Where are the cast of Ally McBeal now?

Ally McBeal could be set for a grand return to TV as network ABC is reportedly planning a sequel. 

The show, which ran for five seasons from 1997 until 2002, launched the careers of several actors who became household names.

Now Deadline reports it could soon be back on our screens – with Calista Flockhart rumored to make an appearance. 

While some characters went on to become Hollywood greats, others stuck to the smaller screen – and one even published a novel.

In their personal lives the stars have gone on to marry huge stars inclusing daytime talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and Harrison Ford.

But some have been plagued by personal struggles including drug and alcohol addictions, with one cast member even doing a stint in jail.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the stars of Ally McBeal and where they ended up after the show… 

Calista Flockhart (Ally)

The 57-year-old actress (pictured on the red carpet at the 86th Academy Awards) has gone on to star in TV shows including Brothers and Sisters

Calista is married to 80-year-old Hollywood star Harrison Ford who is 22 years older than her, but she has previously said the age gap is a ‘non-issue’ in their relationship

Calista Flockhart, who played the show’s title character Ally McBeal, found her big break on the legal show but since then her career has continued to grow.

Four years after the show ended in 2002, Calista landed herself a main role on another US favorite TV show Brothers and Sisters, which ran from 2006-2011.

She starred alongside Hollywood greats including Sally Field and played Kitty McCallister, the second-eldest child in the Walker clan.

And Calista doesn’t just mix with Hollywood royalty at work – as she is married to a huge star too.

Calista tied the knot with Indiana Jones himself, Harrison Ford, in June 2010 after they first met at the Golden Globes ceremony in 2002.

Calista, 57, and Harrison, 80, have a 22-year age gap but that has not stood in the way of their romance which has spanned two decades.

Speaking to Hello! Magazine in 2009 Harrison, who is also famed for playing Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise, described Calista as a ‘wonderful lady’.

He also spoke about how he took on the role of stepfather to Calista’s son Liam, whom she adopted in 2001 just a year before they met.

In 2017 Calista told Fox News: ‘Harrison and I laugh a lot, and humor is everything to me.’

She has also addressed their age gap in the past claiming it is a ‘non-issue’ – and has argued she often feels older than her husband.

When they aren’t filming the pair live a quiet life on their ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Calista’s latest project, the new series of HBO drama Feud which follows author Truman Capote’s fall from grace as he was shunned from the New York social scene, will air in December. 

She plays socialite Lee Radziwill, one of Capote’s elegant and high-profile ‘swans’ with whom he surrounded himself. 

Radziwill, also the sister of Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, was one of several women to confide in Capote before he betrayed them and told their secrets through thinly-veiled stories in his third novel, which was never published.

Robert Downey Jr (Larry)

Robert Downey Jr played handsome love interest Larry in Ally McBeal in the fourth and fifth seasons of the show

In his personal life the actor struggled with drug addiction and ended up in jail between 1999 and 2000

Now the 57-year-old actor’s life could not be more different after he became sober in 2003 – and he is now one of the biggest names in Hollywood

Robert Downey Jr’s personal life was in a spiral when he landed the role of Ally’s love interest Larry on the cult 90s show.

After rising to fame as a member of ‘The Brat Pack’ in the 1980s alongside stars like Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen, the actor struggled with drug addiction.

Despite his personal battles the talented actor, 57, landed some big roles in the 1990s including Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 film Chaplin, for which he received an Oscar nomination.

The press soon dubbed the rising star one of the greatest actors of his generation, but behind the scenes the wheels were falling off.

In 1996 he was stopped by police for speeding, but when his car was searched cops found small amounts of cocaine, heroin and an unloaded gun in his truck.

Three weeks later, just before he was due to appear in court over the charges, he was caught trespassing in a neighbour’s house while under the influence and was found unconscious in one of the bedrooms.

In 1999 he was jailed after failing to take court-ordered drug tests. After his release in 2000, he was arrested twice in eight months and ordered to spend a year in rehab.

Despite being the key love interest in series four of Ally McBeal, the actor’s arrest meant Larry was written out of the show in the eleventh hour – although he returned for guest appearances in the fifth and final season.

After his stints in prison Robert Downey Jr met his wife, producer Susan Downey, in 2003 with whom he credits his remarkable recovery.

The pair, who met on the set of Halle Berry thriller Gothika, soon fell in love and later that year, the actor gave up drugs for good.

Since then his career has skyrocketed, starring in family favorite films such as Sherlock Holmes alongside Jude Law and critically acclaimed movies like The Soloist.

But his biggest role to date came in 2008 when he starred as Tony Stark in the first Ironman film, which later became an early release in the now-enormous Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise.

He is set to reprise his role in the third Sherlock Holmes film as the Baker Street-dwelling detective, although the film is currently in pre-production. 

Courtney Thorne-Smith (Georgia)

Courtney Thorne-Smith played Georgia in Ally McBeal, a role she first took on when she already had a recurring role in Melrose Place

The actress, 54, has gone on to star in sitcoms including Two and a Half Men and even penned a novel in 2007

After making her acting debut in 1986 film Lucas alongside Winona Ryder, Corey Haim and Charlie Sheen, Courtney, 54, starred in films throughout the 1980s and 1990s before landing the role of Alison Parker on Melrose Place in 1992.

When she was cast as Georgia in Ally McBeal in 1996 the actress spent a year juggling filming of the two shows, before her character left Melrose Place in 1997.

After the show ended in 2001, Courtney took on the role of Cheryl in US sitcom According to Jim, which she stayed in until 2009.

In 2010 she joined the cast of hit sitcom Two and a Half Men as Lyndsey McElroy, the girlfriend of main character Alan Harper.

Aside from her acting career Courtney is also a published author, with her novel Outside In published in 2007.

The same year, Courtney married her husband Roger Fishman and in 2008 she gave birth to their son Jacob Emerson Fishman. 

Jane Krakowski (Elaine)

Jane Krakowski charmed audiences as Ally’s inventive yet gossipy assistant Elaine from 1997 to 2002, earning herself a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1999

Jane (pictured in 2009) has since gone on to become a sitcom veteran, usually playing overly dramatic – but lovable – characters

She charmed audiences as Ally’s inventive yet gossipy assistant Elaine from 1997 to 2002, earning herself a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1999.

But Jane Krakowski, now 53, has since gone on to become a sitcom veteran, usually playing overly dramatic – but lovable – characters.

In 2006, she landed a role as fan favorite Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock – starring along industry heavyweights Tracey Morgan, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey – in which she played the cast member of a sketch show.

She wowed viewers in the eccentric, theatrical role and went on to receive several Primetime Emmy Award nominations for it from 2009 to 2013 – when the show ended.

However it wasn’t long before Jane was back on the screen as Jacqueline White in comedy sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt from 2015 to 2020.

The Netflix hit, which starred Ellie Kemper as a woman who has been rescued from a doomsday cult and was trying to adapt to a life in New York City with roommate Tituss Burgess, featured Jane as her employer and received critical acclaim.

She currently hosts a reboot of 1950s gameshow Name That Tune, which saw contestants try to correctly guess what song was being played.

Prestige Entertainment, Eureka Productions and Fox announced the move in 2020 and it premiered in 2021.

A second season premiered earlier this year in March.

Jane has also had a successful career on the stage as a trained singer, having starred across productions on Broadway and the West End.

Aged only 18 she originated the role of Dinah the Dining Car in a Broadway production of Starlight Express in 1987 and has wowed with performances in Company (1995), Funny Girl (2002) and Guys and Dolls (2005) as well as others.

Jane has one son, Bennett Robert Godley, 11, who she shares with British designer Robert Godley. 

The pair got engaged in 2009 but separated in 2013. 

Peter MacNicol (John)

Peter MacNicol won an Emmy for his performance as top attorney and partner at the Cage & Fish law firm, John Cage, in Ally McBeal

MacNicol, 68, who also had a successful stage career, has continued to act and has appeared in several TV shows including 24 as presidential advisor Tom Lennox 

In 2001, Peter MacNicol won an Emmy for his role of eccentric attorney John Cage in Ally McBeal. 

The classically-trained actor from Texas has had a thriving career onstage as well as onscreen, with roles in productions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night.

Eagle-eyed viewers may also recognize him from the 1982 film Sophie’s Choice, in which he starred alongside Meryl Streep as Stingo, the naive writer who fell in love with her character.

Since Ally McBeal ended MacNicol, 68, has also starred in a series of high-octane action drama 24 as a presidential adviser, Tom Lennox.

In more recent years MacNicol has starred as Jeff Kane in US political satire Veep, created by Armando Iannucci as an adaptation of his UK hit, The Thick of It.

Greg Germann (Richard Fish)

Greg Germann played the role of Richard Fish, co-owner of the Cage & Fish law firm in Ally McBeal

Now Germann, 64, plays Dr Tom Koracick, a pediatrician, in long-running medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy 

Houston-born actor Greg Germann won a SAG award for his performance as Richard Fish on Ally McBeal.

The 64-year-old actor’s character, co-owner of the Cage & Fish law firm, seems embarrassed by nothing with a loose interpretation of ethics in the business.

In his early career, Germann had a successful run on Broadway, starring alongside 1980s heartthrob Matthew Broderick in a play he co-wrote, Fancy This.

He also took on roles in musicals Chicago and The Wizard of Oz.

Throughout his TV career Greg has popped up with guest appearances in shows including Desperate Housewives, CSI and Curb Your Enthusiasm starring Larry David.

More recently he has taken up the recurring role as Dr. Tom Koracick in long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, which he first appeared in in 2017.

In his personal life, Greg is a supporter of the LA-based organization The People Concern, which aims to end homelessness by providing social housing.

He recently used his Instagram account to praise the work of the association and asked people to donate what they could to support its work.

Hayden Panettiere (Maddie)

Hayden Panettiere (pictured as Maddie in Ally McBeal) already had a string of credits under her belt when she took on the role in the 1990s legal comedy/drama

Hayden, now 33, went on to star as bratty diva Juliette in Nashville from 2012, for which she recorded several songs that dominated the country music charts 

Hayden was in an on-off relationship with world heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko from 2009 until 2018 (pictured here in 2014). The pair share a daughter, Kaya

Former child star Hayden Panettiere was just 12 years old when she starred as Maddie Harrington in Ally McBeal, but by then she was already an acting pro.

After starring in US soap One Life to Live and voicing the character of Dot in Disney Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, Hayden already had several credits under her belt.

When the show ended in 2002, she went on to star in Disney film Ice Princess as Gen, the reluctant figure skater who battles with her trainer and mother, played by Kim Cattrall.

One of Hayden’s defining roles came in 2006 when she was cast in hit US thriller Heroes as Claire, the teenage cheerleader who couldn’t be killed and couldn’t feel pain.

After a hugely successful first season the show’s viewing figures began to dwindle and was eventually cancelled in 2010 after season four.

Now a household name, Hayden was cast as spoilt diva Juliette in Nashville, which first aired in 2012.

Starring alongside Connie Britton as Rayna the series followed the rival country stars from different generations as they battled for success.

Through the TV show Hayden recorded several songs that dominated the country music charts, which added to singles she’d released earlier in her career.

In her personal life, Hayden, 33, got together with boxing heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2009 and the pair dated on and off for nearly 10 years before finally calling it quits in 2018. In 2014 their daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko was born. 

After splitting for good four years ago the pair have remained friends and co-parent Kaya.

In 2021 Hayden posted a sweet tribute to the father of her child on Instagram to mark his birthday, calling him a ‘wonderful man’. 

Since the champion boxer went back to his home country of Ukraine to defend against the Russian invasion, she has also reposted his updates.

Earlier this year Hayden opened up about her more recent relationship with ex Brian Hickerson, who was charged with eight counts of domestic violence against her in July 2020.

In 2021 he pled no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner and was jailed for 13 days. The remaining charges were dropped.

Speaking to People magazine in June this year, Hayden said: ‘None of it is OK, and I want to make sure that everybody knows that.

‘But I am open to people who are willing to get help and make amends. [Brian has] gone to treatment and done his time. And I’m trying to live in a place of forgiveness.’

During the interview she also spoke for the first time about her addiction struggles, saying she relied on opioids and alcohol during a battle with post-natal depression. 

Aside from her many talents Hayden is also an activist who has campaigned against the hunting of Wales and dolphins for more than 10 years.

Lucy Liu (Ling)   

Although she does not look a day older than she did while playing the icy office antagonist Ling Woo, Lucy Liu, now 53, is a household name

Lucy (pictured at Comic-Con in 2022) went on to star in hit Hollywood blockbuster Charlie’s Angels alongside Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz

Although she does not look a day older than she did while playing the icy office antagonist Ling Woo, Lucy Liu, now 53, is a household name across with several awards for her iconic roles in films. 

In 2000 – two years before she would finish on Ally McBeal – Lucy was cast as Alex Munday in Charlie’s Angels.

She reprised the role for Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle in 2003.

That same year, Lucy played Japanese Yakuza leader O-Ren Ishii in Quentin Tarantino’s film-buff favorite Kill Bill: Volume I. 

The actress has also found success as a mixed media artist and studied drawing, painting, and sculpture at the New York Studio School from 2004 to 2006.

She has presented her work across a number of gallery shows, with the proceeds of her art often going to charity.

Lucy has also starred in a number of television roles throughout the 2000s, including appearance in Matt Le Blanc’s sitcom Joey and features in Ugly Betty and Dirty Sexy Money.

She has also voice acted in the highly successful Kung Fu Panda franchise as xx and in 2010 even dabbled in theatre as she made her Broadway debut as Anette in God of Carnage.

Lucy has one seven-year-old son, Rockwell, who she welcomed in 2015 via gestational surrogate.

Although she has stayed quiet on her romantic life, Lucy has been linked in the past to businessman Noam Gottesman, actor Will McCormack and writer-film director Zach Helm. 

Portia De Rossi (Nelle) 

Portia De Rossi played the villainous, frosty Nelle in Ally McBeal from 1998 to 2002 

Since the show ended Portia has gone on to play roles including eccentric Lindsay Bluth-Fünke in Arrested Development from 2003 to 3006

Portia, now 49, has been married to afternoon talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for 14 years (pictured in California in March 2022)

Portia De Rossi played the villainous, frosty Nelle in Ally McBeal from 1998 to 2002. 

The Australian actress, who is now 49, is now best known for her role as Lindsay Bluth-Fünke in hit comedy show Arrested Development.

She played the family’s faux-spiritual eccentric daughter who was unhappily married to Tobias Onyango Fünke, portrayed by David Cross.

Portia played Lindsay from 2003 to 2006, before the show was cancelled by Fox. However Netflix later revived the show and released two new seasons – one in 2013 and another in 2019.

She has also starred as Elizabeth North in Scandal from 2014 to 2017 and played Veronica Palmer in Better Off Ted from 2009 – 2010. 

The star – who has now been married to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for 14 years –  publicly opened up about her sexuality in 2005.

In a 2005 interview with The Advocate, she revealed most of her Ally McBeal castmates didn’t realise she was a lesbian until photos of her and ex-girlfriend Francesca Gregorini were published in the tabloids. 

The pair, who had been dating since 2001, broke up in 2004 when Portia began a relationship with Ellen.

They were engaged in 2008 and got married later that year.

Lisa Nicole Carson (Renee) 

Lisa Nicole Carson, now 53, portrayed the bubbly Renee Raddick on AllyMcBeal from 1997 to 2002

Since the show ended Lisa has revealed she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the early 2000s which led to her being hospitalised

Lisa Nicole Carson, now 53, portrayed the bubbly Renee Raddick on AllyMcBeal from 1997 to 2002.

Around the same time, from 1996 to 2001, she also found success as Carla on hit medical drama ER, where her character featured from season three to season eight.

In a 2015 interview, the actress opened up about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the early 2000s, and needing to be hospitalized. 

She told Essence that after being discharged, she went back to work on Ally McBeal and despite everyone on the show being ‘wonderful’ to her, she was ‘devastated’ not to have had her contract renewed.

‘Nobody gave me an explanation, but I assumed it had to do with what had happened,’ she explained. 

Despite this, Lisa did come back on the show to reprise her role as Renee in 2012 for the final episode.

The star has described Ally McBeal as her ‘last Hollywood gig’ and moved back to New York City after her stint on it ended.

She told Essence she stayed in The Big Apple – her hometown – ‘for more than a decade’.

‘During that time I worked with many doctors to get as much control of my life as I could and experimented with various treatments including mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications,’ she explained.

Her latest acting endeavour was playing Mae Bell in the 2017 mini-series The New Edition Story, which centered around the titular R&B group. 

James Marsden (Glenn) 

James Marsden joined the Ally McBeal cast in season five, playing Glenn Foy from 2001 and 2002

James went on to star in rom-com 27 Dresses alongside Katherine Heigl and also appeared in The Notebook as Ryan Gosling’s love rival

James Marsden joined the Ally McBeal cast in season five, playing Glenn Foy from 2001 and 2002, and has since found blockbuster success with hits like X-Men, The Notebook, Enchanted, Hairspray and 27 dresses. 

After portraying Ryan Gosling’s love rival Lon Hammond, Jr. in 2004, James – who is now 48 – delighted viewers as a leading man in comedies and romantic films throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

His 2008 rom-com 27 Dresses, where he played jaded newspaper columnist Kevin alongside Katherine Heigl, grossed $160 million around the world.

Following in fellow Ally McBeal alum Jane Krakowski’s footsteps, he also starred in episodes of 30 Rock as Criss Chros – a boyfriend of Tina Fey’s character Liz Lemon.

He has also played Teddy Flood in Westworld since 2016 and more recently has starred as Tom Wachowski in Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as its sequel. 

James has three children. He shares two of them (a son, born in 2001 and a daughter, born in 2005) with ex-wife Mary Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Linde.

They were wed in 2000, but divorced in 2011 after a decade of marriage.

James’ third child is a son, born in 2012, who his shares with ex-girlfriend Rose Costa.