Back in 2004, the unlikely little UPN network premiered one of the most fantastic series of the year: Veronica Mars. Following the exploits of teen private detective Veronica Mars, it was dark and noir and about as far from Nancy Drew as possible. Sadly, airing first on UPN and then on The CW for its third and final season meant that the Rob Thomas-produced Veronica Mars never had a high enough profile for major awards nominations. Still, the series has remained popular since its 2007 conclusion, leading to the fan-funded feature film in 2014. Now, the cast whose careers in the detective biz were cut short have found successes elsewhere. So, let’s take a look at just what the actors behind Veronica and Co. have been up to in the years since Veronica Mars.
The woman behind Veronica has been busy over the last couple of years. To name just a few, her narration gig at Gossip Girl ended after five seasons in 2012, then was followed up with her voicework as Anna in Frozen, which guarantees that approximately most of the United States knows her voice. She’s played Jeannie for four seasons on the Showtime comedy House of Lies opposite Don Cheadle, she’s set to guest star on Rob Thomas' new show iZombie in 2016, and she’s been cast as the female lead in a new sitcom opposite Ted Danson.
Jason Dohring
The guy behind everybody’s favorite brooding bad boy may have lost his job as Logan Echolls on Veronica Mars thanks to cancellation by The CW, but he’s found success on the network in the years since. He had a recurring role on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s show Ringer from 2011 – 2012, guest-starred in a memorable episode of Supernatural, appeared on The Tomorrow People, and spent some time on The Messengers and The Originals in 2015. He even appeared once more as Logan Echolls in the CW Seed web series Play It Again, Dick.
Percy Daggs III
After reprising his role as Veronica’s reliable BFF Wallace Fennel for the Veronica Mars movie, Percy Daggs III once more brought his character to a CW production with four appearances on Play It Again, Dick. He’s since guest-starred as a killer on iZombie and played James Hook for thirteen episodes on YouTube series The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy.
Tina Majorino
Following her turn as computer genius Mac on Veronica Mars, Tina Majorino spent a few years on HBO’s critically acclaimed Big Love, then moved over to another HBO series for a stint on True Blood. She then spent a memorable twenty-two episodes on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Heather Brooks, then took on the role of tech guru Maggie Harris on the sadly now-cancelled Legends. And that's not even naming all her gigs. Girl gets around.
Ryan Hansen
Ryan Hansen – the actor so lovable that he made the gross Dick Casablancas a fun character – joined the cast of Party Down as his first major TV project after Veronica Mars, then starred in the unfortunately short-lived comedy Friends With Benefits. Following the Veronica Mars movie, he joined Kristen Bell for an episode of House of Lies, then headlined in the CW Seed web series Play It Again, Dick that followed his fictionalized attempts to launch a Dick Casablancas-centric spinoff of Veronica Mars. He too guest starred on iZombie, then hopped over to 2 Broke Girls for eleven episodes as Andy.
Krysten Ritter
Krysten Ritter bounced back from the role of Gia Goodman with an unforgettable stint as Jane Margolis on Breaking Bad. She starred as Chloe in sitcom Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 on ABC with former CW actor James Van Der Beek. She played Ruby in the 2014 film Asthma, then headed to Netflix to play the titular Jessica in the fantastic Jessica Jones. She’ll reprise the role in The Defenders in 2016.
Teddy Dunn
Teddy Dunn left the role of Veronica’s first love in the second season of Veronica Mars, after which he dropped off the showbiz radar to attend law school. In the years since, he’s had small roles on Grey’s Anatomy and CSI: NY on the small screen and big screen roles in Kill Theory and A Good Funeral. If you are in need of some law services, you can find Dunn, here.
Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson also appeared on Grey’s Anatomy after leaving her Veronica Mars role of Jackie, then spent twenty-two episodes as Sara Freeman on BBC America drama Copper. More recently, she's added to her profile with movie roles, appearing as Diane Nash in Selma and then tackling the part of Bianca in Creed.
Enrico Colantoni
After spending three seasons as Veronica’s dad/private investigator Keith Mars on Veronica Mars, Enrico Colantoni played J. Edgar Hoover in the TV miniseries The Kennedys. He was a main player on CBS’s Flashpoint for all five seasons, appeared on Play It Again, Dick, then starred on Canadian medical drama Remedy for two seasons. More recently, he played organized crime syndicate leader Carl Elias on nineteen episodes of Person of Interest.
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried’s Lilly Kane only ever appeared in flashbacks as Veronica’s fun-loving BFF after being murdered prior to the series’ beginning, but she was still a key part in Veronica Mars. She then had a lead role in the musical Mamma Mia! as Meryl Streep’s daughter, and starred in Dear John and Red Riding Hood. She took another musical turn, and become one of approximately four people to survive to the end of Les Miserables. Soon after, she hopped genres and took a key role in Ted 2. Catch her on the small screen again for the Twin Peaks revival on Showtime in 2017.
Francis Capra
In the years since his tenure as Weevil Navarro on Veronica Mars, Francis Capra has been a prolific guest star on the TV circuit, appearing in everything from Sons of Anarchy to Castle to Bones. He had a four-episode stretch on FX’s The Strain, then became yet another Veronica Mars alum to appear on Play It Again, Dick on CW Seed.
Max Greenfield
After his stint as Veronica’s older boyfriend Leo D’Amato, Max Greenfield spent some time on Greek and Ugly Betty. He then spent quite some time on the guest star circuit before landing the role of Schmidt on Fox’s New Girl, now in its fifth season. He spent three episodes on American Horror Story and provided voice talent for the character of Roger in Ice Age: Collision Course, which is set to premiere in theaters in July of 2016.
Ken Marino
After his time as private investigator Vinnie Van Lowe on Veronica Mars, Ken Marino tackled the role of Ron Donald on Party Down, then spent twenty-nine episodes on Ben Stiller’s comedy Burning Love. He starred in 2013 film Bad Milo, then he too dropped by Play It Again, Dick on CW Seed. More recently, he starred as Jake Schuffman in Marry Me on NBC, reprised his film role of Victor for Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, and will be a member of the cast for the second season of ABC’s Agent Carter.
The Veronica Mars cast was vast, and there are more characters we may not have gotten around to, so if there's someone else you'd like to catch up with, let us know in the comments, below.
