It’s always fun to see where our favorite TV actors got their start—or where they popped up before landing their now-iconic roles. And if you’re a fan of both Virgin River and Manifest, you may be surprised to learn that seven of their stars share a hidden TV connection: they all guest-starred on Arrow.
That’s right—before they were tugging at our heartstrings in romantic dramas or unraveling supernatural mysteries, these familiar faces were part of the gritty superhero world of The CW’s Arrow, a series that ran from 2012 to 2020 and helped launch the entire Arrowverse.
Let’s break down the surprising crossover.
From Small-Town Romance to Star City Drama: The Virgin River Crew
-
Colin Lawrence (Preacher): Long before serving up burgers and wisdom at Jack’s Bar, Lawrence played Paul Knox in a 2013 episode of Arrow.
-
Lynda Boyd (Lilly): She had a recurring role as Phaedra Nixon from 2015 to 2016, bringing the same quiet strength that makes her Virgin River character so compelling.
-
Sarah Dugdale (Lizzie): Dugdale made a quick appearance in 2013, guest-starring as Becky—a far cry from her rebellious but lovable small-town persona.
-
Teryl Rothery (Muriel): Believe it or not, Rothery had one of the longest-running recurring roles on Arrow as Jean Loring, appearing on the show from 2012 to 2020.
-
Lexa Doig (Paige Lassiter): Doig portrayed Talia al Ghul, a major DC Comics character, from 2017 through 2020—arguably one of her most action-packed roles.
The Manifest Pair Who Took Flight From Star City
-
J.R. Ramirez (Jared Vasquez): Before joining Flight 828, Ramirez took on the role of Ted “Wildcat” Grant in 2014—a masked vigilante and boxing mentor to Laurel Lance.
-
Melissa Roxburgh (Michaela Stone): Roxburgh had two guest spots on Arrow—first in 2011 and again in 2012—playing a character named Blake.
A Universe of Unexpected Crossovers
If you’re not familiar with Arrow, the series follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, who returns home after being presumed dead for five years. But instead of resuming his former life, he becomes a hooded vigilante, cleaning up the crime-ridden streets of Star City with nothing but his bow, arrows, and moral code.
The show was the launching pad for other hits like The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow, and attracted an eclectic mix of guest stars and recurring characters—many of whom would go on to lead shows of their own.
It’s wild to think these Virgin River and Manifest stars once shared the Arrow spotlight, even if just for an episode or two. Maybe one day we’ll get the ultimate multiverse crossover with Preacher, Michaela, Lizzie, and Wildcat all in the same room—until then, we’ll be spotting these Easter eggs on our rewatch playlists.
