Top 20 Celebs Who Were on Friends Before They Were Famous
#20: Jason Winston George
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As a recurring and main cast member on “Grey’s Anatomy” and then its spinoff “Station 19”, Jason Winston George has made a name for himself playing firefighter and PRT Physician, Dr. Ben Warren. Besides his natural charisma and acting abilities, we also would be remiss if we didn’t point out how good the man looks in his fireman’s uniform. But as some of you might remember, his role as Dr. Warren isn’t the first time we’ve seen him in such gear. Allow us to take you back to 2001 and the seventh season of “Friends”, when a frustrated Phoebe throws away her fire alarm only to have it returned by a fireman. And look who it is…
#19: T. J. Thyne
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When it comes to his acting career, T. J. Thyne’s appearance on “Friends” wasn’t just pre-fame, it was pre-everything. His turn as the young-looking Doctor Oberman who Ross brings for Phoebe was the first role of Thyne’s career. It was the 100th episode of “Friends”, which has to mean good luck, right? We think so, because seven years later, he would appear in the TV role that would make him most known. We’re of course talking about a different kind of doctor, entomologist/the Bug and Slime Guy Dr. Jack Hodgins on the long-running FOX series “Bones”.
#18: Michael Vartan
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Some might’ve recognized Vartan from his small, if painful-looking turn in 1995’s “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar”. But, for most of us, he was a new, albeit very attractive face when he showed up as Richard Burke’s son on “Friends” in 1997. But while his relationship with Monica never got off the ground, his career sure did in the years that followed. In 1999, he kissed Drew Barrymore in “Never Been Kissed” and in 2001, he began his five-season run in the CIA as Michael Vaughn in “Alias”, opposite soon-to-be big time star, Jennifer Garner.
#17: Emily Procter
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The beautiful and talented Emily Procter saw her star status soar in the aughts with her high-profile roles on two hit television shows. She played Associate White House Counsel Ainsley Hayes on multiple episodes of the critically acclaimed “The West Wing”. From there she moved from politics to crime, starring in over 200 episodes of “CSI: Miami”. While the 2000s were Procter’s fame sweet spot, it was half a decade earlier, in 1995, that she showed up on “Friends” as Joey’s co-worker during his time as a cologne spritzer.
#16: Olivia Williams
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How many of you remember when Camilla Parker Bowles guest starred on “Friends”? Okay, before you all go and have a royal-watcher freakout we should probably be more specific. Camilla Parker Bowles never appeared in “Friends”, but the actress who played her on “The Crown” did. Before Olivia Williams was a royal on a hit Netflix series, she was a bridesmaid on a hit NBC series, though the two shows could not be more different. During Ross’ wedding to Emily, you’ll be able to spot Williams as Felicity, Emily’s bridesmaid… You know, the one who hooked up with Joey.
#15: Cole Sprouse
Ross’ son, Ben, was played by multiple actors during the run of the series but, for seasons 6 through 8, it was none other than one of the “Suite Life” twins himself, Cole Sprouse. Speaking of “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”, that show premiered in 2005, three years after his last appearance on “Friends”. Interestingly, this was his first role without his twin brother, Dylan. While a certain generation will always think of him as a “Suite Life” kid, these days Sprouse might be most recognized for his portrayal of Forsythe "Jughead" Jones III, one of the stars - and the narrator - of the “Riverdale” series on The CW.
#14: Jon Favreau
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There’s no doubt a group of independent cinema lovers saw Jon Favreau show up as Monica’s suiter on “Friends” and thought, ‘hey, that’s the guy from “Swingers”’. However, for the wider audience, Favreau was a somewhat unknown quantity during his role as tech-millionaire and UFC-wannabe Pete Becker. In the years that have followed his 6-episode run on “Friends” Favreau has done some acting, but has possibly gained more recognition for his work behind the camera as opposed to in front of it. Although he’s directed many other successful movies, we’d be remiss not to give a shout out to 2008’s “Iron Man” - the film that began the ridiculously-successful MCU franchise.
#13: Jane Lynch
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Comedic actor Jane Lynch had been working in film and television for over two decades before she landed the role that would make her a household name. Many of us had loved her in multiple Christopher Guest comedies, but it was the role of Sue Sylvester on “Glee” that popped Lynch’s stardom up multiple levels. Still, that didn’t happen until 2009 and it was 2004 when she cropped up in an episode on the final season of “Friends”. Lynch played Ellen, a real estate agent selling the home next door to the one Chandler and Monica buy in the suburbs. If you’re still not remembering, let us remind you of its prospective buyer.
#12: Mae Whitman
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Remember when David Schwimmer broke Mae Whitman’s leg? It happened in season three when Ross broke Sarah Tuttle’s leg - by accident of course. Tuttle, played by Whitman, was thus unable to sell her brown bird cookies so Ross, out of guilt, took up the task. Whitman wasn’t even 10 years old at the time, and was about 8 years away from the roles that we all know her for today. In 2004, she debuted in her memorable role as Ann Veal - the object of George Michael’s affections - on “Arrested Development”. Then, in 2010, she showed up on the small screen as part of the main cast of “Parenthood” on NBC.
#11: Anna Faris
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Her role in the “Scary Movie” franchise made Anna Faris a recognizable face. But it was in 2008 that she saw her name alone, above the title, in the surprise hit “The House Bunny”. Five years after that, she began her 7-season run on CBS’ “Mom”. And, speaking of moms, it was Faris who made Monica a mother in the final season of “Friends”. As Erica, Faris played a pregnant woman giving up her twin babies for adoption who would, in the end, select Monica and Chandler as parents.
#10: Dan Bucatinsky
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He may be an Emmy winning actor and successful writer and producer, but Dan Bucatinsky’s career began slowly; with bit parts in films and TV shows peppered throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. However, it didn’t take long after his 2002 appearance in this season nine episode of “Friends” for his career to truly hit its stride. Bucatinsky played a waiter who becomes increasingly impatient with the antics of Phoebe and Joey as they attempt to hold onto a large table while waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive. Bucatinsky would soon find himself starring on shows such as “Scandal” and “24: Legacy”.
#9: Scott Adsit
Long before he was making us laugh as Pete Hornberger on “30 Rock” and lending his unique vocal talents to big budget animated flicks like “Big Hero 6”, perennial funnyman Scott Adsit was just another LA actor looking for his first big break. It was at the onset of his career that he landed the role of “the director” in the season seven “Friends” episode “The One with Ross and Monica’s Cousin”. The part required him to inspect a nude Joey during an audition to make sure he wasn’t circumcised. A small, not to mention peculiar role, it was nevertheless a big stepping-stone for Adsit.
#8: Emily Osment
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It’s pretty incredible to think that Osment is in her mid-20s in the mid-2010s, and yet has a “Friends” credit on her resume. The young actress scored a small part in the season eight episode “The One with the Halloween Party” when she was just nine years old! Osment played Lelani Mayolanofavich, a trick-or-treater that Rachel presents with a check made out to cash after she runs out of candy. Nowadays the world knows Osment as the former “Hannah Montana” cast member and current star of the sitcom “Young & Hungry”.
#7: Craig Robinson
A largely forgettable role, Craig Robinson’s time on “Friends” was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of moment. The future “Hot Tub Time Machine” star appeared on screen for less than 2 minutes, but still managed to score a couple of laughs thanks to his signature deadpan style of acting; a style that was perfectly suited to his role of Darryl Philbin on “The Office”. Robinson plays an office clerk who Phoebe visits when she is considering changing her name. A small role sure, but what actor wouldn’t want a “Friends” cameo on their resume?
#6: Leah Remini
Leah Remini’s connection to “Friends” is stronger than you think. The future “King of Queens” star actually auditioned for the role of Monica Geller, a role we all know went to Courteney Cox. Even though she didn’t get it, the producers must have liked something about her audition, because they decided to bring her back for the season one episode “The One with the Birth”. She played Lydia, a pregnant woman who Joey befriends at the hospital while waiting for Ross’s son Ben to be born. Unlike others on this list Remini actually made it into multiple scenes, with her and Joey sharing a number of funny, not to mention touching, moments.
#5: Rebecca Romijn
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It might be hard to imagine, but there was a time when Rebecca Romijn was known more for her modeling than her acting. That all changed when she made her on-screen debut in the season four “Friends” episode “The One with the Dirty Girl”. Romijn played Cheryl, the titular dirty girl who Ross briefly dates until he discovers that her apartment is a little too messy for his tastes. Of course, messy is a bit of an understatement. The apartment looks more like a garbage dump, complete with live animals rummaging through the trash. Nowadays the world now knows Romijn best for her numerous films and TV roles, including Mystique in the “X-Men” franchise.
#4: Jim Rash
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Who would have guessed that the character listed in the credits as “Nervous Passenger” from the “Friends” series finale would go on to achieve so much? Jim Rash had a brief but memorable cameo in this episode of the long running sitcom. He played a passenger on Rachel’s flight to Paris who freaks out when he overhears her talking to Phoebe on the phone about something being wrong with the plane. Of course Rash is now best known as an actor who has had hilarious roles in numerous films and TV shows, most notable of which was when he played Dean Craig Pelton on “Community”.
#3: Melora Hardin
While she appeared in countless film and TV roles before making an appearance in the first season of “Friends”, Melora Hardin wouldn’t achieve widespread fame until landing the role of Jan Levinson on “The Office”. Of course of all the actors on this list, Hardin’s cameo might just be the funniest. She played Celia, a woman Ross takes on a date and later back to his apartment; and that’s where things start to get interesting. First Marcel, Ross’s pet monkey, attacks her. You know, standard date stuff. Then she tries to get Ross to talk dirty to her, with a hilariously awkward result. Poor Ross just can’t catch a break.
#2: Paget Brewster
Before she was catching serial killers on “Criminal Minds” or popping up in episodes of “Community” and “Modern Family”, Paget Brewster was a young aspiring actress with zero credits to her name. That all changed when she landed the role of Kathy in season four of “Friends”. You’ll probably remember her as the woman who kisses Chandler while dating Joey. The ensuing fight between the two best friends remains one of the show’s best story arcs, with Joey ultimately allowing Chandler to date her after making him sit in a box on Thanksgiving. Of course Brewster’s character ends up cheating on Chandler as well. He probably should have seen it coming.
#1: Ellen Pompeo
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When Ellen Pompeo made her one and only “Friends” appearance, few could have known that she was just one year away from becoming a household name. We are referring of course to the fact that in 2005 she landed the now iconic role of Dr. Meredith Grey on “Grey’s Anatomy”. But before she could become a TV doctor, she had to endure Ross’s advances at a college alumni dinner. The role was small and didn’t exactly give Pompeo much to work with, but it obviously impressed somebody, because a year later she was starring in a major network show! It just goes to show that you never know where a role may take you!
