When Friends first premiered in 1994, no one could have guessed what a cultural phenomenon the show would become. In what seemed like an instant, the story of six 20-somethings trying to navigate adult life in the Big Apple captivated viewers. Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, and Matt LeBlanc were all catapulted into otherworldly fame. It was a strange ordeal for the cast as it unfolded over 10 years and 10 seasons. It was also a fascinating world to step into for guest stars.
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Friends is still just as beloved as it was during its original run. While only six people in the world can claim true membership to the Central Perk gang, quite a few faces came and went over the course of the series. Today spoke to 10 actors who guest-starred on the iconic show to discuss their experiences.
If you ask someone to name one of the biggest sitcoms of the '90s, chances are they will mention Friends. The lightning in a bottle of the decade, the show depicted the struggles of "adulting" before the term was even an idea.
While the stars of the show have all grown tired of talking about it (and any potential reboots), there are some people who haven't delved into their time on the show until now. Today talked to 10 actors who guest-starred on the show about their experiences.
There were a few guest actors who appeared early on, just as unaware of what the show would become as the cast was.
"If Rachel didn't leave me at the altar, can I say there would be no show?" joked Mitchell Whitfield, who played Rachel's almost-husband, Barry.
Mitchell is surprised at how many people remember him as Rachel's undeserving ex. "People still stop me about ‘Friends’ and Barry," he said. "Like, ‘Oh, you're the jerk on ‘Friends.’ I didn't think he was that bad of a guy."
Jane Sibbett, who played Ross' ex-wife Carol, remembers fondly watching the actors interact in the early days of the show. "I'd come back from the commissary at Warner Brothers and I came around the corner and I saw Courteney and Jen and Lisa splashing in a puddle. It was raining. They were splashing in the puddle like children and laughing," she recalled.
"No one could see them. And literally, it was between sound stages in this little area. I get choked up when I think about it. I said, like, if they could capture that, that's lightning in a bottle. If they could capture that kind of freedom and that friendship, this show is golden."
Jane and Jessica Hecht, who played her wife, Susan, also had the enormous task of being one of the first lesbian couples on a television show where they actually discussed being lesbians. "I think that was a joy, of playing an iconic gay character, because there was no artifice," Jessica said.
"I always loved Susan's line when Ross is looking at the bookshelves and he says, ‘Wow, you got a lot of books about lesbians.’ And I think Susan says, ‘Well, they make you read a lot of books. Otherwise, they don't let you do it,’" she fondly recalled.
Friends was filmed in front of a live studio audience, which presented some challenges for characters who weren't so well-liked. Lauren Tom remembers playing Julie, who surprisingly comes back with Ross after his trip to China.
"I wasn't prepared for the amount of venom I was about to receive in a live audience where they actually booed my character," she said. "And, of course, I was trying very hard not to get my feelings hurt. So I had to get used to that."
Much like Mitchell, Cosimo Fusco noted that he would often get asked about working opposite of Jennifer Aniston. Cosimo played Paolo, a Fabio-esque Italian who briefly sweeps Rachel off her feet.
When asked what it was like to kiss Jennifer, Cosimo says, "I say, 'Hey, she was a lovely, adorable, young woman — very talented actress.'"
For an actor who wasn't quite a household name yet, appearing on Friends could be a big deal. Vincent Ventresca, who played Monica's on-again/off-again fling Fun Bobby, is baffled at how Netflix has breathed new life into what seemed like just a moment in time.
"When the show was on, if you were on that show, especially the second year, you were on NBC on Thursday night. I mean, it was a big deal. But that was 25 years ago," he noted.
"But then the show came out on Netflix, and so now all these kids that weren't even alive 25 years ago … I'll go to the bagel store or something and they'll be like, ‘Oh my God, there's Fun Bobby.’”
Christine Taylor appeared on the show as Phoebe's friend Bonnie, whom Ross was attracted to until she shaved her head. She finds herself reliving the moment more now that her kids' friends are starting to watch.
"My kids haven't even seen it yet, but all of their friends will reach out and say, ‘I saw your mom on ‘Friends.’ Because this next generation is watching the show now too," she explained. "So, it's fairly often that I get that. And it's always my favorite, ‘Did you really shave your head?’ No. I didn't."
Even for seasoned actors, a spot on the show could be both fun and intimidating. Kristin Davis was already known for her role as Charlotte on Sex and the City when she guest-starred as Erin, a great girl Joey's seeing and Rachel and Phoebe take a liking to.
"I remember losing sleep," she recalled. "Sex and the City was in production, but I was nervous to be the tiny character of Erin, losing sleep, partly because of the live audience, but partly because you’re in this world that has been created that is so alive and so specific and you’re trying to make sure you’re fitting yourself in there properly."
For Christina Applegate, who appeared on the show as Rachel's self-absorbed sister Amy, the guest spot even led to an Emmy nomination.
"It was shocking that I was nominated for the episodes I did because it honestly didn't feel like work," she said. "And it didn't feel like I was doing anything special in any way. I was just having so much fun. I really was in shock when that happened."
Perhaps no one had a more interesting experience guest-starring than a young Cole Sprouse. Cole played Ross' son, Ben, from ages 8 to 10. Cole recalls what it was like working with Jennifer while having a crush on her.
"I'm pretty sure I fell in love with Jennifer Aniston, which the whole world had at that point. But I do remember being quite intimidated around her, because of that. I remember blanking on my lines, and having a kind of stage fright when she sat next to me on the couch in one episode," he recalled.
"And I remember there was a camera man who was like, ‘Little boy's got a crush,’ or I forget what they said. Of course, I turned bright red. But I do remember feeling like I fell in love."
Appearing on Friends seems like it was a blast for the actors who passed through. It's never easy to jump into a situation where you're the outsider, but it seems like the Friends cast made a point of bringing everyone into the family, no matter for how long.
