Premiering in 1994, the NBC sitcom followed the ups and downs of six quirky 20-somethings living in New York City.
It launched the main cast—Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry—to massive fame and new heights in their careers.
The show tackled everything from relationships and breakups to career struggles and parenthood.
Its ensemble cast, with their lovable (and sometimes frustrating) personalities, won over fans worldwide and built an enduring, dedicated following.
ome of these guest appearances were from true Hollywood legends, adding even more iconic moments to Friends’ 10-season run.
Here, we reflect on the remarkable lives of these actors and the characters they portrayed that left a lasting mark on fans.
Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry brought Chandler Bing, the quick-witted, sarcastic friend in the group, to life for the entire decade the show aired.
In the last scene, Rachel asks if the friends should grab coffee together one last time, and Perry delivers a classic Chandler response: “Sure, where?”
Following Friends, Perry took on roles in various projects, including The Good Fight, which followed CBS’s The Good Wife.
The coroner determined that his death was due to the ‘acute effects of ketamine,’ with drowning and coronary artery disease as contributing factors.
Charges were filed against five individuals connected to the incident, including Dr. Mark Chavez, Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and ‘broker’ Erik Fleming, all of whom pleaded guilty.
Lead defendants, Dr. Salvador Plasencia and alleged drug trafficker Jasveen Sangha, who has been nicknamed ‘The Ketamine Queen,’ maintain their innocence and are set for trial in March.
Teri Garr
Teri Garr played Phoebe Buffay’s birth mother, Phoebe Abbott, on Friends. She appeared in three episodes, first showing up in the season three finale, ‘The One at the Beach.’
In 2002, Garr disclosed her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition that affects the nervous system and disrupts communication between the brain and the body.
She had first noticed symptoms while filming Tootsie in 1982, a role that earned her an Oscar nomination. Garr passed away from complications related to MS on October 29, 2024, at the age of 79.
She shared with PEOPLE: “Teri Garr was a comedic acting genius who was and is a huge influence on me and I know I’m not alone in that.”
She expressed feeling ‘so lucky and grateful’ for the opportunity to work with her. The connection they shared extended beyond their time on set.
James Michael Tyler
Tyler took on the role of Gunther, the ever-present manager of Central Perk, who was instantly recognized by his bleached blonde hair.
Gunther was known for his unspoken love for Rachel, which spanned the entire decade of the show. He appeared in 164 episodes, making him the most frequent guest character after the main cast.
Tyler publicly shared his battle with prostate cancer in 2021, shortly after the Friends reunion aired. He was initially diagnosed in 2018 and passed away on October 24, 2021, at age 59 from complications related to the illness.
Robin Williams
Beloved actor Robin Williams made a surprise cameo alongside Billy Crystal in ‘The One With The Ultimate Fighting Champion.’
Williams passed away by suicide in 2014 at the age of 63.
Heathcote Williams
Heathcote Williams played the drunk wedding guest at Ross and Emily’s wedding who mistook Monica for Ross’ mother.
This encounter set off a chain of events leading Monica to seek comfort from Joey, but ultimately finding herself with Chandler, marking the beginning of their iconic relationship.
Williams passed away on July 1, 2017, at the age of 75 due to emphysema.
Mike Hagerty
Mike Hagerty was known for playing Mr. Treeger, the building superintendent.
He appeared in five episodes of Friends and passed away on May 5, 2022, following an adverse reaction to an antibiotic used to treat a leg infection.
Audra Lindley
Audra Lindley warmed hearts as Frances, Phoebe Buffay’s grandmother. She passed away in 1997 from leukemia.
Ron Leibman
Ron Leibman portrayed Rachel Green’s fiercely blunt father, Dr. Leonard Green.
He passed away in 2019 from complications related to pneumonia.
Ron Glass
Ron Glass appeared as Russel, Ross’ divorce attorney during the annulment process after his marriage to Rachel in Las Vegas.
Glass passed away in 2016 due to respiratory failure.
Stan Kirsch
Kirsch, known for his role in Highlander, played Ethan, Monica’s boyfriend who turned out to be a high school student lying about his age.
He passed away on January 11, 2020, at the age of 51, with the coroner ruling his death as suicide.
Joel Beeson
Beeson took on the role of Todd, the Hombre Man who had a rivalry with Joey at a department store in ‘The One With The Breast Milk.’
He passed away from liver disease on October 17, 2017, at the age of 51.
Fred Willard
Fred Willard made a brief appearance as Dean Lipson, a zoo manager, in ‘The One After The Superbowl, Part 1.’
He passed away on May 15, 2020, at age 86 from a sudden heart attack.
Dick Clark
Dick Clark played himself as the host of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in the episode ‘The One With The Routine.’
Clark passed away on April 18, 2012, after suffering a heart attack following a procedure.
Alice Drummond
Alice Drummond, known for her role in Ghostbusters, played Nana, Ross and Monica’s grandmother, in ‘The One Where Nana Dies Twice.’
Drummond passed away on November 30, 2016, at age 88 due to complications from a fall two months prior.
Beverly Garland
Beverly Garland appeared as Aunt Iris, who taught Monica and the girls how to play poker. She passed away on December 5, 2008, after battling a long illness.
Phil Leeds
Phil Leeds, known from Ghost, played Mr. Adelman, the widower who believed his wife’s soul was in Phoebe’s body in ‘The One With The Lesbian Wedding.’
He died of pneumonia on August 16, 1998, at age 82.
Taylor Negron
Taylor Negron played Alessandro, Monica’s fiery boss and the owner of Alessandro’s restaurant.
Negron passed away from liver cancer on January 10, 2015, at the age of 57.
Paul Gleason
Gleason took on the role of Jack, Phoebe’s boss, in ‘The One That Could Have Been.’
He passed away on May 27, 2006, from mesothelioma, a rare lung cancer, at the age of 67.
Alaina Reed Hall
Reed Hall, who was also known for her work on Sesame Street, played the admissions worker at the hospital in ‘The One with Two Parts.’
She passed away in 2009 from breast cancer at the age of 63.
Gary Collins
Gary Collins appeared as himself, hosting the PBS telethon in ‘The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS.’
He passed away from natural causes at age 74 on October 13, 2012.
Richard Roat
Richard Roat played Burt in ‘The One Where Ross Dates a Student.’
He passed away on August 5, 2022, after having a heart attack while on vacation in California at the age of 89.
Danny Dayton
Dayton played Buddy Doyle, Mr. Heckles’ attorney who reads the will to the friends, in ‘The One Where Heckles Dies.’
He died of emphysema on February 6, 1999, at the age of 75.
Gretchen Wyler
Wyler played Mrs. Burkart, the widow who refused to pay Monica and Phoebe for their catering services at a funeral in ‘The One With The Dirty Girl.’
She passed away on May 27, 2007, from breast cancer at the age of 75.
Max Wright
Max Wright portrayed Terry, the former manager of Central Perk. He passed away on June 26, 2019, after battling cancer.
Charlton Heston
Heston appeared as himself in ‘The One With Joey’s Dirty Day,’ where Joey sneaks into Heston’s dressing room to shower after being in the woods for days.
Heston passed away on April 5, 2008, from pneumonia at the age of 84.
Ralph Manza
Ralph Manza, who also appeared in Godzilla, played Ross’ old neighbor in ‘The One With Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss.’
He died of a heart attack on January 31, 2000, at the age of 78.
Sandra Gould
Bewitched actress Sandra Gould appeared in Friends as the woman who refused to buy cookies from Ross in ‘The One Where Rachel Quits.’
Gould passed away from a stroke on July 20, 1999, following bypass surgery, just three days shy of her 83rd birthday.
Peter Dennis
Peter Dennis played Sherman Whitfield, who took Chandler’s seat in ‘The One Where No One’s Ready.’
He died on April 18, 2009, at age 75.
Andre Rosey Brown
Brown took on the role of the delivery man from The Mattress King, the store owned by Janice’s ex-husband, in ‘The One With The Race Car Bed.’
He passed away on July 18, 2006, at age 50 after a short illness.
Shelley Berman
Shelley Berman played Mr. Kaplan Jr., Rachel’s boss at Fortunata Fashions, where she started working after Central Perk.
He passed away on September 1, 2017, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 92.
Penny Santon
Penny Santon played Joey’s beloved Nonna Tribbiani.
She passed away on May 12, 1999, at age 82.
Lilyan Chauvin
Lilyan Chauvin played Nonnie Tribbiani, Joey’s grandmother who did not speak English.
She passed away on June 26, 2008, after battling breast cancer at the age of 82.
Cyndi Martino
Cyndi Martino played Henrietta, the contestant who competes against Joey in The $100,000 Pyramid game show.
She passed away on October 28, 2015, at age 52.
Kellie Waymire
Kellie Waymire played Colleen, Phoebe’s friend who assisted Chandler and Monica during their adoption process.
She passed away on November 13, 2003, from cardiac arrest due to an undiagnosed heart arrhythmia, at the age of 36.
Buck Kartalian
Planet of the Apes actor Buck Kartalian played Frankie, the tailor who misinterpreted Chandler’s measurements in season two.
He passed away from natural causes on May 24, 2016, at the age of 93.
Terry Rhoads
Terry Rhoads played a maitre d’ in an episode of Friends.
He passed away on October 11, 2013, at age 61 due to amyloidosis, a rare protein disorder.
Jackie Bright
Jackie Bright appeared twice in Friends, first as Mr. Weinberg at Barry and Mindy’s wedding, and later as a janitor in the episode where Ben is born.
He passed away on August 28, 2006, at age 87.
Fritzi Burr
Fritzi Burr played Mrs. Weinberg in Barry and Mindy’s wedding episode and Mrs. Tedlock in ‘The One With The Stoned Guy.’
She passed away on January 17, 2003.
Steve Susskind
Steve Susskind, known for his work in Monsters, Inc., played the priest who was ready to marry Chandler and Monica before Joey arrived.
He passed away in a car accident on January 21, 2005, at age 62.
Jack Riley
Jack Riley appeared as an airline passenger in the season one finale when Rachel learned about Ross’s feelings for her.
He passed away on August 19, 2016, from pneumonia at the age of 80.
Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette made two appearances on Friends: first as a customer in ‘The One With Rachel’s Sister,’ and then as a waiter in ‘The One With Chandler’s Dad.’
She passed away at the age of 47 on September 11, 2016, due to a heart attack following a bacterial infection of the heart.
Jack Ong
Jack Ong played a scientist at the museum where Ross worked in the episode where Joey becomes a tour guide.
He passed away from brain cancer complications on June 13, 2017, at age 76.
Paxton Whitehead
Paxton Whitehead portrayed Mr. Waltham, Rachel’s boss at Bloomingdale’s and the uncle of Emily, who later married Ross.
He passed away on June 16, 2023, at age 85 after complications from a fall.
Rose Marie
Rose Marie appeared as Sally in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that Joey and Chandler watch on their new TV.
In the scene, Monica reacts to the show by saying: “I guess Rose Marie belongs to smaller screens.”
She passed away on December 28, 2017, at age 94.
