Top 10 Guest Stars You Forgot Were on House

Today, Elle Fanning is an Emmy and multi-Golden Globe nominee for her work on the wonderful show, “The Great.” In the earlier days of her career, she appeared in “House”’s second season. In “Need to Know” Fanning plays Stella Dalton, the daughter of that week’s patient, Margo. Margo has been using her kid’s medication to cope with stress from secretly taking birth control on top of fertility treatment instead of being honest with her spouse. Stella finds herself in her mother’s crosshairs as the latter’s irritability symptoms take over, with the young Fanning handling the pressure flawlessly. Stella also plays a pivotal role in helping the team find the cause of her mom’s mysterious illness, which is nice.

When folks talk about beloved actors, Matthew Lillard is often mentioned. But not everyone remembers that the “Scream,” “Scooby-Doo,” and “Five Nights at Freddy's” performer took on the role of Jack in an episode of “House.” In the opening, he saves a seizing woman from being hit by a subway, only to collapse himself. Ever the pessimist, House believes Jack’s heroism is a symptom. However, he ends up being wrong, while Masters, who spends the episode claiming an infection is to blame, is proven right. Jack had contracted chicken pox from his daughter, which he never had and can be dangerous in grown-ups. It’s a roller coaster ride, but Lillard grounds the story while convincingly bringing the character’s journey to life.

Shortly after impressing us all in “Mean Girls,” Amanda Seyfried arrived on “House” as Pam, who crashes a car when her boyfriend Keith begins bleeding. Keith’s dad is not a fan of hers, thinking she’s negatively influencing his kid. Seyfried doesn’t miss a beat, becoming a crucial player when she gives the team – who’s scrambling to figure out what’s wrong with Keith – information about his late cat. This in turn leads to the discovery of a condition caused by termites, which explains Keith’s symptoms. It’s not Seyfried’s biggest job, but she seemingly takes it as seriously as any part. It’s no wonder she went on to earn an Emmy and Golden Globe for “The Dropout,” and Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for “Mank.”

Long before he burst into the MCU as Jimmy Woo or tried to trick Dwight as Steve, AKA Asian Jim, in “The Office,” Randall Park popped up in this 2005 episode. Early on, the clinic and House’s reluctance to be there is a comedy goldmine. On this fateful day, Park’s Brad provides the laughs. He insists on seeing a male doctor, bringing in Hugh Laurie’s character. Soon, House sees the issue as Brad shows his injured crotch area. We won’t get into details, but let’s just say circumstances led to him attempting a little self-operation – never a good idea. It’s both hilarious and, well, delicate. Park finds that balance beautifully, playing it straight off Laurie in a way that feels effortless.

After breaking out on “That ‘70s Show” but before her stellar “Orange Is the New Black” work, Laura Prepon guest-starred on “House” as Frankie. She’s a well-known and constant blogger who uses her page to discuss intimate details about her life. Upon developing unexplained bruising and bleeding, Frankie is sent to Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Her job and the destruction of privacy regularly clash with the team and her partner. After pouring over her blog, the team eventually realizes one of the only things she didn’t mention was her digestion. This leads them to discover she has Whipple's disease. The whole arc is riveting, and it’s made all the more compelling by the way Prepon really leans into the character’s mindset and allows her to evolve.

Who do you enlist if you need someone to play a ruthless monster who needs treatment in a bid to explore a medical dilemma? James Earl Jones is a pretty great pick, as evidenced by this guest stint. It sees him as President Dibala, an African dictator who’s sued for his crimes against humanity while in the US. He starts vomiting blood, leading House’s team to ponder what to do, morally speaking. In the end, Chase fakes a test result, causing Foreman to give Dibala the wrong treatment, ending his life. Needless to say, it isn’t easy viewing, and Jones lives up to his award-winning reputation by disappearing into the part. You’ll have a hard time believing this is the same man who voiced Mufasa!

When Evan Peters was still finding his feet in the screen acting world, he was cast as Oliver in the “Last Resort.” The 2008 episode features Željko Ivanek’s Jason taking several people hostage because he demands an accurate diagnosis. Among them is Peters’ Oliver. Though he’s given a chance to escape alongside the other patients, he sticks around, letting his curiosity get the better of him. It’s a high-stakes, stressful story, and we genuinely start to worry about his character, with Peters making an impact any time he’s on screen. Of course, the actor would go on to make a huge name for himself in projects like “American Horror Story,” as Quicksilver in the “X-Men” franchise, and more, but Oliver is worth remembering too.

A few years before her Oscar-nominated turn in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Taraji P. Henson starred in an episode titled “Spin.” The Golden Globe winner takes on the role of Moira, an agent for patient Jeff Forrester. Being a stereotypical ruthless agent, Moira demands better treatment for her cyclist client by throwing money around. As the team contemplates what’s causing Jeff’s declining health, a leak that he may have cancer emerges. Moira is responsible, doing it to gain sympathy for her client. Chaos ensues, and we watch with our eyes glued to the screen thanks to Henson’s committed portrayal. She’s not the patient, but she’s pulling major strings. We really believe the “Empire” star is this cutthroat woman!

These days, Michael B. Jordan’s name is synonymous with superhero flicks like “Black Panther” and “Fantastic Four.” You may also associate him with “Creed,” the boxing film series he has led to much acclaim. But in “House”’s final season, he’s Will Westwood, a man who is blind. His character is on his way to propose before becoming disoriented and having multiple seizures. What follows is a complex story that leads to him having to decide whether he’s willing to risk losing his hearing by taking the necessary treatment. It’s heavy ground to tread, but Jordan handles the character with dignity and respect.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Sarah Wayne Callies, “Open and Shut”
“The Walking Dead” Star Is Julia, Whose Open Marriage Fascinates the Team

Wentworth Miller, “Charity Case”
Miller Fades Into the Role of Philanthropist Benjamin Byrd

Skylar Astin, “Holding On”
Most People Probably Don’t Remember the “Pitch Perfect” Icon as a Cheerleader Named Derrick

Yasiin Bey, “Locked In”
The Multi-Grammy Nominee Is a Patient with Locked-in Syndrome Named Lee

Before racking up multiple Oscar nominations with “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town,” or strapping on a bow and arrow as Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner arrived as punk rocker Jimmy Quidd. In “Games,” Jimmy collapses and showcases a lot of issues with substance use and fighting. And, well, let’s just say he doesn’t make things easy for the diagnostic team. However, there is also a nicer side to the rocker, which we see when he entertains sick kids. That’s the thing with real people: they tend to contain multitudes, some more pleasant than others. Renner understands this and infuses his portrayal of Jimmy with layers that make him feel authentic.

Who’s your favorite “House” guest star? Let us know who and why below!