Courteney Cox

Courteney Bass Cox (formerly Cox Arquette; born June 15, 1964) is an American actress, film producer, and former model. She gained international recognition for her starring role as Monica Geller in the NBC sitcom Friends (1994–2004). Cox received further recognition for starring as Gale Weathers in the horror film franchise Scream (1996–present).
Cox starred as Lauren Miller in the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1987–1989), Lucy Spiller in the FX drama series Dirt (2007–2008), and Jules Cobb in the ABC/TBS sitcom Cougar Town (2009–2015), the lattermost of which earned her nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and the Critics' Choice Awards. She also starred as Patricia "Pat" Phelps in the Starz horror comedy series Shining Vale (2022–2023).
Cox's other film credits include the action fantasy Masters of the Universe (1987), the comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), the animated comedy Barnyard (2006), the fantasy comedy Bedtime Stories (2008), and the independent drama Mothers and Daughters (2016). She owns the production company Coquette Productions, which was created by Cox and her then-husband David Arquette. She also worked as a director on her sitcom Cougar Town, the television drama film TalhotBlond (2012), and the black comedy drama film Just Before I Go (2014).
Along with the rest of the Friends cast, Cox participated in the 2021 reunion special Friends: The Reunion.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Courteney Cox was born Courteney Bass Cox in Birmingham, Alabama to a wealthy Southern family. Her mother, also named Courteney (née Bass) and her late father, Richard Lewis Cox, was a contractor. Cox has two older sisters (Virginia McFerrin and Dottie Pickett), an older brother (Richard, Jr.) and nine half-brothers and half-sisters. Her parents divorced in 1974, and her father eventually wound up in Panama City, Florida, where he opened a company called Cox Pools, while Cox grew up with her mother and her stepfather, New York businessman Hunter Copeland.
Courteney was raised in a wealthy suburb of Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Alabama where she was known as CeCe. She attended Mountain Brook High School, where she was a cheerleader, tennis player and swimmer. Upon graduation, Cox went to study architecture and interior design at Mount Vernon College for Women. She dropped out after a year to pursue a modeling career, after being signed by the Ford modeling agency in New York City. While modeling, she also took acting classes and worked to lose her southern accent.
===Career===
Cox first came to prominence in the 1984 music video for Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" (in which she was the pulled-on-stage girl who danced onstage with Springsteen for 26 seconds). Cox is also notable for being the first person to use the word "period" on U.S. television in its physiological sense, in a 1985 advertising campaign for Tampax brand tampons. Her early film roles include Masters of the Universe (1987) and Cocoon: The Return (1988). Cox's early television work include a starring role in the short-lived television series Misfits of Science (1985), and later a recurring role (1987 - 1989) on the television series Family Ties as the last girlfriend of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox). She had a supporting role as Jewel, the hard-as-nails assistant to Jim Belushi's character in the 1990 fantasy film Mr. Destiny. In 1994, Cox appeared as Meryl, Jerry's girlfriend/pretend wife on the hit TV sitcom Seinfeld.
After appearing in the Jim Carrey comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Cox found fame playing Monica Geller on the hit TV series Friends (1994-2004). She'd originally been asked to audition for the part of Rachel Greene, but she asked for the opportunity to audition for the role of Monica. This was the role for which she would become most famous. The six principal cast members, including Cox, became household names.
During her time on Friends, Cox appeared in the highly successful and high-profile Hollywood films Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and Scream 3 (2000) as the ruthless reporter Gale Weathers. While filming the first of this trilogy, she met her husband David Arquette. Although she starred in several other films during her time on Friends, none achieved the same level of success as the show. Such films include The Runne, 3000 Miles to Graceland and The Shrink Is In. In late 2003, Cox produced the television series Mix It Up. The lifestyle show received low ratings and was not renewed for a second season.
After her Friends role, Cox was producer Marc Cherry's first choice to be offered a starring role as Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives. However, Cox was unavailable due to her pregnancy and the role went to Teri Hatcher. A couple of years later, Cox signed a deal with ABC Television Studio (formerly Touchstone Television), to star in her own series.
Since Friends, Cox has primarily concentrated on her family but has starred in the independent film November (2005), which had a limited theatrical release, co-starred with Tim Allen in the critically derided Zoom and cameoed in the big budget remake of The Longest Yard, as the girlfriend of Adam Sandler. Cox later said her breasts were digitally enhanced to portray her role as the wife of a quarterback. In 2006 Courteney supplied her voice for the animated film Barnyard.
In 2008, Cox played Lucy Spiller, a tabloid editor, in Dirt, a television drama for the FX Networks. Cox and her then husband, David Arquette, were the executive producers of the series. The same year she appeared again with Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories, which was initially released in Belgium on December 25.
In 2009, Cox starred in Cougar Town, created by Bill Lawrence (creator of Scrubs), as Jules Cobb. The show ran for six seasons, the final episode airing on March 31, 2015.
In early 2011, Courtney Cox portrayed an author called Gale Weathers in Scream 4 the 4th film of the Scream series. This was 11 years after he portrayal as the same character in 2000.
In May 2021, she participated in the special episode Friends: The Reunion.
===Personal life===
Cox's previous significant others include Ian Copeland and a long-term relationship with actor Michael Keaton. Cox also dated singer Adam Duritz of Counting Crows and appeared in their music video for song "A Long December" in 1997. (Duritz has also dated Cox's Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston.)
Courteney married actor David Arquette on June 12, 1999. They were together for 11 years before they announced their separation on October 11, 2010. After being separated for almost two years, Arquette filed for divorce in June 2012.
On June 13, 2004, she gave birth to their first child, daughter Coco Riley Arquette. The child was originally to be named after her mother as Courteney Cox Arquette. However, Arquette's family objected to this on the grounds that naming a child after a living relative goes against Jewish tradition (David Arquette's mother is Jewish). Coco is a nickname Cox's friends gave her mother when she was a child. Jennifer Aniston is CoCo's godmother.
In June 2007, Cox announced plans to expand her family. The actress said she hopes to have a child through in vitro fertilisation despite battling post-partum depression after Coco's birth.
In late 2013, Courteney began dating Johnny McDaid, a member of the band Snow Patrol. They announced their engagement on June 27, 2014.
==Filmography==
===Film===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1987	Down Twisted 	Tarah 	
1987	Masters of the Universe 	Julie Winston 	
1988	Cocoon: The Return 	Sara 	
1990	Shaking the Tree 	Kathleen 	
1990	Mr. Destiny 	Jewel Jagger 	
1991	Blue Desert 	Lisa Roberts 	
1992	The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them	Carrie Davenport 	
1994	Ace Ventura: Pet Detective 	Melissa Robinson 	
1996	Scream 	Gale Weathers 	
1997	Commandments 	Rachel Luce 	
1997	Scream 2 	Gale Weathers 	
1999	The Runner 	Karina 	
2000	Scream 3 	Gale Weathers 	
2001	3000 Miles to Graceland 	Cybil Waingrow 	
2001	The Shrink Is In 	Samantha Crumb 	Also executive producer
2001	Get Well Soon 	Lily Charles 	
2004	November 	Sophie Jacobs 	
2006	Barnyard 	Daisy the Cow (voice)	
2006	Zoom 	Marsha Holloway 	
2006	The Tripper 	Dog Lover Hippie 	Also executive producer
2008	Alien Love Triangle 	Alice 	Short film
2008	Bedtime Stories 	Wendy 	
2008	The Butler's in Love 	(none) 	Short film; executive producer
2011	Scream 4 	Gale Weathers-Riley 	
2012	Got Rights? 	Celebrity 	Short film
2014	Just Before I Go 	(none) 	Director and producer
2016	Mothers and Daughters 	Beth 	
2020	You Cannot Kill David Arquette 	Herself 	Documentary film
2022	Scream 	Gale Weathers 	
2023	Scream VI 	Gale Weathers 	Also executive producer
===Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1984 	As the World Turns 	Bunny 	Episode: "1.5000"
1985 	Code Name: Foxfire 	Flight Attendant / Amy 	2 episodes
1985–1986	Misfits of Science 	Gloria Dinallo 	Main role
1986 	The Love Boat 	Carol 	Episode: "Daredevil / Picture Me a Spy / Sleeper"
1986 	Sylvan in Paradise 	Lucy Apple 	Television film
1986 	Murder, She Wrote 	Carol Bannister 	2 episodes
1987 	If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium 	Hana Wyskocki 	Television film
1987 	I'll Be Home for Christmas 	Nora Bundy 	Television film
1987–1989	Family Ties 	Lauren Miller 	Recurring role
1989 	Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer 	Jacquie Kimberly 	Television film
1989 	Till We Meet Again 	Marie-Frederique 'Freddy' de Lancel	2 episodes
1990 	Curiosity Kills 	Gwen 	Television film
1991 	Morton & Hayes 	Princess Lucy 	Episode: "Oafs Overboard"
1992 	Battling for Baby 	Katherine 	Television film
1992 	Dream On 	Alisha 	Episode: "Come and Knock on Our Door..."
1993 	The Trouble with Larry 	Gabriella Easden 	Recurring role
1994 	Seinfeld 	Meryl 	Episode: "The Wife"
1994–2004	Friends 	Monica Geller 	Main role
1995 	Sketch Artist II: Hands That See 	Emmy O'Conner 	Television film
1995 	The Larry Sanders Show 	Herself 	Episode: "Larry's Big Idea"
1995 	Saturday Night Live 	Herself/Host 	Episode: "Courteney Cox / Dave Matthews Band"
1999 	Happily Every After: Fairy Tales for Every Child	Emerald Salt Pork (voice) 	Episode: "Three Little Pigs"
2000 	WCW Monday Nitro 	Herself 	Episode: "#5.33"
2003 	Mad TV 	Herself 	Episode: "#9.3"
2004 	Mix It Up 	(none) 	4 episodes; executive producer
2005 	Rehab 	Taylor Kennedy 	Unsold pilot; also executive producer
2005 	Dirt Squirrel 	(none) 	Television film; executive producer
2005 	Talk Show Diaries 	(none) 	Television film; executive producer
2005 	The MidNightly News 	(none) 	Television film; executive producer
2005–2007	Daisy Does America 	(none) 	Executive producer
2007–2008	Dirt 	Lucy Spiller 	Main role; also executive producer
2009–2015	Cougar Town 	Jules Cobb 	Main role; also director and executive producer
2009 	Scrubs 	Dr. Maddox 	3 episodes
2009 	Web Therapy 	Serena DuVall 	Web series; 3 episodes
2011 	Web Therapy 	Serena DuVall 	Episode: "Psychic Analysis"
2011 	Private Practice 	Woman 	Uncredited; Episode: "Step One"
2012 	TalhotBlond 	Amanda 	Television film; also director and producer
2013 	Go On 	Talia 	Episode: "Matchup Problems"
2013 	Tripaholics 	None 	Television film; executive producer
2014–2016	Drunk History 	Edith Wilson 	2 episodes
2014–2017	Celebrity Name Game 	Herself 	Also executive producer
2015 	Barely Famous 	Herself 	Episode: "Favorite Socks"
2016 	Charity Case 	Hailey 	Unsold pilot; also executive producer
2016 	Running Wild with Bear Grylls 	Herself 	Episode: "Courteney Cox"
2017 	Who Do You Think You Are? 	Herself 	Episode: "Courteney Cox"
2017 	Off Camera with Sam Jones 	Herself 	Episode: "Courteney Cox"
2017 	The Gong Show 	Herself 	Episode: "Will Arnett / Courteney Cox / Isla Fisher"
2018 	Shameless 	Jen Wagner 	Episode: "Face It, You're Gorgeous"
2019–2021	9 Months with Courteney Cox 	Herself / Host 	Also creator and executive producer
2020 	Modern Family 	Herself 	Episode: "The Prescott"
2020 	Celebrity Escape Room 	Herself 	Red Nose Day special
2021 	Friends: The Reunion 	Herself 	Television special; also executive producer
2022–2023	Shining Vale 	Patricia "Pat" Phelps 	Main role; also producer
TBA 	Last Chance U 	Brittany Wagner 	Main role; also executive producer
===Music videos===
Year	Title 	Artist 	Role 	Notes
1984	"Dancing in the Dark" 	Bruce Springsteen 	Young Woman 	
1994	"Ace Is In The House" 	Tone Loc 	Melissa Robinson	
1995	"I'll Be There for You"	The Rembrandts 	Monica Geller 	
1995	"Good Intentions" 	Toad the Wet Sprocket	Woman 	
1996	"A Long December" 	Counting Crows 	Woman 	
2014	"Imagine" 	Various 	Herself 	
2021	"Courteney Cox" 	Connor Price 	Herself 	
2021	"Right On Time" 	Brandi Carlile 	Director 	
==Gallery==
Courtney-cox-picture-1.jpg
Monica Bing.jpg
Friends-Monica Gellar-Courtney Cox 2.jpg
Friends-Monica Gellar-Courtney Cox 7.jpg
Friends-Monica Gellar-Courtney Cox 9.jpg
Friends-Monica Gellar-Courtney Cox 6.jpg
Friends-Monica Gellar-Courtney Cox 5.jpg
courteney cox.jpeg|Bruce Springsteen's music video of dancing in the dark
==External links==
* Courteney Cox at the Internet Movie Database
* Courteney Cox at Wikipedia
* Courteney Cox at TriviaTribute.com
Category:Actors
Category:Cast and Crew
Category:Season 1 Actors
Category:Season 2 Actors
Category:Season 3 Actors
Category:Season 4 Actors
Category:Season 5 Actors
Category:Season 6 Actors
Category:Season 7 Actors
Category:Season 8 Actors
Category:Season 9 Actors
Category:Season 10 Actors
Category:Main Cast