It’s been over two decades since we watched a free-spirited yoga instructor and a buttoned-up US attorney fall in love after one subway ride. The show was a massive hit. It basically defined the late '90s "opposites attract" sitcom trope. But if you look at the career trajectory of each Dharma and Greg actor, the story gets a whole lot more complicated than a happy 22-minute ending with a laugh track.
Thomas Gibson and Jenna Elfman didn’t just fade away into the "Where are they now?" file. They both hit massive highs and, frankly, some pretty weird or dramatic lows. Honestly, the off-screen drama ended up being way more intense than anything Larry and Abby Finkelstein ever cooked up in their kitchen.
The Thomas Gibson Fallout: From Hotch to the "Kicking" Incident
Most people forget that Thomas Gibson didn’t just vanish after Greg Montgomery hung up his suits. He actually landed one of the biggest procedural gigs in TV history as Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner on Criminal Minds. For eleven seasons, he was the face of the BAU. He was reliable. He was the "dad" of the group. And then, in 2016, it all went sideways in a way nobody expected.
The "kick heard ‘round the world" happened during the filming of season 12. Gibson was directing an episode. He got into a creative dispute with writer-producer Virgil Williams. According to reports, things got heated. Gibson allegedly kicked Williams in the shin.
He was suspended at first. Two days later? Fired. Just like that.
The fallout was messy. Gibson claimed it was a "tap" and that Williams was coming toward him, but the network wasn't having it. Since then, his screen time has been... thin. Aside from a 2019 TV movie called Shadow Wolves, he’s been largely absent from the Hollywood mainstream.
Wait, what’s he doing in 2026? Believe it or not, Gibson has staged a bit of a comeback, but not where you’d expect. He’s gone back to his roots: the stage. In April 2025, he made his Chicago stage debut in David Mamet's play Henry Johnson at the Victory Gardens Theater. It wasn't some flashy sitcom return. He played a prison inmate named Gene. He’s also been doing invite-only readings of the play in New York as of January 2026. It seems he’s leaning into "gritty" and "theatrical" rather than trying to get back into the CBS good graces.
Jenna Elfman: Scientology, Fear the Walking Dead, and Shifting Gears
Jenna Elfman had a different path. She didn't get fired from a mega-hit; she just struggled to find another one that stuck. After Dharma & Greg ended in 2002, she went through a string of "one-season wonders." Shows like Courting Alex, Accidentally on Purpose, and 1600 Penn just couldn't capture that Dharma magic.
A lot of the conversation around her always circles back to her involvement in Scientology. People talk about it a lot. She’s been very open about her faith, which she shares with her husband, Bodhi Elfman. While some fans think it "blacklisted" her, the reality is more about the fickle nature of sitcom pilots.
She eventually found a second wind in a totally different genre: horror.
Playing June Dorie on Fear the Walking Dead for five years (2018–2023) proved she could do more than just quirky comedy. It was a complete 180 from Dharma. No more flowy skirts—just zombies and survivalism.
As we move into 2026, Elfman is actually heading back to the multi-cam sitcom world. She recently joined the cast of the ABC comedy Shifting Gears, starring Tim Allen. It’s a full-circle moment. She’s back on the network that made her a household name, playing a daughter who moves back home with her kids.
The Supporting Cast: Where Are They Now?
You can't talk about a Dharma and Greg actor without mentioning the parents. They were the secret sauce.
- Susan Sullivan (Kitty Montgomery): She’s stayed busy, most notably on Castle and doing voice work. Even in her 80s, she’s still a force in the industry.
- Mimi Kennedy (Abby Finkelstein): She spent years as a series regular on Mom, another Chuck Lorre hit. She’s basically the queen of the "wise, slightly eccentric mother" role.
- Alan Rachins (Larry Finkelstein): Sadly, the world lost Alan Rachins in late 2024. He was 82. His portrayal of the conspiracy-theorist, anti-establishment Larry is still considered one of the best "hippie" tropes in TV history.
- Joel Murray (Pete): Bill Murray’s brother is still a staple in Hollywood, doing everything from Mad Men to voice acting in Monsters University.
Why the Show Still Hits Different
Rewatching the show in 2026 feels weirdly nostalgic. We don't really have "pure" sitcoms like this anymore. It was a time before everything was "prestige TV" or "limited series."
The chemistry between Gibson and Elfman was real. That’s the irony. For two people who ended up having such different career trajectories—one in a gritty police procedural (and later a prison play) and the other in a zombie apocalypse (and later a family sitcom)—their time together as Dharma and Greg was lightning in a bottle.
If you’re looking to catch up with these actors today, skip the reruns for a second. Check out the 2025-2026 projects.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- See Thomas Gibson live: If you're in New York or Chicago, keep an eye on the Relentless Theatre Group schedule. He seems committed to the Mamet circuit right now.
- Watch Jenna's new sitcom: Shifting Gears on ABC is the closest thing we’ve had to a spiritual successor for her comedy style.
- The 20th-century nostalgia: If you want to dive back in, Hulu and Disney+ (depending on your region) are still the main hubs for streaming the original series.
The legacy of the Dharma and Greg actor isn't just one thing. It's a mix of Golden Globes, on-set scuffles, religious devotion, and a very late-stage pivot to the theater. It's messy. It’s human. And honestly, it’s a lot more interesting than the 1997 pilot could have ever predicted.