a rebellious teen who befriends Sam and Dean. However, Matthew helps put a stop to a horder of murderous bugs, hence the episode’s name.
In addition to his later Supernatural episodes, Johnston has also appeared on Letterkenny, The Killing and Less Than Kind; the latter starring Locke & Key’s Jesse Camacho.
Megalyn Echikunwoke
Episode: “Route 666” (Episode 1×13)
Megalyn Echikunwoke played Dean’s ex Cassie Robinson in “Route 666”, otherwise known as the ‘haunted car’ episode.
After a Vengeful Spirit inhabits a car, it takes revenge on those responsible for their death. Sam and Dean realise what’s going on and eventually put the spirit to rest.
Previous episodes focused on Sam’s grief for Jessica. However, “Route 666” was the first showing of a meaningful relationship for Dean, including why it had ended. As this was just over half-way through the season, this afforded Dean further character development.
Since her appearance in Supernatural Season 1, Echikunwoke has voiced the DC Comics superhero Vixen. She was a regular on USA Network’s The 4400 as Isabelle Tyler. Guest appearances include shows such as The Following, Arrow, CSI: Miami and American Dad!
Sarah Shahi
Episode: “Pilot” (1×01), returns in Season 14 and 15
Of all the creatures Sam and Dean faced, Sarah Shahi has the distinction of being the first on-camera. In the pilot episode, Shahi played Constance Welch, a ghost who becomes known as the Woman in White.
Although Sam and Dean have fought many creatures in the show’s backstory, Constance sets the dynamic for the series. No matter how many more creatures appear across the Supernatural universe, she will always be the first.
Meanwhile, Shahi’s other work includes appearances on Person of Interest, The Rookie and Ray Donovan.
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