<p id=”par-1_123″>Every fall, <em>Gilmore Girls</em> fans return to the series over and over again. They notice something new with each and every rewatch as well. The world created by Amy Sherman-Palladino was so rich and vibrant that it’s easy to miss what even seem like key details. Some of those details are very noticeable even during the first go-around. Over the years, fans have discussed how characters seem to come and go, how <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/gilmore-girls-a-year-in-the-life-rose-playing-2-parts.html/”>actors often play two or more characters</a>, and how a part or two were recast partway through the series. With the death of Elizabeth Franz, the actor who played Mia Bass in the show’s earlier seasons, we are reminded of the character’s recasting. So, why did two different actors play Mia?</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-who-played-mia-bass-in-gilmore-girls”>Who played Mia Bass in ‘Gilmore Girls’?</h2>
<p id=”par-2_65″>Even the smallest roles in <em>Gilmore Girls</em> often had a significant impact. Mia Bass, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/gilmore-girls-was-ahead-of-its-time-in-one-big-way.html/”>the owner of the Independence Inn</a>, only appeared a few times, but her lore remains an important part of the series. Mia is also heavily discussed because two different actors took on the role. Elizabeth Franz was originally cast in the part during season 2. She appeared in a single episode.</p>
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<p id=”par-3_70″>While Mia was mentioned after Franz’s original appearance, she never reappeared in Stars Hollow. In season 7, Lorelai and Rory travel to attend Mia’s wedding, but by that point, an entirely new actor had taken on the role. In season 7 of <em>Gilmore Girls</em>, Kathy Baker played the role of Mia, looking much younger and less bubbly and wholesome than the original Mia. She appeared for a single episode, too.</p>
<p id=”par-4_76″>There is a reason the character appears to be aging in reverse. Baker, the second actor to take on the part, is now 75, which would have made her about 55 when she assumed the role in 2007. Franz died on November 4 at the age of 84, making her nearly 60 when she first brought Mia to life in 2001. According to <a href=”https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/theater/elizabeth-franz-dead.html”>the New York Times,</a> Franz died in Connecticut after a battle with cancer.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-why-was-the-part-recast”>Why was the part recast?</h2>
<p id=”par-5_54″>Elizabeth Franz was great in the role of Mia during the show’s first and second seasons. Her connection with Rory, Lorelia, and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/gilmore-girls-3-completely-random-facts-about-the-residents-of-stars-hollow-that-you-probably-forgot.html/”>the residents of Stars Hollow</a> was so warm and comforting. Her replacement, while equally talented, failed to feel as connected. So, why was the role recast? It was simply a logistical thing.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high” width=”1200″ height=”799″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Gilmore-Girls-Stars-Hollow.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Stars Hollow in ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'” class=”wp-image-3533561″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Stars Hollow | Saeed Adyani/Netflix
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<p id=”par-6_74″>According to several reports, the team behind <em>Gilmore Girls’</em> final season really wanted to bring Mia back into the storyline. When they approached Elizabeth Franz, she was unavailable to reprise the role. Instead of scraping the storyline entirely, they opted to go with a different actor. Baker was good in the part. Still, her look just didn’t align with what fans remembered of Mia. The difference made the transition feel forced and uncomfortable.</p>