“Searchin’ My Soul”: Catching Up with the Cast of Ally McBeal

Calista Flockhart as Ally McBeal

Ally McBeal became a pop culture sensation as soon as the first episode aired and we saw that dancing baby. Was Ally too thin? (Maybe). Was she anti-feminist? (Probably not). Were we hooked? (Yes).

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Calista Flockhart, Today

After the show wrapped Calista Flockhart took a break from acting to raise her adopted son Liam, and in between started dating Harrison Ford, who she married in 2010. She turned down the role of Susan on Desperate Housewives, but decided to instead return to TV for five seasons of Brothers & Sisters.

Jane Krakowski as Elaine Vassal

Jane Krakowski played Ally’s busybody, and sort of slutty assistant. She was also a talented inventor. Who could forget Elaine’s face bra?

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Jane Krakowski, Today

After Ally wrapped, Jane Krakowski returned to Broadway and won a Tony for her role in Nine. She played everyone’s favorite star of TGS, Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock.

Gil Bellows as Billy Thomas

Oh Billy. He was the love of Ally’s life, but he had to go and choose Georgia instead. Too bad they all had to work together. If that’s not awkward enough for you, wait until the arguments in the unisex bathroom.

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Gil Bellows, Today

Despite maybe not looking as dreamy as he did when the show began, Gil Bellows, has worked steadily since leaving the show as a regular after the third season. He’s mostly been in movies you’ve never heard of, but he’s also guested on Smallville,Criminal Minds and Boss.

Courtney Thorne-Smith as Georgia Thomas

Courtney Thorne-Smith was arguably the most famous when the show started, coming directly off a run on Melrose Place, but she was given maybe the most infuriating character. Ally tried to befriend her (sort of), but she would always just be an obstacle in front of Billy.

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Courtney Thorne-Smith, Today

Courtney has been busy since she left the show at the end of season three. She wrote a novel and she starred for eight seasons as Jim Belushi’s wife on According to Jim. Most recently she’s had a recurring role on Two and a Half Men.

Lisa Nicole Carson as Renee Raddick

What television heroine doesn’t need a sassy friend as backup? Lucy had Ethel. Mary had Rhoda. And Ally had Renee, her fierce and protective roommate and best friend.

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Lisa Nicole Carson, Today

While filming Ally, Carson also starred on ER as Eriq La Salle’s girlfriend, but she was fired from both roles her “unpleasant attitude,” alleged drug use, and general bad behavior on set. She reprised her role as Renee on Harry's Law who is now a judge.

Portia de Rossi as Nelle Porter

Nelle “Subzero” Porter joined Cage and Fish in Ally’s second season. She was an icy lawyer, but she somehow melted for John Cage.

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Portia de Rossi, Today

Portia de Rossi, or maybe you know her as Mrs. Ellen DeGeneres, went on to star in Arrested Development as Lindsay Bluth, and then in the short-lived comedy Better Off Ted. She's currently on ABC's Scandal.

Lucy Liu as Ling Wood

Lucy Liu originally auditioned for the role of Nelle. She didn’t get it, obviously, but producer David E. Kelley was so impressed by her that he created the role of Ling for her.

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Lucy Liu, Today

She was nominated for an Emmy for Ally, and since then is best known for her roles in Charlie’s Angels, Kill Bill, and for her voice work in Kung Fu Panda. She's currently starring on CBS's Elementary.

Robert Downey Jr. as Larry Paul

Everyone knows the Robert Downey, Jr. story. His drug habit in the 1990s and early 2000s prevented his film career from taking off, and Ally McBeal was supposed to be his big comeback, clean and sober. He joined the cast as Larry Paul, Ally’s boyfriend in the fourth season, but was fired from the show after two drug arrests.

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Robert Downey Jr., Today

If Ally McBeal wasn’t the comeback he had hoped for, the good new for Robert Downey Jr. was that it was just around the corner. He is Hollywood’s golden boy once again after success in films like Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, and Sherlock Holmes.

Vonda Shepard as Vonda Shepard

Vonda Shepard was starting to make a name for herself in the world of adult contemporary, but her luck changed when David E. Kelley caught her show and signed her on for Ally. She sang the theme song, and also any other musical interludes required, mostly covers of songs that the gang from Cage and Fish would dance to down in the bar after work.