Richard Gilmore

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Richard Gilmore
First appearance	"Pilot"
Information
Age	64
Year of birth	1943
Family	Lorelai Gilmore (daughter) Rory Gilmore (granddaughter)
Relationships	Emily Gilmore
Relatives	Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore (mother, deceased)
Portrayed by	Edward Herrmann
Created by	Amy Sherman-Palladino

Richard Gilmore (born January 1943) is a fictional character on the television series Gilmore Girls, played by Edward Herrmann.

Richard is the father of Lorelai Gilmore, grandfather of Rory Gilmore, and husband of Emily Gilmore on the WB television program Gilmore Girls. His mother was named Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore (Marion Ross), the inspiration for his daughter's own name. His father was Charles Gilmore, who died sometime before the show picks up. Richard's mother and father were second cousins, a fact that disgusted Lorelai and Rory very much. His mother also disliked Emily greatly and wanted Richard to marry his previous girlfriend, Pennilyn Lott, instead, and tried to force him to end his relationship with Emily all the way up to their wedding day, but Richard stuck to his guns because he truly loved Emily.

Shortly after "Trix" died, Lorelai and Rory found out that Richard and Emily were separated. Richard moved into the pool house, but always seemed interested in getting back together with his wife. Emily went on one date with a gentleman, Simon Maclean, from the club and when Richard found out, he drove into the back of Emily's car (while she was still in it) at an event out of jealousy. They got back together and had a ceremony to re-affirm their vows with Lorelai as the Maid of Honour and Rory as the Best Man. Rory and Richard have developed a very close relationship since the beginning of the series over a common love of books and a thirsty quest for knowledge. To some extent, Lorelai also seems to prefer Richard over Emily.

Richard works as the executive vice-president for the Gehrman-Driscoll Insurance Corporation during the first two seasons. He retires for a bit during the second season, but finds retired life to be dull and realizes that what he thrives on is working hard. He then goes out to start his own business. When he did, Lorelai helped him set up and hire a new assistant. It was one of the first times in the series that we saw the bond between them. He really enjoyed their time together and was very disappointed when she had to go back to her regular job.

He is a proud Yale Alumnus, and is very proud that his granddaughter attends this university as well.

Richard(after having helped Rory pull a prank at one of her fellow-students): All right, who's next? Paris giving you any trouble?

Rory: Not anymore than usual. [They walk down the hall together.] However, there is a girl in my modern poetry class who keeps kicking my chair.

Richard[Chuckling]: Ah, I do love this place.

Rory: Right back at you, Grandpa.

—Season 5, Episode 10, "But Not as Cute as Pushkin"

Though Richard loves being part of the Hartford Elite, he hates the events his wife drags him to, like for instance her meetings with the DAR.

Richard: Rory, please accept my profound thanks for serving food at a DAR event which is remarkable edible.

Emily: Oh, Richard, we always have good food!

Richard: Well, you have fancy good food. If I never look at another duck's liver for the rest of my life I will be a happy man.

—Season 6, Episode 05, "We've Got Magic to Do"

Like Emily, Richard disapproves of many of Lorelai's decisions, but unlike Emily, he prefers not to meddle in things, being more reactive than proactive, which may be one of the reasons why Lorelai prefers him over Emily. There's no doubt, however, that he is just as disappointed as Emily of what Lorelai did, and, like Emily, he feels that Lorelai should have married Rory's father, Christopher Hayden, so that their family could be together.

Richard: I had to tell my friends, my colleagues, that my only daughter, the brightest in her class, was pregnant and was leaving school.

Lorelai: That must have been devastating.

Richard: And then you run away and treat us like lepers. Your mother couldn’t get out of bed for a month. Did you know that? Did you?

Lorelai: No.

Richard: We did nothing to deserve that. Nothing to earn that!

—Season 1, Episode 15, "Christopher Returns"

In the seventh season, Richard is teaching an Economics class with Rory in attendance when he collapses from a heart attack. Rory rides in the ambulance with him to a local hospital, where Lorelai and Emily (and later Luke) arrive. Richard has an emergency bypass surgery and is soon recovering, though he and his wife argue about the healthy, non-alcoholic meals she has arranged. Lorelai has her friend Sookie bring Richard more delicious (but still healthy) meals.

Gilmore Girls
Main characters
Lorelai Gilmore | Rory Gilmore | Luke Danes | Christopher Hayden | Sookie St. James | Lane Kim | Paris Geller | Jess Mariano | Logan Huntzberger | Kirk Gleason | Emily Gilmore | Richard Gilmore
Recurring characters
Jackson Belleville | Taylor Doose | Dean Forester | Michel Gerard | Jason Stiles | Max Medina | Trix Gilmore | Mrs. Kim
More
List of episodes | List of characters | Stars Hollow