The 50 Best 'Will and Grace' Guest Stars

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Famous faces on Will & Grace

The Best 'Will and Grace' Guest Stars — Chris Haston/NBC

On May 18, 2006, Will & Grace aired its final episode. (Well…its first final episode. The show was later revived in September 2017, airing its second final episode on April 23, 2020.) Starring Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes, among others, the initial run of the NBC sitcom cemented its place in TV history not only for its Emmy-winning humor but for its talked-about guest stars. From Britney Spears to Barry Manilow, see the show's 52 best guest stars from the series' first eight seasons, ahead.

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Britney Spears

Britney Spears graced the set with her pop star presence for a 2006 episode of Will & Grace. Appearing in the eighth season, Spears played Amber-Louise, a woman who is brought on to cohost Jack's talk show (Jack Talk) with him.

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Matt Lauer

In one of his first scripted cameos, Matt Lauer played himself in one 2006 episode of Will & Grace. He appeared in the eighth season, running into the gang in Karen's bathroom during a party.

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Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone brought her Oscar-nominated acting chops to Will & Grace in the show's seventh season. She played Dr. Georgia Keller in the 2005 installment, acting as a therapist to both Will and Grace.

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Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres joined the gang for a 2001 episode, appearing in the third season as Sister Louise. Her character is a nun who gets caught up in a car sale.

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Madonna

Madonna flexed her Golden Globe-winning acting chops for a 2003 episode of Will & Grace. Appearing in the fifth season, she played Liz, an oddball office worker whom Karen eyes as a potential roommate.

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George Takei

Joining Britney Spears in season 8's "Buy, Buy Baby," George Takei played himself on Will & Grace. He appears as a guest on Jack Talk.

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Geena Davis

With an Oscar to her name, Geena Davis appeared in a 2004 episode of Will & Grace as Janet Adler. Joining the sixth season, she played one of Grace's sisters.

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Edie Falco and Chloë Sevigny

Edie Falco and Chloë Sevigny teamed up for a 2004 episode of Will & Grace. Appearing in the sixth season, Falco and Sevigny played Deirdre and Monet, respectively, two women who are famous for their house-flipping abilities.

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Patti LuPone

Patti LuPone played herself in one 2005 episode in the show's seventh season. She rubs shoulders with Jack, who considers her one of his idols.

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Demi Moore

A few years after her turn in G.I. Jane (1997), Demi Moore played Sissy Palmer-Ginsburg in a 2003 episode of Will & Grace. Appearing in the fifth season, Moore's character is a woman who once babysat Jack.

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James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones brought his famed voice to Will & Grace, playing himself in season 6's "Me and Mr. Jones." He stars in an Off Broadway play alongside Jack.

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Barry Manilow

Appearing in the aptly-titled season 6 episode "Fanilow," Barry Manilow played himself on Will & Grace. He found his way onto the show as Will waited in line for one of his concerts.

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Glenn Close

Glenn Close dropped by Will & Grace's fourth season in 2002. She played Fannie Lieber, an acclaimed photographer who photographs Will and Grace after they win a photoshoot in an auction.

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Victor Garber

Victor Garber appeared in one 2004 episode of Will & Grace. He played Peter Bovington in the seventh season, a former commercial actor whom Jack tries to hire to promote his show.

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Cher

After making an uncredited appearance in Will & Grace's third season, Cher returned two years later in season 4's "A.I.: Artificial Insemination." Playing herself, she appears to Jack in a vision and encourages him to pursue his acting career.

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Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon popped by Will & Grace for the season 5 episode "Bacon and Eggs." He played himself, getting stalked by Jack, who eventually earns a job as Bacon's assistant.

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Mira Sorvino

Mira Sorvino played a character named Diane in the sixth season. She is Leo's (Harry Connick Jr.) ex-girlfriend and creates drama thanks to her intimate knowledge of Will.

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Matt Damon

Matt Damon appeared in the fourth season of Will & Grace as Owen. He played Jack's competition in auditions for the gay men's chorus.

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Al Roker

Al Roker played himself in a 2000 episode of Will & Grace. He meets Will and Jack as part of the outdoor audience of The Today Show, where they are protesting the exclusion of a gay kiss on a television show.

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Dylan McDermott

Dylan McDermott guest-starred in the sixth season of Will & Grace, playing Tom in a 2003 installment. He plays a man who meets Will while the both of them are caring for their mothers.

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Candice Bergen

Candice Bergen played herself in one 2003 episode of Will & Grace. She appeared in the sixth season's "Strangers With Candice," finding her spot as an old frenemy of Karen's.

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Elton John

Elton John played himself in one episode of Will & Grace. He appeared as the head of the "gay mafia" in a season 5 installment.

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Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas played Det. Gavin Hatch in a 2002 episode. Appearing in the fourth season, his character is a detective who works on the case of Will's stolen laptop.

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Joan Collins

Joan Collins found room in her schedule for a 2000 episode of Will & Grace in the show's second season. She played Helena Barnes, a design maven who faces off with Grace.

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Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez brought her talents to Will & Grace for three episodes in the sixth and seventh seasons. She joined the show in 2004 and played herself, finding her spot in the gang after meeting Karen in a Las Vegas bathroom.

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Katie Couric

Katie Couric popped up in two 2002 episodes of Will & Grace. She played herself in the fifth season, meeting Grace when The Today Show is recruiting people for televised weddings.

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Bernadette Peters

Bernadette Peters dropped in on the eighth season of Will & Grace. She played Gin, Karen's sister, in a 2006 episode.

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John Slattery

John Slattery joined Will & Grace for a 1999 two-part episode. He appeared as Will's brother, Sam Truman, in the first season.

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Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O'Donnell joined Will & Grace for one 2002 episode, appearing as Bonnie in the fourth season. She played the mother of Jack's son, Elliot (Michael Angarano).

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Andy Richter

Andy Richter played a man named Dale in Will & Grace's eighth season in 2005. His character is a potential suitor for Grace.

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Stuart Townsend

Stuart Townsend made an appearance on Will & Grace as Edward. Popping up in the seventh season, he played a pastry chef under Karen's payroll.

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Luke Perry

Luke Perry joined the gang for one 2005 episode of Will & Grace. He appeared in the seventh season as Aaron, a bird-watcher Jack and Karen run into the park.

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Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder appeared in two episodes of Will & Grace's fifth season as Mr. Stein. He played a partner for Will's firm and then won an Emmy in 2003 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. This was his last onscreen role before he died in 2016.

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Seth Green

Seth Green added to his busy decade with a 2005 appearance on Will and Grace. He played Randall Finn, a former child star who has since grown up, in a season 7 episode.

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Lee Majors

Lee Majors made a 2005 appearance on Will & Grace as Burt Wolfe, a character in the seventh season. He played a dry cleaner who is friends with Grace's dad.

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Kristin Davis

The same year that she wrapped her initial run as Sex and the City's Charlotte York, Kristin Davis appeared in an episode of Will & Grace. She played Nadine, Vince's (Bobby Cannavale) best friend, in the seventh season.

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Jason Biggs

Jason Biggs joined Will & Grace for one episode in 2005. Appearing in the eighth season, he played Baby Glenn, a man who is famous for a childhood tragedy of falling in a hole at the age of 13.

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Will Arnett

Will Arnett took on the role of Artemus Johnson for one episode in Will & Grace's seventh season. He played a backup dancer going out for a gig with Janet Jackson.

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Alan Arkin

Alan Arkin played Grace's father, Martin Adler, for one 2005 episode of the show in the seventh season.

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Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes popped up in a 2006 episode as Cricket, a makeup artist who works with Karen in the eighth season.

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Andy Garcia

Andy Garcia played Milo in a season 5 episode in 2003. His character owns a restaurant and goes on a date with Karen.

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Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin appeared in Will & Grace's fifth season. He played Jason "J.T." Towne in the 2003 episode, a divorce lawyer who works with Karen.

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Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris joined Will & Grace's second season as Bill, a man who identifies as a "former gay man" and tries to convert others.

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Josh Lucas

Josh Lucas played himself in a 2006 episode. He appeared in the eighth season when he came to the aid of Jack.

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Nick Offerman

Before he became Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson, Nick Offerman was Nick the Plumber in one 2001 episode of Will & Grace. The actor appeared in the fourth season, playing a plumber whom Karen eyes. Dating at the time of his guest role on the show, Offerman and Mullally got married in 2003.

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Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson joined Will & Grace for one episode in 2004. She played herself in the season 7 installment, auditioning backup dancers—including Jack—for a performance.

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Joel McHale

Early in his career, Joel McHale booked a gig for one 2001 episode of Will & Grace. He played Ian in the third season, a man who goes on a date with Grace.

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Sharon Osbourne

Sharon Osbourne found a gig on Will & Grace in 2004, playing Nonny in the sixth season. She chats with Will while working as a bartender at a club.

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Clark Gregg

Years before he became Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D's Phil Coulson, Clark Gregg was Cam on one 2003 episode of Will & Grace. He appeared in the fifth season, playing one of Jack's boyfriends.

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Hall & Oates

Hall & Oates played themselves in the show's eighth season. Appearing in a 2006 episode, they performed at Grace's green card wedding to Will's Canadian boyfriend James (Taye Diggs).