Actors Who Rose To Fame After Appearing On Friends
Ellen Pompeo
Image Source: Friends Wiki — Fandom
Episode: “The One Where The Stripper Cries” (Season 10, Episode 11)
When Ellen Pompeo appeared on Friends, she was a relative unknown. Her résumé was essentially just a few guest spots on sitcoms, and a supporting role in the cult classic film Old School. A year after appearing on Friends, Pompeo earned a role in a television show titled Grey’s Anatomy. Since then, she’s been one of the most successful actresses in all of Hollywood.
Kristin Davis
Image Source: Friends Wiki — Fandom
Episode: “The One With Ross’ Library Book” (Season 7, Episode 7)
Many know Kristin Davis from her time on Sex In The City. She steadily did act in the ’90s on various shows — including Seinfeld. On Friends, Davis played a girl that Joey (Matt LeBlanc) had a one-night stand with. Interestingly enough, her character became fast friends with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston).
Jane Lynch
Image Source: Netflix Life
Episode: “The One Where Estelle Dies” (Season 10, Episode 15)
Lynch has developed into a fantastic comedic actress. Whether a lead or a complementary character, she seems to always pop off the screen with equal parts energy and hilariousness. In Friends, she plays the realtor tasked with finding a suburban dream home for Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry).
Dakota Fanning
Image Source: NBC
Episode: “The One With Princess Consuela” (Season 10, Episode 14)
Dripping with talent, Dakota Fanning has acted professionally since she was six years old. Performances in I Am Sam, Man on Fire, and War of the Worlds made her a genuine star. However before a few of these films, Fanning appeared on Friends as a girl whose house is being sold to Chandler and Monica.
Gary Oldman
Image Source: Pinterest
Episode: “The One With Monica and Chandler’s Wedding” (Season 7, Episode 23)
Yes, Oscar Award-winning actor Gary Oldman had a spot role on Friends. Up until this point, Oldman had appeared in a number of films (including The Fifth Element). However, he ultimately broke out later in his career as an A-List actor. On Friends, he played an actor working alongside Joey.
Cole Sprouse
Image Source: Bustle
Episode: Multiple episodes
Sprouse went from a cute little kid to a teen heartthrob overnight. Interestingly enough, Sprouse’s career began with Grace Under Fire and Big Daddy. After a seven-episode stint on Friends, Sprouse had a Disney Channel show before breaking out even further in recent years with the hit Riverdale.
Craig Robinson
Image Source: Mental Floss
Episode: “The One With Princess Consuela” (Season 10, Episode 14)
Robinson’s roots sit in the realm of comedy. For years, he ran the circuit as a stand-up comic before garnering acting roles. In Friends, Robinson plays a clerk in charge of helping Phoebe legally change her name. Though he was in the scene for a split-second, Robinson is still recognizable.
Anna Faris
Image Source: IMDb
Episode: Multiple Episodes
Faris appeared in four different episodes. She portrayed the mother who eventually gave birth to Monica and Chandler’s twins. Prior to Friends, her only other notable role came within the Scary Movie franchise. Faris has since acted in a number of films, and most recently starred as the lead in the CBS show Mom.
Hugh Laurie
Image Source: YouTube
Episode: “The One With Ross’ Wedding, Part 2” (Season 4, Episode 24)
Friends had two episodes which took place in England. Needing a seasoned British actor, little-known Hugh Laurie filled in as a plane passenger next to Rachel. Up until this point, American media knew nothing about Laurie. Fast-forward two decades, and Laurie is lauded universally for his work on House.
Leah Remini
Image Source: TV Guide
Episode: “The One With The Birth” (Season 1, Episode 23)
Remini was a sitcom darling for quite sometime. She also is most recently known for her efforts to reveal secrets about the Church of Scientology. In this Friends episode, Remini played a pregnant lady on the cusp of giving birth. Joey takes the place of the biological father in helping Remini through the pregnancy process at the hospital.
Olivia Williams
Image Source: YouTube
Episode: “The One With Ross’ Wedding, Part 1 & 2” (Season 4, Episode 23)
Olivia Williams is a veteran of the silver screen. Her performance in Rushmore garnered her a considerable amount of adoration. In the years passing, Williams has starred in The Sixth Sense, Counterpart, and The Ghost Writer (among other projects). In this brief appearance, she functions as Joey’s date for Ross’ English wedding (which promptly ends once everyone leaves England for the United States post-ceremony).
Christina Applegate
Image Source: YouTube
Episode: “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister” (Season 9, Episode 8)
While Applegate was a known actor, she hadn’t yet reached her complete ceiling as it pertains to popularity. That later came with her indelible role in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. However, she enjoyed plenty of success in a guest role as Rachel’s sister. Applegate went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
Michael Rapaport
Image Source: The Telegraph
Episode: “The One With The Cop” (Season 5, Episode 16)
Michael Rapaport was a mid-level actor during the ’90s. He’s acted steadily since then — though he’s most recently become more of a public figure for his highly volatile and explosive rants on politics, pop culture, and a number of other topics via his social media accounts. In Friends, he played Phoebe’s boyfriend-turned-ex-boyfriend.
Alex Borstein
Image Source: Photobucket
Episode: “The One With The Soap Opera Party” (Season 9, Episode 20)
Whilst making her appearance on Friends, Borstein was a no-name actress. Since then, she’s exploded as a household name. Borstein continues to make a killing as the voice of Lois on the hit cartoon Family Guy. Additionally, Borstein has been hilarious in the critically acclaimed program The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Aisha Tyler
Image Source: Bustle
Episode: Multiple episodes
Tyler is a multi-faceted actress. Over the course of her career, she’s appeared on television, in movies, and even as a talk show host. Impressively enough, Tyler had a nine-year run on Friends as the girlfriend to both Joey and Ross. Tyler’s character even was ruthless to the point that she broke up with Ross for an old fling.
Steve Zahn
Image Source: ROBERT HANASHIRO, USA TODAY
Episode: Multiple Episodes
Friends has a tendency to sometimes get overly wacky. Zahn’s character was friends with Phoebe. A rumored-to-be gay ice skater from Canada, Phoebe married Zahn’s character (Duncan) in order for him to become a citizen of the United States. In a later season, Duncan reveals that he is not gay — and that he’d accept a divorce. Being the amicable show that Friends is, the two part on good terms.
Jim Rash
Image Source: Friends Wiki Fandom
Episode: “The Last One, Part 2” (Season 10, Episode 18)
Rash has had an interesting road as a writer, actor, and voice talent. He’s most known for his role as Dean Pelton in Community — though Rash also won an Oscar for The Descendants (for best screenplay). In Friends, he plays ‘nervous male passenger’ in a scene involving Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, and an airplane.
Gabrielle Union
Image Source: Entertainment Weekly
Episode: “The One With The Cheap Wedding Dress” (Season 7, Episode 17)
Gabrielle Union is a goddess. She’s been involved in a number of television projects and films since her collegiate days at UCLA. Bring it On and 10 Things I Hate About You were two of her most iconic roles. On Friends, she gets embroiled in a ‘competition’ between Joey and Ross. Today, the model-actress is happily married to NBA superstar Dwyane Wade.
Adam Goldberg
Image Source: HuffPost
Episode: Multiple Episodes
Goldberg is one of those guys who’s been around forever. He’s the perfect actor for the “Oh wow, he was in that?!” Friends is another example of his vast acting résumé. In the brief moment when Joey didn’t live with Chandler, Goldberg’s Eddie took over as a rather eclectic roommate.
Selma Blair
Image Source: Pinterest
Episode: “The One With Christmas in Tulsa” (Season 9, Episode 10)
Blair’s appearance on Friends occurred right after she filmed Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions. From there, the talented actress had steady roles in both sitcoms and film. On Friends, she played Chandler’s highly flirtatious co-worker.
