By Emma Greenberg ’18
One of the most beloved shows amongst students at staples, “Friends”, is a forever classic. Many students are puzzled with the question, where is the cast now? The “Friends” cast members used to be the biggest names in Hollywood (and highest paid) during the show’s 10 year run. But in recent years, some have had major success, while other have faded out of the spotlight. Since the show hit Netflix in 2016 students have been left to wonder.
Jennifer Aniston
Arguably the most successful member of the cast post-Friends, Aniston has been keeping herself very busy by starring in many big name movies. According to Biography.com some of her major blockbusters include Bruce Almighty, The Break-Up, Marley & Me, Horrible Bosses and We’re the Millers. Aniston also had an infamous split from her husband of five years, Brad Pitt, in 2005. She later remarried actor Justin Theroux who just starred in the thriller “The Girl on the Train”.
“I think the success of Aniston’s career is really great because she is my favorite character on the show. I really liked how she ventured into mainstream movies after “Friends” because everyone still got to see her often,” Alex Milberg ’18 said.
Courteney Cox
While not as successful as Aniston with her career after “Friends”, Cox is still in the spotlight after starring in her own show Cougar Town, which ran from 2009-2015. Although she has had a successful career, her private life hit turmoil when she divorced from her husband, David Arquette, after 14 years of marriage.
Some students do not think that Cox has had that successful of a career, “Nothing happened for her. She just kind of, stopped,” Chris Hoile ’18 said.
Matthew Perry
Perry has also been somewhat successful post “Friends”, going on to star in numerous films opposite many big names, including Salma Hayek and Bruce Willis. In the later 2000s he returned to TV to make guest appearances on “The Good Wife” and had a short stint as the leading role in NBC’s “The Odd Couple”.
Matt LeBlanc
LeBlanc had his own spin off of Friends entitled “Joey”. While the show was well received by critics, it did not have good enough ratings, so it was cancelled after two seasons. LeBlanc currently stars in “Episodes,” a TV show which has garnered him praise in recent years, including winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in comedy.
Lisa Kudrow
Kudrow faded from the spotlight in years after “Friends” but is now slowly returning to the business. She has made appearances in “Easy A”, “Web Therapy”, “Girl on the Train” and most recently a reboot of her series “The Comeback”.
“I thought Lisa Kudrow was hilarious as Phoebe in ‘Friends’, so I would’ve liked to see her in more things because she has such a great comedic character,” Anastasija Perri ’18.
David Schwimmer
What happened to him? Arguably he had the potential to go on and star in many things, but instead chose to take a break from the Hollywood scene and to get married and raise a family. Recently though he made a return to TV playing Robert Kardashian in “The People vs. O.J. Simpson”.
