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Were the guest roles on Friends 'names' before or was it their big break?

3,732 Views | 41 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by The Porkchop Express
Four Seasons Landscaping
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11:31a, 3/30/22
Randomly rewatched Friends recently.

Were the huge amount of recurring and character actors on that show names before Friends or did they get their break by being on Friends?

I get some like Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate were big before.

Were actors like Anna Farris, Paul Rudd, Jennifer Coolidge, Angtonio Ribisi, and Debra Rupp 'names' before Friends?
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62strat
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In reply to Four Seasons Landscaping • 11:43a, 3/30/22
AG
Four Seasons Landscaping said:
Randomly rewatched Friends recently.

Were the huge amount of recurring and character actors on that show names before Friends or did they get their break by being on Friends?

I get some like Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate were big before.

Were actors like Anna Farris, Paul Rudd, Jennifer Coolidge, Angtonio Ribisi, and Debra Rupp 'names' before Friends?
It was a mix.
Many guest stars were starting out, many were huge names and wanted to be on the #1 show.
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MGS
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11:44a, 3/30/22
I think Paul Rudd's breakout role was in Clueless, long before he was in Friends.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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11:50a, 3/30/22
AG
I believe it was Bruce Willis' first role.
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Moe Jzyslak
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11:54a, 3/30/22
AG
Jon Favreau is another one. He did a few episodes of random shows here and there, was in Swingers in 96, then like 7 episodes of Season 3 of Friends in 97. I'm sure a ton of people know him as the guy that was Monica's boyfriend in Friends for a bit.

But it was a huge mix of famous people and up and comers. Season 2 had Julia Roberts and Jean Claude Van Damme. Issabella Rossalini and Ben Stiller were in Season 3. Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt were later in the show.

Ellen Pompeo was in Season 10 which was like a year before Grey's Anatomy started
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SJEAg
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11:56a, 3/30/22
AG
I think most of the examples were recognizable, just not big stars. Looking at their IMDB history, lot of roles in popular movies and other TV shows. Feels like Rudd was already pretty famous, but looking at his IMDB history that's not really the case.
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maroon barchetta
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12:17p, 3/30/22
Seinfeld would be a better example for this thread.
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NoahAg
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In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 12:20p, 3/30/22
Brian Earl Spilner said:
I believe it was Bruce Willis' first role.
Tom Sellock as well.
Let's go, Brandon!
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maroon barchetta
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12:21p, 3/30/22
And Soleil Moon Fry. Also first role.
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c-jags
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12:35p, 3/30/22
I had a friend that went to a live taping and Brad Pitt made a cameo and the friend had no clue it was going to happen
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The Porkchop Express
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12:40p, 3/30/22
AG
It was also Jean Claude Van Damne's first role when he was on the same episode as Julia Roberts, herself a virtual unknown.
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MGS
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12:50p, 3/30/22
I believe that the chick and the duck both had their acting debut on Friends.
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62strat
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In reply to MGS • 2:02p, 3/30/22
AG
MGS said:
I believe that the chick and the duck both had their acting debut on Friends.
Also possibly Marcel.
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MaroonStain
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7:51p, 3/30/22
AG
I think Harrison Ford and George Clooney also got their big breaks on Friends. Groundbreaking show!
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Emotional Support Cobra
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8:10p, 3/30/22
AG
Not to mention Elliott Gould and Marlo Thomas.
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Lathspell
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8:59p, 3/30/22
AG
I mean... i wouldn't know who Jill Goodacre was, without Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with her. It was perfection.
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maroon barchetta
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In reply to Lathspell • 9:03p, 3/30/22
DallasTeleAg said:
I mean... i wouldn't know who Jill Goodacre was, without Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with her. It was perfection.


PUT JOEY ON THE PHONE!!!
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Jason_Roofer
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In reply to Emotional Support Cobra • 9:09a, 3/31/22
Emotional Support Cobra said:
Not to mention Elliott Gould and Marlo Thomas.


Prettt sure Gould did some kind of war movie or something. Then there was a spin-off and he wasn't good enough to get the main role. Too bad.
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maroon barchetta
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9:11a, 3/31/22
Friends was so big at the time that some ginger named Sarah was made a Duchess after her appearance on the London episode.
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PatAg
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In reply to Four Seasons Landscaping • 9:18a, 3/31/22
AG
Four Seasons Landscaping said:
Randomly rewatched Friends recently.

Were the huge amount of recurring and character actors on that show names before Friends or did they get their break by being on Friends?

I get some like Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate were big before.

Were actors like Anna Farris, Paul Rudd, Jennifer Coolidge, Angtonio Ribisi, and Debra Rupp 'names' before Friends?
Giovanni Ribisi?
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Philo B 93
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10:17a, 3/31/22
Didn't James Earl Jones get his big break with some voice acting in season 2,
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Max Power
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In reply to maroon barchetta • 11:09a, 3/31/22
AG
maroon barchetta said:
DallasTeleAg said:
I mean... i wouldn't know who Jill Goodacre was, without Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with her. It was perfection.


PUT JOEY ON THE PHONE!!!
JG: Would you like some gum?
Chandler: Is it sugarless?
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maroon barchetta
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11:10a, 3/31/22
62strat
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In reply to Lathspell • 11:44a, 3/31/22
AG
DallasTeleAg said:
I mean... i wouldn't know who Jill Goodacre was, without Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with her. It was perfection.
She's the one half responsible for making these 3 dimes.


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EclipseAg
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12:31p, 3/31/22
AG
Jill Goodacre wasn't as well as known as the SI models in the '80s, but she was still smokin' hot.
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MaroonStain
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In reply to 62strat • 9:34p, 3/31/22
AG
62strat said:
DallasTeleAg said:
I mean... i wouldn't know who Jill Goodacre was, without Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with her. It was perfection.
She's the one half responsible for making these 3 dimes.




That is how a couple makes American women. Demi OTOH yeesh...
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Brian Earl Spilner
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9:52p, 3/31/22
AG
Has any other sitcom come close to Friends as far as A-List guest stars and cameos?

Off the top of my head:

Tom Selleck
Julia Roberts
Robin Williams
Billy Crystal
Reese Witherspoon
Jean Claude Van Damme
Jon Favreau
Bruce Willis
Brad Pitt
Sean Penn
Jeff Goldblum
Gary Oldman
Greg Kinnear
Alec Baldwin
David Arquette
Winona Ryder
Paul Rudd
Anna Faris
Danny Devito
Christina Applegate
Dermot Mulroney

And many others.
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Brian Earl Spilner
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9:56p, 3/31/22
AG
Not counting animated series. Obviously The Simpsons would win that contest going away.
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BenTheGoodAg
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In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 10:01p, 3/31/22
AG
I'll see your 'Friends' and raise you 'The Simpsons'.

Partial List
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BenTheGoodAg
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In reply to Brian Earl Spilner • 10:01p, 3/31/22
AG
Dammit - stupid forum code on my phone.
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SJEAg
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5:54a, 4/1/22
AG
Probably not as many, but Will and Grace had quite a few. Frasier had a ton used as just callers on the radio show.
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EclipseAg
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In reply to MaroonStain • 9:31a, 4/1/22
AG
MaroonStain said:
62strat said:
DallasTeleAg said:
I mean... i wouldn't know who Jill Goodacre was, without Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with her. It was perfection.
She's the one half responsible for making these 3 dimes.




That is how a couple makes American women. Demi OTOH yeesh...
The daughter on the right looks just like her mom in the '80s.
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double aught
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In reply to 62strat • 11:01a, 4/1/22
AG
62strat said:
DallasTeleAg said:
I mean... i wouldn't know who Jill Goodacre was, without Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with her. It was perfection.
She's the one half responsible for making these 3 dimes.


5, 1, 4, 2, 3
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The Porkchop Express
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11:18a, 4/1/22
AG
Seinfeld

Baseball
Keith Hernandez
Derek Jeter
Paul O'Neill
Danndy Tartabull
Buck Showalter
Bernie Williams

Others
Courtney Cox
Teri Hatcher
Debra Messing
Catherine Keener
Cary Elwes
James Spader
Jon Lovitz
Lloyd Bridges
Jane Leeves
Bryan Cranston
Jami Gertz
Judge Reinhold
Bette Midler
George Wendt
Corbin Bernsen
Jay Leno
David Letterman
Jon Voight
Rob Schneider
Marisa Tomei
Raquel Welch
Carol Kane
Megan Mullaly
Lauren Graham
Stephen Root
Lori Loughlin aka Inmate #38291
Peter Stromare
Jon Favreau
Bob Odenkirk
Jeremy Piven
Mariska Hargitay
Stifler's Mom
Brad Garrett
Denise Richards
Molly Shannon
Ben Stein
Janine Garaofolo
French Stewart
Christine Taylor
Patton Oswalt
Kristin Davis
Marcia Cross
Amanda Peete













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Brian Earl Spilner
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In reply to The Porkchop Express • 11:23a, 4/1/22
AG
I mean it's solid B-list for sure.
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