As a devoted fan of all things ’90s and early 2000s, I find it fascinating to see how our favorite Friends characters ventured into different roles post-Central Perk. It’s like peeking into their secret lives!
Friends is considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it really did offer the roles of a lifetime to Jennifer Anison, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer back in 1994. While the actors will forever be associated with those characters, they have accomplished far more than portraying, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. Here are 32 other movies and TV shows that feature the main cast of Friends.
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
As a gamer, I remember being taken aback when I learned that David Schwimmer landed the role of Robert Kardashian in Ryan Murphy’s retelling of O.J. Simpson’s trial for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Yet, upon seeing his performance, Kim Kardashian herself commended it, stating that it was “simply exceptional.”
The Comeback
In Lisa Kudrow’s initial significant TV role following Friends, she played Valerie Cherish in HBO’s The Comeback. The idea was quite self-referential, as the character (Valerie) endeavored to reclaim the fame she once had on a different sitcom, all while a film crew captured her journey for a pretend reality show. This journey was often humbling and awkward.
Lost In Space
In the middle of the run of the show “Friends”, Matt LeBlanc temporarily switched roles to star in the 1998 sci-fi adventure “Lost in Space”. Here, he portrayed Major Don West, a skilled fighter pilot who is among the crew that becomes stranded while leading an emigration effort from a dying Earth.
Scream
Courteney Cox is widely known for roles beyond the popular NBC sitcom, but after Monica Gellar, her character Gale Weathers from the Scream series might be the second most recognized. In the Scream franchise, Gale stands out as the sole main character to feature in every movie up to Scream VI. However, it’s fortunate that Gale’s iconic bangs did not persist throughout all the sequels.
Fools Rush In
Matthew Perry, who was famed for his comic role as Chandler Bing on Friends, also had some significant scenes outside of Monica and Joey’s apartment. One of Perry’s finest films is the romantic comedy “Fools Rush In,” where he co-stars with Salma Hayek. The movie revolves around a chance encounter that leads to a potential one-night stand, followed by an unexpected pregnancy. As they struggle to make their marriage work after such a whirlwind meeting, they try to navigate the complexities of love and commitment.
The Morning Show
Jennifer Aniston and her “Friends” co-star Reese Witherspoon came together in 2019 to executive produce and feature on “The Morning Show,” a series available on Apple TV+. This office-based drama delves into real-world issues, with Aniston and Witherspoon portraying news anchors who frequently find themselves at the heart of the chaos.
Better Nate Than Ever
“Better Nate than Ever” is a story about growing up and the joy of musical theater. At age 13, Nate secretly travels to New York City with the goal of trying out for a Broadway production. In the bustling city, he seeks assistance from his long-lost aunt Heidi (played by Lisa Kudrow), who also harbors dreams of performing on Broadway.
Dirt
Three years following my departure from Monica Gellar on “Friends”, I found myself stepping into the role of Lucy Spiller in FX’s “Dirt”. As the editor-in-chief of a scandalous tabloid, it was quite the shift! Unfortunately, the series came to an end after just two seasons, plagued by the 2007 writers’ strike, a change in time slots, and other challenges. Yet, amidst the tough times, fans were graced with a delightful guest appearance by Jennifer Aniston – a moment that added a dash of “Friends” magic to this new venture!
17 Again
In the movie titled “17 Again“, Matthew Perry takes on the role of Mike O’Donnell, a 37-year-old man who has lost his job and is nearing divorce from his longtime partner Scarlet (Leslie Mann), whom he met in high school. Following an unusual event, Mike is transformed back into his 17-year-old self, represented by Zac Efron, offering him a second chance to revisit his high school days with the opportunity to alter certain events and hopefully create a more content future.
Picture Perfect
During the 10 years that the television series “Friends” was airing on NBC, members of the cast often worked on other projects. One such project for Jennifer Aniston was the 1997 romantic comedy “Pitch Perfect.” In this movie, Aniston portrayed Kate, an advertising executive who pretends to be engaged to Jay Mohr’s character, Nick, to make her life appear more stable than it actually is. The intricate relationship web in the film didn’t quite call for someone yelling, “We were on a break!”, as seen in “Friends.”
The Pallbearer
Back in the ’90s, it’s no surprise why the Friends cast members were frequently chosen for romantic comedies – they had that charm! For one, my man David Schwimmer stepped away from Ross Gellar to bring Tom Thompson to life in the 1996 movie The Pallbearer. Now, Tom wasn’t your typical guy; he was a struggling twenty-something who found himself carrying the coffin of an old classmate he didn’t even remember. But things got complicated when a love triangle unfolded between him, my high school crush, and the deceased friend’s mom. Quite a twist, huh?
Mad About You
Fans of Friends are aware that the character Phoebe Buffay was a twin, with Lisa Kudrow playing both Phoebe and Ursula in eight episodes. However, what some may not realize is that Ursula Buffay was a well-developed character on Friends’ companion series on NBC, Mad About You. Over a span of 24 episodes from 1992 to 1998, Kudrow portrayed Ursula as the less intelligent counterpart to Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt’s characters.
Episodes
5 years following the termination of Matt LeBlanc’s sitcom spinoff “Joey”, the actor re-entered the sitcom realm with “Episodes”. In this series, LeBlanc portrays a self-depicted character – a charismatic yet pompous actor who joins the cast of an American adaptation of the British program “Pucks”. During the run of “Episodes”, LeBlanc received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor and won one out of the two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor that he was contending for over those years.
Cougar Town
Debuting in 2009 and spanning over six seasons, the television series “Cougar Town” showcases Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb, a divorced woman in her 40s navigating the dating scene once more. This performance earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award in 2010, and fans of “Friends” were undoubtedly thrilled to see appearances from Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, and Matthew Perry.
The Odd Couple
In one of Matthew Perry’s last TV appearances, the actor best known for playing Chandler Bing assumed another well-known comic character – the messy Oscar Madison in CBS’s adaptation of “The Odd Couple.” He starred opposite Thomas Lennon, who portrayed the fastidious Felix Unger. It seems they would have had a good rapport if he had met Monica Gellar.
Cake
Jennifer Aniston has demonstrated over time that her acting abilities extend well beyond the character of Rachel Green from Friends, and her portrayal in the 2015 film Cake garnered both positive reviews and a Golden Globe nomination. In this role, Aniston plays Claire Bennett, a woman who relies on painkillers to cope with both the physical and emotional repercussions of the car accident that took her son’s life. Following the suicide of a fellow member in her support group for chronic pain sufferers, Claire develops a connection with the man’s husband and son.
Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion
In one of the most beloved movies showcasing female camaraderie, Lisa Kudrow shares the screen with Mira Sorvino in “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion“. A decade following their graduation, Romy and Michele, who haven’t achieved much in life, decide to revisit high school, concocting tales of success to impress former tormentors that once targeted them. This 1997 comedy has gained cult status, boasting an outstanding cast, as well as a memorable dance routine by Alan Cumming.
Top Gear
Instead of sticking with scripted television, Matt LeBlanc had the opportunity to display his passion for cars as a co-host on BBC’s Top Gear from 2016 to 2019. This role even took him to various locations around the world, but it seemed that the character of Joey Tribbiani followed him everywhere, as he encountered a group living in caves in Morocco who, upon recognizing him, called out “Joey” and mimicked an accent to ask, “How you doin’?”
Shining Vale
Courteney Cox has proven her versatility as an actress, excelling in comedy through her role in Friends and in horror with the Scream films. In the 2022 Starz series Shining Vale, she gets to demonstrate this dual talent. In this horror-comedy series, Cox portrays Pat, a character who believes that her family’s home harbors dark secrets from its past, given its history of strange occurrences.
Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
In the year 2006, after the conclusion of “Friends”, Matthew Perry joined Aaron Sorkin’s NBC comedy-drama “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”. This series showcased the off-stage shenanigans of a live sketch comedy program that resembled “Saturday Night Live”. However, it was oddly placed in competition with “30 Rock”, another comedy featuring a similar concept, which debuted on NBC just a month after Perry’s production. Unfortunately, “Studio 60” was terminated after its initial season.
Office Space
The movie “Office Space” is often recognized as a classic representing the Generation X era, and Jennifer Aniston captures this essence flawlessly through her character, Joanna – the waitress who grows weary of her monotonous job due to its lack of excitement and zest.
Band Of Brothers
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg collaborated on the impactful miniseries “Band of Brothers,” which was adapted from Stephen E. Ambrose’s nonfiction book and debuted on HBO on September 9, 2001. During his run on “Friends,” David Schwimmer managed to contribute by playing Herbert Sobel in the World War II narrative that chronicled soldiers gearing up for battle in one of history’s most significant military engagements.
Web Therapy
Prior to telehealth becoming widespread and essential, Lisa Kudrow explored the topic in her web series that later became a Showtime show titled “Web Therapy“. In this production, she plays therapist Fiona Wallice who provides quick sessions to clients over the internet. The program employed a perspective from a computer screen, and boasted numerous humorous guest appearances throughout its four-season run on Showtime, including those from Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. It would have been perfect if Jennifer Aniston could have joined in too!
Man With A Plan
In 2016, Matt LeBlanc took on a new sitcom role, starring in CBS’s “Man with a Plan.” In this series, he portrayed Adam Burns, who had to step up and handle increased child-rearing duties as his wife Andi returned to work. Despite receiving unfavorable reviews from critics, who labeled it as “dull” and “unmemorable,” the show ran for four seasons.
Family Ties
Prior to Monica Gellar’s television debut, Courteney Cox appeared regularly on “Family Ties” during its sixth and seventh seasons. In this role, she portrayed Lauren Miller, the love interest of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox), across 19 episodes from 1987 to 1989.
Go On
In 2012, Matthew Perry attempted to reclaim NBC sitcom success with the show “Go On,” in which he portrayed Ryan King, a sports radio host grappling with his wife’s recent demise. He found solace in an emotional support group and encountered an assortment of characters along the way. Although it was screened following the Olympics and benefited from “The Voice” as a preceding program, the series was unfortunately discontinued after just one season.
The Good Girl
Jennifer Aniston took a significant leap from her character Rachel Green in 2002’s “The Good Girl,” playing Justine, a dissatisfied employee at a small-town retail store. In this film, she appears trapped in an unfulfilling marriage and embarks on an illicit relationship with the new cashier Holden (portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal). This clandestine affair leads to unfortunate consequences on numerous fronts.
The Whole Nine Yards
About midway through his tenure as Chandler Bing, Matthew Perry collaborated with Bruce Willis for the 2000 crime comedy “The Whole Nine Yards.” In this film, Perry portrays a dentist named Oz who finds out that his next-door neighbor Jimmy (Willis) is a previously notorious hitman. Oz makes a decision to inform the mob about Jimmy’s location in Chicago to claim a reward. This cinematic duo later resulted in Willis making a memorable guest appearance on “Friends” as the father of Ross’ college student girlfriend.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
In the very same year that “Friends” first aired, Courteney Cox starred alongside Jim Carrey in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.” Her role was Melissa Robinson, a publicist for the Miami Dolphins, who hired Ace Ventura, the eccentric animal detective, to find their missing dolphin mascot following its abduction.
Time Bandits
Lisa Kudrow found it an absolute delight to collaborate with Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, and Taika Waititi on the Apple TV+ series “Time Bandits.” In this modern interpretation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 movie, Kudrow takes on the role of Penelope, who serves as a sort of leader for a motley crew of time-jumping robbers in the year 2024.
Lovesick
Ten years following Joey Tribbiani relinquishing access to Monica’s apartment, Matt LeBlanc took on the role of Charlie Darby in the romantic comedy “Lovesick.” In this 2000 film, he depicted a man who struggles with love due to a psychological issue. He has to conquer this challenge when he encounters his ideal woman. The movie was panned by critics, but fans of “Friends” might appreciate LeBlanc’s acting in it.
The Break-Up
Interestingly enough, the movie “The Break-Up” from 2006, which portrays the turbulent relationship and shared living situation of characters Gary and Brooke (played by Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn), surprisingly led to a real-life romance between these on-screen exes. The film depicts their breakup, where neither character decides to leave their shared residence, creating a mix of humor, discomfort, and eventual poignancy as the story unfolds.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-22 15:38