Whatever you think of its Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls remains a fan favourite thanks to Rory and Lorelai’s complex mother/daughter relationship, comforting low-stakes story lines and quirky supporting characters. Out of all of Stars Hollow’s residents, Kirk is one of its most memorable. The eccentric townie, brilliantly played by Sean Gunn (Kraglin in Guardians of the Galaxy), has gifted fans with some of the show’s funniest moments.
A lot of Kirk’s humour comes from his chameleonic career. There’s nothing he hasn’t put his clumsy hand to, from dressing up as a hot dog to becoming a filmmaking auteur, and few episodes go by without him offering his services to Lorelai.
This comprehensive list includes Kirk’s jobs from Gilmore Girls seasons 1-7 and the Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. It’s not quite the fifteen thousand jobs Kirk tells Luke he’s had in season 5, but it’s close enough.
DSL Installer in season 1, episode 2 “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton”. Delivery man in season 1, episode 3 “Kill Me Now” and episode 21 “Love, Daisies and Troubadours”, season 3, episode 2 “Haunted Leg” and season 4, episode 22 “Raincoats and Recipes”. Assistant manager at Doose’s Market in season 1, episode 5 “Cinnamon’s Wake” and season 4, episode 21 “Last Week Fights, This Week Tights”. Engagement party coordinator for Max and Lorelai in season 2, episode 2 “Hammers and Veils”. Photographer in season 2, episode 3 “Red Light on the Wedding Night”. Mechanic in season 2, episode 7 “Like Mother, Like Daughter”. Server at the Bracebridge dinner in season 2, episode 10 “The Bracebridge Dinner”. Termite inspector in season 2, episode 11 “Secrets and Loans”. Video rental clerk in season 2, episode 12 “Richard in Stars Hollow”. Filmmaker in season 2, episode 19 “Teach Me Tonight” and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life episode 2 “Spring”.
Hay There skincare line salesman in season 3, episode 1 “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days”. Spy for Taylor in season 3, episode 3 “Application Anxiety”. Weston’s Bakery server in season 3, episode 10 “That’ll Do, Pig”. Beauty shop clerk in season 3, episode 12 “Lorelai Out of Water” and season 4, episode 1 “Ballrooms and Biscotti”. Director of Miss Patty’s dance show in season 3, episode 14 “Swan Song”. Hockey announcer in season 3, episode 15 “Face-Off”. Mailman in season 3, episode 16 “The Big One”. T-shirt designer/salesman in season 3, episode 17 “A Tale of Poes and Fire”. Mold inspector in season 3, episode 22 “Those Are Strings, Pinocchio”. Skydiver in season 4, episode 1 “Ballrooms and Biscotti”. Security alarm installer in season 4, episode 4 “Chicken or Beef?”. One of a kind mailbox salesman in season 4, episode 6 “An Affair to Remember”. Firelight Festival planner in season 4, episode 13 “Nag Hammadi Is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels”. Dog walker in season 4, episode 15 “Scene in a Mall” and season 6, episode 8 “Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out” Pedicab driver in season 4, episode 17 “Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin’ The Twist”. Easter egg hunt planner in season 4, episode 18 “Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!”
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Mailbox Etc. clerk in season 4, episode 19 “Afterboom”. Wedding DJ season 4, episode 21 “Last Week Fights, This Week Tights”. Poller for Town Selectman campaign in season 5, episode 4 “Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too”. Movie theater attendant in season 5, episodes 5 “We Got Us a Pippi Virgin” and 14 “Say Something”, and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life episode 2 “Spring”. Hot dog in season 5 episode 6 “Norman Mailer, I’m Pregnant!”. Bath and shower adhesive salesman in season 5, episode 10 “But Not as Cute as Pushkin”. Ribbon collector in season 5, episode 17 “Pulp Friction”.
Old Man Twickham souvenir salesman in season 5, episode 18 “To Live and Let Diorama”. Tow truck operator in season 5, episode 22 “To Live and Let Diorama” Engagement ring salesman in season 6, episode 1 “New and Improved Lorelai”. Physical therapist in season 6, episode 1 “New and Improved Lorelai”. Board of Tourism representative in season 6, episode 6 “Welcome to the Doll House”. Winter Carnival coordinator in season 6, episode 12 “Just Like Gwen and Gavin”. Hands out samples at Taylor’s Olde Fashion Soda Shoppe in season 6, episode 13 “Friday Night’s Alright for Fighting”. Realtor in season 6, episode 17 “I’m OK, You’re OK”. Founder of Yummy Bartenders in season 6, episode 19 “I Get a Sidekick Out of You”. Maze Guard for hay bale maze in season 7, episode 18 “Super Cool Party People”. Founder of Ooober in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life episode 1 “Winter”. International Food Festival co-coordinator in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life episode 2 “Spring”.
That’s a lot of jobs. And, although they’re always played for laughs, Kirk’s ever evolving career is not as silly as it may appear on first glance. Fans might remember he actually had enough money to outbid Luke for the same house in season 6 episode 18 “To Live and Let Diorama”. Turns out living in your mum’s basement rent-free while juggling 60 jobs leaves you with a lot of disposable income.
It’s also a testament to Sean Gunn, who really sold Kirk’s ridiculous ways and made him a Gilmore Girls all-time favourite, despite being a seemingly ageless man-child. In fact, Kirk’s job as a hot dog actually gave Gunn inspiration for Kirk’s character throughout the show’s 8 seasons. Speaking to the hosts of the Gilmore Guys Podcast, Gunn said “I always say that I metaphorically wore a hot dog suit for the entire run of the show”. Probably one of the most Kirk quotes ever.
