It Was So Good To See You: Guide to Guest Stars (Week of 2/12) 

The second full week of February is behind us and some very interesting guest stars appeared on many of my favorite TV shows this past sweeps week.

First, there was actress Emilie de Ravin on last Sunday night’s episode of Once Upon a Time, playing Belle, the princess who traded her life to save the people in her kingdom as part of an agreement made with Rumplestilskin. Of course, Emilie is best known for her role on Lost; but she got her start on the syndicated series BeastMaster before getting a role on the cult-favorite series Roswell. She also starred in the made-for-TV movie Carrie, a remake of the classic Stephen King novel and High Noon, the made-for-TV adaptation of the Nora Roberts novel. She also appeared in the box office movies The Hills Have Eyes, Remember Me and Brick.

Moving over to Monday night, actress Jennifer Beals and actor Josh Stamberg both appeared in part 1 of the two-part Castle episode. Jennifer appeared as a CIA agent, who had a secret past with Castle – she was the role model for the character in his first book while Josh was another CIA agent.

Jennifer, of course, was the lead in the 1980’s film classic Flashdance, but more recently has appeared in TV shows like The L Word and The Chicago Code.

Josh, on the other hand, is probably best known to TV viewers for his role in the popular Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva; but he has also appeared in the short-lived series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Over There.

That same night, actress Maggie Lawson appeared on the FX series Justified, as a nurse who was actually in league with the prison nurse who butchering people to sell their organs.  She is best known for her role on the popular USA Network dramedy Psych; but Maggie got her start in comedies such as Cybill, Step By Step and Boy Meets World.  Then she made guest appearances in Party of Five and Smallville then had the lead in the made-for-TV remake of Nancy Drew.

Over on Tuesday night, legendary actor Ray Wise appeared on NCIS, as the father of a real-life superhero who turned out to be the killer for whom Gibbs and team were searching. Ray has a long resume of TV and film roles such as the legendary TV series Twin Peaks (he, of course, was Leland Palmer) and the current cult favorite Reaper as well as the films Jeepers Creepers 2 and RoboCop among countless other films and TV roles.

Later that night, actors Peter Stormare and Christopher Lambert appeared on NCIS: Los Angeles, as a prison inmate masquerading as an Interpol agent on the trail of a wanted murderer who is a ruthless chameleon and the real chameleon respectively.

Peter is probably best known to TV viewers for his role in the first season of Prison Break as well as his film roles in Fargo and Constantine. He has also appeared in Chocolat, The Brothers Grimm, Armageddon and The Big Lebowski.

Meanwhile, Christopher is best known for his roles in the Highlander series of films as well as Mortal Kombat and the 1999 Beowulf film.

Also that same night actor Christopher Wiehl appeared on the ABC Family series Switched at Birth, as a new art gallery owner who was a new customer of Regina’s at the hair salon.  Christopher has made a lot of guest appearances in shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG, Any Day Now, Early Edition, ER, Charmed, Touched By An Angel, Monk, Ghost Whisperer, Psych and Private Practice. He has also had recurring roles in the short-lived shows Jericho, Love Monkey, First Monday and Playmakers.

Lastly, over on Thursday night’s new episode of The Secret Circle, actor Joe Lando appeared as the oft-mentioned but until now unseen father of Cassie.  Joe, of course, is best known for his role in the long-running family drama Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, but he got his start in the daytime soap One Life to Live, he also appeared in the made-for-TV movie Shadows of Desire, and Counterstrike. More recently, he had the lead role in the short-lived series Higher Ground as well as episodes of Summerland, Wildfire and Melrose Place.

There is still another week and a half of February sweeps to come so it will be a lot of fun to see who shows up the rest of this month.  What actors and actresses did you see on your favorite shows this past week? Please share.