Scandal: Best Guest Stars

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Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham joined Scandal for one episode in the show's fourth season. The Girls creator played Susanne Thomas, a young woman aiming to publish a tell-all book that would bring down many members of the Washington elite. She winds up dead by the end of the episode.

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Ernie Hudson

Ernie Hudson found time in his busy schedule for a 2013 episode of Scandal. Joining the third season, he played Commander Randolph Boles, an FBI negotiator who works with Olivia in a tense situation.

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Elizabeth Vargas

ABC journalist Elizabeth Vargas made a brief cameo in the third season of Scandal. The 20/20 and Good Morning America personality appropriately played a debate moderator, presiding over the showdown between Governor Reston and Congresswoman Marcus.

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Courtney B. Vance

Before playing Johnnie Cochran on The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Courtney B. Vance dropped in on a 2015 episode of Scandal as Clarence Parker, the father of a young man who was shot by a police officer.

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Mary Pat Gleason

Veteran actress Mary Pat Gleason added Scandal to her résumé in 2012, when she appeared in the season 2 episode "Spies Like Us." She played Betsy Ray, a former B-613 spy who has since built a normal life for herself.

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William Russ

After charming viewers as Boy Meets World's Alan Matthews, William Russ had a villainous turn on Scandal as Frank Holland. Appearing in the show's fifth season, he played a Presidential Medal of Honor recipient with a shocking past.

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Zoe Perry

How's this for keeping in the Shondaland family? Perry, who appeared in several episodes across season 6, is the real-life daughter of Jeff Perry, a.k.a. Cyrus Beane. Her character, Ms. Ruland, was among the top brass of the shadowy organization that forced Rowan to kill President-elect Francisco Vargas. Ultimately, though, her head winds up in a box... which is what happens when you mess with Command.

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David Warshofsky

The Taken star's Peus, Ruland's partner-in-crime in their shadowy organization determined to take down the government, met his demise at Jake's hand. Score one for Jake!

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Liz Torres

Gilmore Girls alum Liz Torres appeared in Scandal's second season. She played federal judge Kaley in a courtroom scene with Olivia.

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Jerrika Hinton

Grey's Anatomy actress Jerrika Hinton joined Shondaland a few months before her debut as Dr. Stephanie Edwards, playing Hannah in one 2012 episode of Scandal. Her character works in a lab that Harrison visits while looking for a rape kit.

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Jason London

Dazed and Confused alum Jason London made a 2012 appearance in Scandal as Skip Pierce. His character becomes a client of Pope & Associates after his businessman father begins acting erratically.

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Barry Bostwick

Barry Bostwick made two appearances on Scandal, popping up in the second and third season as Jerry Grant. He played the father to Fitz with dubious character.

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Lisa Edelstein

Between wrapping her run as Dr. Lisa Cuddy on House and debuting as Abby McCarthy on Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, Lisa Edelstein stopped by Scandal for one 2013 episode. She played Sarah Stanner, a CEO who enlists Olivia when she is caught up in a cheating scandal.

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Michael Welch

The Twilight actor joined Scandal for a talked-about episode in the show's fourth season. He played Officer Newton, a police officer who finds himself in the national eye after he shoots an unarmed teenager.

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Curtis Armstrong

Curtis Armstrong added to his length filmography with a 2012 episode of Scandal, in which he played Attorney Cole. His lawyer character is involved in deliberations involving a rape accusation.

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Marla Gibbs

The Emmy-nominated actress added Scandal to her résumé in 2015, when she appeared in two episodes. She played Rose, the friend to Olivia's neighbor who is killed in her kidnapping.

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Keiko Agena

Gilmore Girls star Keiko Agena appeared as Britta Kagen in Scandal's second season. Her character was the White House Press Secretary and she died in the shooting at Fitz's birthday party.

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Lorraine Toussaint

The famed actress appeared in a 2012 episode of Scandal a couple of years before joining Orange Is the New Black as Yvonne "Vee" Parker. She played Nancy Drake in the season 2 episode "The Other Woman," appearing as the widow of an important D.C. pastor.

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Josh Brener

Silicon Valley's Josh Brener played Gavin Price in a 2015 episode of Scandal. His character is accused of murdering his father.

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Emily Bergl

American Crime and Shameless actress Emily Bergl dropped in on Scandal's fourth season as Janet Beene. She played Cyrus Beene's ex-wife.

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Patrick Fabian

Better Call Saul's Patrick Fabian appeared in the third season of Scandal, playing Senator Richard Meyers. His character has a dark private life and is facing murder charges.

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John Barrowman

Arrow star John Barrowman made an appearance in a 2013 episode of Scandal. He plays an unnamed fixer who joins Mellie Grant's team.

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Lauren Bowles

True Blood alum Lauren Bowles popped up in a season four episode of Scandal. She portrayed Harmony, Mellie's somewhat estranged half-sister.

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Melora Hardin

Between stints on The Office and Transparent, Melora Hardin played Shelley Meyers in one 2013 episode of Scandal. Her character is the wife of a senator, who is in the midst of a murder scandal.

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Mary McCormack

Mary McCormack found her way back to Washington, D.C. after The West Wing as Lisa Elliot in a 2014 episode of Scandal. She played a military vet who is heralded as a hero along with her husband but has private tensions in her personal life.

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Kelly McCreary

Before joining Grey's Anatomy, Kelly McCreary got to know Shonda Rhimes thanks to two episodes of Scandal in 2013 and 2014. She played Clare Tucker, a woman from Harrison's past who comes back to help out the gladiators with a client.

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Brenda Strong

In the midst of her run on Dallas, Brenda Strong appeared in two episodes of Scandal, playing Joan Reston in the second season and third season. Her character is the wife of Governor Samuel Reston and finds herself in jail after a mysterious death.