JENNIFER ANISTON
Rachel Green on "Friends"
Emmy Award winner (and 2003 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series) Jennifer Aniston re-connected with her Greek roots by spending a year of her childhood living in Greece -- and no doubt the influence of noted Greek-American actor Telly Savalas as her godfather further augmented her cultural appreciation. Ultimately, however, she was raised in New York City when her father, actor John Aniston (NBC's "Days of Our Lives"), landed a featured role on the daytime drama
"Love of Life."
Aniston - who recently earned glowing reviews for her performance in the feature film "The Good Girl" -- had her first taste of acting at age 11 when she joined the Rudolf Steiner School's drama club. Her experience there also helped her develop a passion for art. When she was 11, one of her paintings was selected to be displayed in an exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Aniston began her professional training as a drama student at New York's High School of the Performing Arts. After her graduation in 1987, she won roles in such off-Broadway productions as "For Dear Life" at New York's Public Theatre and "Dancing on Checker's Grave." In 1989, she landed her first television role as a series regular on "Molloy." Her other television credits include regular roles on "The Edge" and "Ferris Bueller," a recurring part on "Herman's Head" and guest-starring
roles on such series as "The Larry Sanders Show," "Partners," "Burke's Law" and "Quantum Leap." In addition, Aniston has starred in a number of other films, including "The Object of My Affection," "Picture Perfect," "She's the One," "'Til There Was You" and "Office Space." She also starred with Quentin Tarantino in the interactive tutorial CD-ROM directed by Steven Spielberg, "Movie Maker." She will next star opposite Ben Stiller and Debra Messing (NBC's "Will & Grace") in the as-yet-untitled
John Hanburg project, which is set to be released January 2004. She appeared opposite Mark Wahlberg in "Rock Star" and last summer starred with Jim Carrey in the smash hit "Bruce Almighty." She also recently starred in "Along Came Polly." In 2001, Aniston was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series respectively for her "Friends" role (she won her Emmy in 2002). As three-time nominee for the People's Choice
Award as Favorite Female Television Performer, she won the award in 2001 and 2002. She also received her first Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations in 2002 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, respectively.
Currently, Aniston resides in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Brad Pitt. She enjoys painting in her spare time, as well as hiking, camping -- and virtually anything that brings her closer to nature. Her birthday is February 11. April 2004
COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE
Monica Geller Bing on "Friends"
Courteney Cox Arquette returns to television's top-rated comedy "Friends" for the tenth season as the sensitive and meticulous Monica Geller Bing, who is married to fellow "Friend" Chandler Bing (series star Matthew Perry). Cox Arquette's talent for both dramatic and comedic acting has made her a favorite of fans. She co-starred opposite Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell in the film "3000 Miles to Graceland," and as television reporter Gale Weathers in Wes Craven's "Scream" trilogy, opposite
Neve Campbell and Cox Arquette's husband, David Arquette.
Cox Arquette's other feature credits include "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (opposite Jim Carrey), "Commandments," "Blue Desert," "Cocoon: The Return," "Mr. Destiny," "The Rules of the Game," and "Alien Love Triangle," opposite Kenneth Branagh (and directed by Danny Boyle). Cox Arquette, along with her husband David, are creators and executive producers of the new homethemed series, "Mix It Up," which is inspired by their own decorating dilemmas. "Mix It Up" takes a close look at individuals
moving in together, be it friends, lovers, husband and wives, mothers and daughters or roommates, who are often at odds stylistically. An interior design team assists these couples in their attempts to blend their personal living styles with complete room makeovers. The show premieres on the WE Network in October 2003.
Before "Friends," Cox Arquette's most memorable television roles included a recurring turn as Lauren, Alex P. Keaton's (Michael J. Fox) girlfriend on "Family Ties," and, as a teenager, playing a starstruck fan hauled on stage by Bruce Springsteen in his "Dancing in the Dark" video. Her other television credits include "The Trouble with Larry," as well as guest-starring parts on "Murder, She Wrote," "Seinfeld," "Dream On," "Hands That See" and "The Larry Sanders Show."
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Cox Arquette moved to New York City after her graduation from high school and was subsequently signed by the Ford modeling agency. Soon, she was appearing in magazines, television commercials and music videos. In 1995, as a cast member of "Friends," Cox Arquette was People magazine's 1995 cover girl for the "50 Most Beautiful People" issue. In her spare time, Cox Arquette, who wanted to be an architect while growing up, enjoys remodeling and decorating
homes. She and Arquette currently live in Los Angeles. Her birthday is June 15. April 2004
LISA KUDROW
Phoebe Buffay on "Friends"
Lisa Kudrow has been honored with five Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as the spacey but lovable (and now married) folk singer/massage therapist Phoebe -- and she took home the statuette in 1998. She has also received a Screen Actors Guild Award (and three additional nominations) for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a Television Series
and a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance on "Friends."
In addition to her success on television, Kudrow has received rave reviews for her feature-film roles. She won the Best Supporting Actress Award from the New York Film Critics and an Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Chicago Film Critics Award nomination for her role in the Don Roos-directed film "The Opposite of Sex." She also starred opposite Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro in the film "Analyze This," for which she won a Blockbuster Award.
Kudrow's recent film credits include starring roles in the "Analyze That" - the sequel to "Analyze This" -- "Hanging Up" (opposite Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton) and "Lucky Numbers" with John Travolta. In 1997, she shared top billing in the critically acclaimed hit comedy "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion" with Mira Sorvino, and co-starred in Albert Brooks' comedy "Mother." She also starred in "Clockwatchers" opposite Toni Collette and Parker Posey.
In 2003, Kudrow starred in "Wonderland" with Val Kilmer, as Sharon Holmes, wife of porn star John Holmes, in a film based on the infamous Wonderland Avenue murders in Los Angeles. While Kudrow has always been passionate about acting, she never thought of it as a career until after college.
While growing up, she performed and reenacted many of her favorite movie scenes for family and friends. Kudrow graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York with a bachelor of science degree in biology. She returned to Los Angeles intending to pursue a career in research, but her passion to act and perform resurfaced when her brother's good friend, actor/comedian Jon Lovitz, inspired her to pursue her dream. She began studying with improvisational instructor Cynthia Szigeti
and acting teacher Ian Tucker.
In 1989, Kudrow was accepted as a member of the famed Los Angeles improv group, the Groundlings.
In addition, Kudrow maintains the distinction of having been in two outstanding television series simultaneously. Along with her role on "Friends," she portrayed the ditzy waitress Ursula on the comedy "Mad About You." Playing the twin sisters Ursula and Phoebe, Kudrow had the opportunity to concurrently appear in what were at the time two of the most popular series on television. A native of California, Kudrow currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Her birthday is
July 30. April 2004
MATT LEBLANC
Joey Tribbiani on "Friends"
Matt LeBlanc stars in the Emmy-winning comedy, "Friends," as Joey, a womanizing actor currently on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" living across the hall from Chandler (Mathew Perry) and Monica (Courteney Cox Arquette). LeBlanc most recently appeared on the big screen in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," reprising his role from the 2000 blockbuster "Charlie's Angels." He has also starred in "Lost in Space" and "All the Queen's Men." LeBlanc received his second Emmy nomination this
year for his work on "Friends." He has been nominated for two People's Choice Awards and three Golden Globe Awards as well.
Next season, LeBlanc will star in the NBC comedy "Joey." LeBlanc currently resides in Los Angeles. His birthday is July 25. April 2004
MATTHEW PERRY
Chandler Bing on "Friends"
Born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Emmy Award nominee Matthew Perry
was raised in Ottawa, Ontario, where he became a top-ranked junior tennis
player in Canada. However, after moving to Los Angeles at the age of 15 to
live with his father (actor John Bennett Perry), he became more interested in
acting. In addition to performing in several high school stage productions, he
remained an avid tennis player--and was even ranked 17th nationally in the
junior singles category and third in the doubles category.
Upon graduating from high school, Perry intended to enroll at the University
of Southern California. However, when he was offered a leading role on the
television series "Boys Will Be Boys," he seized the opportunity to begin his
acting career.
Perry recently starred with Elizabeth Hurley in the comedy film "Serving Sara." He also co-starred in the
hit comedy film "The Whole Nine Yards," as the neighbor of a hit man played by Bruce Willis. Perry's
other film credits include "Fools Rush In," "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon," "She's Out of
Control" and "Parallel Lives." Perry also co-starred with Chris Farley in the buddy comedy "Almost
Heroes" and in the romantic comedy "Three to Tango," opposite Neve Campbell.
Nominated for an Emmy for his guest appearance on NBC's "The West Wing," Perry can now be seen
alongside Willis in the film sequel "The Whole Ten Yards," which was released Easter weekend. Perry is
soon set to produce and star in "The Beginning of Wisdom" opposite his father, John Bennett Perry. He
also has a two-picture deal with Paramount Studios.
On the stage, Perry finished a run in London's West End in David Mamet's "Sexual Perversity in
Chicago." He co-starred alongside Minnie Driver, Hank Azaria and Kelly Reilley, and the play took the
largest ever box-office advance for a West End show.
Perry currently resides in Los Angeles. He enjoys playing ice hockey and softball in his spare time. His
birthday is August 19.
April 2004
DAVID SCHWIMMER
Ross Geller on "Friends"
David Schwimmer's performance as Ross, a sensitive, hopeless romantic, has
earned him an Emmy Award nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a
Comedy Series as well as popular and critical acclaim for his versatility on
stage, in film and television in a wide variety of roles.
Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Schwimmer was encouraged by
a high school instructor to attend a summer program in acting at Northwestern
University. Inspired by that experience, he returned to Northwestern where he
received a bachelor's degree in speech/theater. In 1988, along with seven other
Northwestern graduates, he co-founded Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre
Company -- an ensemble of actors, writers, directors and designers (now 20-members strong) dedicated to
creating vibrant new works for the American stage.
Schwimmer most recently adapted Studs Terkel's book "Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel
About The American Obsession" for the stage, which he directed as the premiere production for the
company's new theater on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
Schwimmer has acted in or directed numerous productions with Lookingglass including "Of One Blood,"
"West," "The Odyssey," "The Jungle," "In the Eye of the Beholder," "The Master and Margarita," "The
Arabian Nights" and "The Idiot." In addition, he starred in the premieres of Roger Kumble's "D Girl"
and "Turnaround in Los Angeles" and Warren Leight's "Glimmer Brothers" in Williamstown,
Massachusetts.
Among Schwimmer's feature credits include "Hotel," "It's the Rage," "Picking Up the Pieces," "Six
Days, Seven Nights," "Apt Pupil," "Kissing a Fool," "The Pallbearer," "Crossing the Bridge," "Since
You've Been Gone" -- which he also directed-and the critically acclaimed HBO films "Band of Brothers"
and "Breast Men." His television credits include "Friends," which he continues to direct; Jon Avnet's
miniseries "Uprising," and recurring roles on such series as "NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law" and "The Wonder
Years."
Schwimmer is on the board of directors of the Rape Foundation for the Rape Treatment Center of Santa
Monica and has residences in Los Angeles and Chicago. His birthday in November 2.
April 2004
KEVIN S. BRIGHT
Executive Producer, "Friends"
As one of the three original executive producers behind the highest-rated comedy on television -- NBC's
"Friends" -- Kevin S. Bright (along with creators and fellow executive producers Marta Kauffman and
David Crane) has gained recognition as one of TV's most talented producers.
Since its debut season (1994-95), "Friends" has received 44 Emmy Award nominations (including five
for Outstanding Comedy Series), a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1996 for Outstanding Ensemble
Performance in a Comedy Series, and has been nominated four times (1996, 1997, 1998 and 2002) for a
Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy. "Friends" also won the People's
Choice Award as Favorite New Comedy Series in its first season, and has since won three more times as
Favorite Comedy Series.
Bright, a native New Yorker, has been exposed to show business all his life. His father, Jackie Bright,
was a vaudeville comedian and later became president of the American Guild of Variety Artists. After
completing two years in college as a history and philosophy major, Bright decided to pursue a career in
television and transferred to Emerson College in Boston. Graduating magna cum laude in 1976, he began
his career at the Joseph Cates Company where he later produced the first six David Copperfield magic
specials.
After moving to Los Angeles, Bright produced the CableACE Award -winning series, "The History of
White People in America," as well as comedy specials starring Robin Williams, Martin Mull, Harry
Shearer, Paul Shaffer and Merrill Markoe. In 1989, he received an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy
Series as supervising producer on the hit show "In Living Color." In that same year, Bright began his
relationship with Kauffman and Crane as executive producer on the popular cable series "Dream On,"
which won a 1992 CableACE Award for Best Comedy Series. In 1990, he also served as executive
producer of the "Ron Reagan Show."
In 1993, Bright entered a partnership with Kauffman and Crane to form Bright/Kauffman/Crane
Productions and began a development deal with Warner Bros. Television, where the trio has produced the
comedy series "Friends," "Veronica's Closet" and "Jesse."
In addition to his work as producer, Bright also directs numerous episodes of "Friends" each season. He
has directed some of the most beloved episodes, including the season finale of each year. Other directing
credits include numerous episodes of "Veronica's Closet," "Jesse" and "Dream On" (for which he
received a CableACE nomination as Best Director).
Bright lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Claudia, and their twin sons, Justin and Zachary. His birthday
is November 15.
April 2004
MARTA KAUFFMAN & DAVID CRANE
Creators/Executive Producers, "Friends"
As the creators and executive producers of the highest-rated show on television -- NBC's "Friends" --
Marta Kauffman and David Crane (along with fellow executive producer Kevin S. Bright) have gained
recognition as some of TV's most talented producers.
Since its debut season (1994-95), "Friends" has received 44 Emmy Award nominations (including five for
Outstanding Comedy Series), a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1996 for Outstanding Ensemble
Performance in a Comedy Series, and has been nominated four times (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002) for a
Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy. "Friends" also won the People's
Choice Award as Favorite New Comedy Series in its first season, and has since won three more times as
Favorite Comedy Series.
Kauffman and Crane met while attending Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and have
worked together for 25 years. They have become so familiar with one another that they "tend to finish
each other's sentences," says Kauffman. Both Philadelphia natives, Kauffman and Crane became writing
partners at Brandeis and spent their spare time penning musicals. They continued their working
relationship in New York, where they teamed with composer Michael Skloff to write several musicals,
including the stage version of the movie "Arthur." They also contributed sketch and musical materials to
the off-Broadway shows "Upstairs at O'Neal's" and "A... My Name is Alice," and co-wrote the book and
lyrics for the widely acclaimed musical "Personals," for which they received an Outer Critics Circle
Award and a Drama Desk nomination.
In 1989, Kauffman and Crane created and served as co-executive producers on the critically acclaimed
comedy series "Dream On," for which they received an Emmy nomination and a CableACE Award for
writing the episode "For Peter's Sake." "Dream On" also marked the beginning of their relationship with
executive producer Kevin S. Bright, with whom they formed Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions in 1993.
In addition to NBC's "Friends," and "Dream On," Kauffman and Crane also created and served as
executive producers on "Veronica's Closet," "Family Album" and "Jesse" (starring Christina Applegate),
and also created the 1992-93 comedy series "The Powers That Be" for Norman Lear, starring John
Forsythe, David Hyde Pierce and Holland Taylor.
Kauffman lives in Los Angeles with her husband, composer Michael Skloff; their three children, Hannah,
Sam and Rose; six horses, two dogs and two cats. She has been named one of the 25 Most Influential
Mothers by Working Mother magazine.
Crane lives in Los Angeles with his companion, television writer and producer Jeffrey Klarik, creator of
the UPN series "Half & Half." Crane and Larry Coen co-wrote the play "Epic Proportions," which was
recently produced on Broadway.
LEGACY AND IMPACT OF 'FRIENDS' ON THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY
"Along with 'Seinfeld,' its Thursday-night sibling, 'Friends' redefined the television sitcom at the end of the century. Six attractive kids learning about life -- that was nothing new. But in 'Friends,' there was no father, no boss and no authority at all to teach them how to ride a bike or tell them how to get out of second gear. 'Friends' explored what might have happened on 'The Brady Bunch' if Mike and Carol had run out for a pack of smokes and never come back.
"Lots of comedies were influenced by 'Friends' -- including 'Sex in the City' -- and it may prove to be one of the most 're-runable' series of all time."
--Robert Thompson, Professor and Director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television, Syracuse University
Over a decade, "Friends" has had a lasting impact on both NBC's fortunes on "Must See TV' Thursdays as well as on the television landscape in general. Following are some comments regarding the contributions of the Emmy Award-winning comedy from entertainment industry leaders and reporters.
"The cast is exceptional but the brilliance of 'Friends' lies in its stories and character arcs.
Audiences have unconditionally bonded with the choices and details of these characters lives. While always funny and entertaining, it's this connection that gives the show its potent 'Must See' punch.
"With its tremendous 18-49 success story, every network for the last 10 years has tried to find its own 'young adult' signature comedy. Nothing has been more highly sought after, but what they fail to find is the HEART that binds the 'Friends' together. Without the heart, there is no 'Friends.'"
--Warren Littlefield, former President, NBC Entertainment
"While 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' was the genesis of 'Must See TV'...'Friends' put six faces on it. What began as a group of friends over time became a group of best friends. A combination of great casting...committed actors...and a writing staff that somehow nailed virtually every single episode...'Friends' became almost the perfect television sitcom. Smart, good-looking, hip - and get this, funny!!!
"It changed television forever because it was so good. And because it was so good...it raised the bar forever. Something else will come along...something else always does...but I guarantee you, it won't be this friendly."
-- Pat O'Brien, Co-host "Access Hollywood"
"Just call 'Friends' the 'dinosaur' of sitcoms. Show producers and networks will forever be studying the skeleton of 'Friends'...and skeletons can be re-created, but to get another dinosaur to come to life...a very hard feat! Ross would love this analogy, now wouldn't he?
"'Friends' is most definitely the 'friendliest' sitcom in television history. Others have tried to find the elusive treasure to which 'Friends' has the map. They have driven in circles when all they needed to do was to go straight to the heart. The enduring legacy of 'Friends' will be the way it perfected showcasing human relationships and caring for others. Considering what our country has gone through the past few years, 'Friends' has influenced sitcom creators to return to the basics
what makes us feel good. We've seen this massive hunt for some complicated map when the treasure sat there simply in the title of the show itself."
-- Nancy O'Dell, Co-host, "Access Hollywood"
"FRIENDS"
Thursdays on NBC (8-8:30 p.m. ET)
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer star in this Emmy-winning comedy about six close-knit young friends living in New York City.
Ending its 10th season as the leadoff series on NBC's enormously popular "Must See TV" Thursdaynight lineup, "Friends" continues to garner critical acclaim and ratings success. The show reigns as the number-one comedy on television among adults 18-49 for six years in a row. Since its debut season (1994-95), "Friends" has received 55 Emmy Award nominations, including six for Outstanding Comedy Series, which the show won this year. The cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1996 for Outstanding
Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series and has been nominated five times (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2004) for a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy. "Friends" won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy Series in its first season, and has since won three more times as Favorite Comedy Series including 2003. The series focuses on the friendship of three men and three women who frequently gather at each other's apartments and share sofa space at
Greenwich Village's "Central Perk" coffeehouse. Monica (Cox Arquette) is a chef with an obsession for neatness and order in her life. She is also married to Chandler (Perry), a dry wit who is never at a loss for words. Across the hall are Chandler's longtime roommate Joey (LeBlanc), a womanizing actor currently on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," and Rachel (Aniston), Monica's best friend from high school.
Across the alley from Monica and Chandler is Monica's hapless brother Ross (Schwimmer), a paleontology professor who has been divorced three times, including once from Rachel. Although Rachel is no longer romantically involved with Ross, they share the responsibility of raising their newborn daughter, Emma. Rounding out the circle of friends is Monica's ex-roommate, Phoebe Buffay (Kudrow), an offbeat, eternally optimistic folk singer and massage therapist who recently married her boyfriend,
Mike (Paul Rudd, "The Cider House Rules"). The series was created by the Emmy Award-winning writing team of Marta Kauffman & David Crane. Emmy and CableACE Award-winning producer Kevin S. Bright is executive producer with Kauffman and Crane. Scott Silveri, Shana Goldberg-Meehan, Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen also serve as executive producers. "Friends" is a Bright/Kauffman/Crane Production in association with Warner Bros. Television. April 2004 |
