25 years of Friends
A quarter of a century since the show made its debut, we look at ‘how they doin’ now’…
Hard to believe, but 22 September marks the 25th anniversary of our introduction to the most famous set of Friends in history - Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe.
While TV repeats, and every episode available on Netflix, keep our six favourite New Yorkers there for us, a lot has also been going on in the lives of those who played the wellknown characters…
Jennifer Aniston, 50 (arguably the biggest star to have come out of the franchise) is still in high demand in Hollywood, but it’s not just her acting ability that’s kept her in the spotlight.
Her colourful love life has been notable for the ‘Brangelina’ scandal only a year after Friends finished in 2004, which left her heartbroken. Her hubby of five years, Brad Pitt, went on to marry his Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-star, Angelina Jolie.
Two decades on, Jennifer’s divorce from actor Justin
Theroux after two years of marriage left people just as invested in her private life.
Jen’s on-screen besties – Courteney Cox, 55, and Lisa Kudrow, 56 – are still very much there for each other, regularly posting pictures together on Instagram with captions like ‘I love you girls’.
Courtney’s marriage to actor David Arquette broke down in 2010 after 10 years together, but the pair still have a good relationship for the sake of their now 15-year-old daughter, Coco. Courteney is now married to Snow Patrol musician Johnny McDaid.
Mum-of-one Lisa is the only Friends member to still be with the spouse she was with on the show, celebrating her 25th anniversary with hubby Michel next year.
So, what about the guys? It’s no secret that former drug addict Matthew Perry (who turned the big 5-0 last week) still fluctuates as much with his weight as he seems to go in and out of rehab.
Matthew has had a few movie roles and, like Lisa Kudrow, appeared on Cougar Town with Courteney, but last year he spent three months in hospital following abdominal surgery to repair a gastrointestinal perforation.
David Schwimmer, 52, is currently starring in a second comeback season of US hit show Will & Grace. David met English part-time photographer Zoe Buckman in 2007. They married in 2010 and had a daughter, Cleo, together. Sadly, they’re currently separated. The ‘ happy’ home life Matt Le Blanc, 52, boasted about back in his Friends days quickly turned sour. In 2005, Matt admitted to ‘careless and irresponsible’ behaviour with a stripper during a trip to Canada. He and wife Melissa separated and eventually divorced six months later.
Matt is now dating his former UK Top Gear producer, Aurora Mulligan.
Guess no one told them life was going to be this way, but we’ll always be there for them when the rain starts to pour… through the telly box!