Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Valerie Kudrow (born July 30, 1963) is an American actress best known for playing the role of Phoebe Buffay and her twin sister, Ursula, on Friends. Along with the rest of the main cast, she participated in the 2021 reunion special Friends: The Reunion.
==Biography==
===Lisa's Early life===
Lisa Kudrow was born in Encino, California, the daughter of Nedra (née Stern), a travel agent, and Lee Kudrow, a headache specialist and physician. She was raised in an upper-middle class Jewish family and has an older sister, Helene Marla, and an older brother, neurologist David Kudrow. She is the niece of composer/conductor Harold Farberman. After attending Portola Middle School in Tarzana, California, she graduated from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, and later received her B.S. from Vassar College in Biology in 1985. She also took guitar lessons as a child and is left-handed.
===Career===
Kudrow originally intended to follow in her father's footsteps - researching headaches. However, she was 'discovered' and began her career as an actress.
Kudrow began her comedic career as a member of The Groundlings, joining the ranks of those such as Will Ferrell and Janeane Garofalo. Briefly, Lisa joined with Conan O'Brien and director Tim Hillman in the short-lived improv troupe Unexpected Company. She was also the only regular female member of The Transformers Comedy Troupe, a group directed by Stan Wells that currently plays at the Empty Stage Comedy Theatre. She played a role in an episode of Cheers opposite Woody Boyd. She tried out for Saturday Night Live in 1990, but the show chose Julia Sweeney instead. She had a recurring role in Bob, Bob Newhart's third CBS outing, but her character was eliminated at the end of the first season. She was hired to play the role of Roz in Frasier, but the part was re-cast during the filming of the pilot episode because producers didn't think she was right for the part. However, one of the people working on Frasier also worked on Friends and suggested Lisa audition for the show. Her first major television role was Ursula Buffay, the eccentric waitress on Mad About You (this character would later appear in 'Friends' as Phoebe's twin sister).
Despite the previous lack of success, this role led to her starring role on Friends as Phoebe Buffay, a role for which she won the 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She played the character from 1994 until the show ended in 2004. The program was hugely successful and Kudrow, along with her co-stars, gained wide renown among television viewers. She was the most Emmy-nominated cast member of the show, totaling six nominations. Kudrow received a salary of one million dollars per episode for the last two seasons of Friends. According to the Guinness World Book of Records (2005), Kudrow (along with her female co-stars) became the highest paid TV actress of all time with her $1 million-per-episode paycheck for the tenth season of Friends.
Her film credits include comedic roles in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Hanging Up, Marci X, Analyze This and its sequel Analyze That. However, Kudrow has also starred in dramatic roles including the biopic Wonderland about the late porn star John Holmes. She has garnered critical acclaim in mostly dramatic roles for writer-director Don Roos in the films The Opposite of Sex and Happy Endings. After 'Friends', Kudrow portrayed Valerie Cherish, the main character on the HBO original series The Comeback. The series premiered on HBO on June 5, 2005. She also served as co-creator, writer, and executive producer. The show, about a has-been sitcom star trying for a comeback, was not renewed for a second season. Kudrow received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on The Comeback, making her the first Friends cast member to receive a major award nomination since Friends ended.
She has also been a voice over for the animated series Hercules, as Aphrodite. Her most recent work is in the movie adaptation of the bestselling novel, PS, I Love You alongside Hilary Swank, in which she plays a supporting role as Denise. Also, she was the voice of the female grizzly bear Ava in the 2001 film sequel Dr. Dolittle 2, starring alongside Steve Zahn (voice) and Eddie Murphy.
In May 2021, she participated in the special episode Friends: The Reunion.
===Personal life===
Kudrow had a relationship with Conan O'Brien until he moved to New York to host his TV show beginning in 1993. On May 27, 1995, Lisa became the first "Friend" to marry when she wed Michel Stern, a French advertising executive. They have had one son, Julian Murray (born May 7, 1998). Lisa's pregnancy was written into Friends with her character Phoebe having triplets as a surrogate parent for her brother. It's been noted that she is a fan of Sheryl Crow and Shania Twain music.
== Official Account ==
* Lisa Kudrow Instagram
* Lisa Kudrow Facebook
* Lisa Kudrow Twitter
==Filmography==
===Film===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1983	Overdrawn at the Memory Bank 	Extra 	
1986	America 3000 	Warrior Women Leader 	Uncredited
1989	L.A. on $5 a Day 	Charmer 	
1991	To the Moon, Alice 	Friend of Perky Girl 	Short film
1991	The Unborn 	Louisa 	
1992	Dance with Death 	Millie 	
1992	In the Heat of Passion 	Esther 	
1994	In the Heat of Passion 2: Unfaithful 	Teller 	
1995	The Crazysitter 	Adrian Wexler-Jones 	
1996	Mother 	Linda 	
1997	Romy and Michele's High School Reunion 	Michele Weinberger 	
1997	Clockwatchers 	Paula 	
1997	Hacks 	Reading Woman 	
1998	The Opposite of Sex 	Lucia DeLury 	
1999	Analyze This 	Laura MacNamara Sobel	
2000	Hanging Up 	Maddy Mozell 	
2000	Lucky Numbers 	Crystal 	
2001	All Over the Guy 	Marie 	
2001	Dr. Dolittle 2 	Ava 	Voice
2002	Bark! 	Dr. Darla Portnoy 	
2002	Analyze That 	Laura Sobel 	
2003	Marci X 	Marci Field 	
2003	Wonderland 	Sharon Holmes 	
2005	Happy Endings 	Mamie 	
2007	Kabluey 	Leslie 	
2007	P.S. I Love You 	Denise 	
2009	Hotel for Dogs 	Lois Scudder 	
2009	Powder Blue 	Sally 	
2009	Paper Man 	Claire Dunn 	
2009	Bandslam 	Karen Burton 	
2009	The Other Woman 	Dr. Carolyn Soule 	
2010	Easy A 	Mrs. Griffith 	
2014	Neighbors 	Carol Gladstone 	
2016	El Americano: The Movie 	Lucille 	Voice
2016	Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising 	Carol Gladstone 	
2016	The Girl on the Train 	Martha 	
2017	Table 19 	Bina Kepp 	
2017	The Boss Baby 	Janice Templeton 	Voice
2018	Lovesick Fool – Love in the Age of Like	Ozma 	Voice, Short film
2019	Long Shot 	Katherine 	
2019	Booksmart 	Charmaine Antsler 	
2020	Like a Boss 	Shay Whitmore 	
2021	The Boss Baby: Family Business 	Janice Templeton 	Voice
2022	Better Nate Than Ever 	Heidi 	
TBA 	The Parenting 	 	
===Television===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1989 	Married to the Mob 	 	Pilot
1989 	Cheers 	Emily 	Episode: "Two Girls for Every Boyd"
1989 	Just Temporary 	Nicole 	Television film
1990 	Newhart 	Sada 	Episode: "The Last Newhart"
1990 	Life Goes On 	Stella 	Episode: "Becca and the Band"
1991 	Murder in High Places 	Miss Stich 	Television film
1992 	Room for Two 	Woman in Black 	Episode: "Not Quite... Room for Two"
1993 	Flying Blind 	Amy 	Episode: "My Dinner with Brad Schimmel"
1993 	Bob 	Kathy Fleisher 	3 episodes
1993–1999 	Mad About You 	Ursula Buffay 	24 episodes
1993–1994 	Coach 	Lauren / Nurse Alice 	2 episodes
1994–2004 	Friends 	Phoebe Buffay 	Main role, 236 episodes
1995–2001 	Friends 	Ursula Buffay 	Recurring role, 8 episodes
1996 	Hope & Gloria 	Phoebe Buffay 	Episode: "A New York Story"
1996 	Duckman 	Female Beta Maxians 	Voice, episode: "The One with Lisa Kudrow in a Small Role"
1996 	Saturday Night Live 	Host 	Episode: "Lisa Kudrow/Sheryl Crow"
1997 	Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist 	Lisa 	Voice, episode: "Reunion"
1998 	The Simpsons 	Alex Whitney 	Voice, episode: "Lard of the Dance"
1998–1999 	Hercules 	Aphrodite 	Voice, 4 episodes
2001 	King of the Hill 	Marjorie Pittman 	Voice, episode: "The Exterminator"
2001 	Blue's Clues 	Dr. Stork 	Voice, episode: "The Baby's Here!"
2005 	Father of the Pride 	Foo-Lin 	Voice, 2 episodes
2005 	Hopeless Pictures 	Sandy 	Voice, 2 episodes
2005, 2014 	The Comeback 	Valerie Cherish 	21 episodes; also co-creator, writer and executive producer
2006 	American Dad! 	Ghost of Christmas Past 	Voice, episode: "The Best Christmas Story Never Told"
2008–2014 	Web Therapy 	Fiona Wallice 	132 episodes; also co-creator, writer and executive producer
2010 	Cougar Town 	Dr. Amy Evans 	Episode: "Rhino Skin"
2010–present	Who Do You Think You Are? 	Herself 	Executive producer; Episode: "Lisa Kudrow"
2011 	Allen Gregory 	Sheila 	Voice, episode: "Mom Sizemore"
2011–2015 	Web Therapy 	Fiona Wallice 	44 episodes; also co-creator, writer and executive producer
2013 	Wendell and Vinnie 	Natasha 	Episode: "Swindel & Vinnie"
2013 	Scandal 	Congresswoman Josephine Marcus 	4 episodes
2015 	BoJack Horseman 	Wanda Pierce 	Voice, 7 episodes
2016 	Angie Tribeca 	Monica Vivarquar 	Episode: "Pilot"
2016 	Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows	Herself 	Television documentary
2016–2019 	Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 	Fairy Godmother, Lori-Ann Schmidt	3 episodes
2017 	RuPaul's Drag Race 	Guest 	Episode: "She Done Already Done Brought It On"
2018 	Grace and Frankie 	Sheree 	3 episodes
2018 	Bright Futures 	Narrator 	Unsold television pilot
2018–present	25 Words or Less 	Herself 	Recurring guest, also executive producer
2019 	Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas 	 	Television film, executive producer
2020 	The Good Place 	Hypatia 	Episode: "Patty"
2020 	Space Force 	Maggie Naird 	Recurring role
2020 	Death to 2020 	Jeanetta Grace Susan 	Television special
2020–2021 	Feel Good 	Linda 	Main role
2021 	Friends: The Reunion 	Herself 	HBO Max special; also executive producer
2021 	History of the Sitcom 	Herself 	Television documentary
2021-present	HouseBroken 	Honey 	Voice, main role
2022 	Celebrity Iou 	Herself 	HGTV
2022 	Rick and Morty 	Tyrannosaurus 	Voice, episode: "JuRicksic Mort"
TBA 	Time Bandits 	Penelope 	Upcoming miniseries
==Awards & nominations==
::Emmy Awards
*1995 - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*1997 - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*1998 - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Won)
*1999 - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*2000 - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*2001 - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*2006 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, "The Comeback" - (Nominated)
::Golden Globe Awards
*1996 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV, "Friends" (Nominated)
::Screen Actors Guild Awards
*1996 - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*1999 - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*2000 - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Won)
*2004 - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
::American Comedy Awards
*1996 - Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*1999 - Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
*1999 - Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series, "Mad About You" - (Nominated)
*1999 - Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, "The Opposite of Sex" - (Nominated)
*2000 - Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series, "Friends" - (Won)
*2000 - Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication, "1999 MTV Movie Awards" - (Nominated)
*2000 - Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, "Analyze This" - (Nominated)
*2001 - Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series, "Friends" - (Nominated)
==Gallery==
Friends Cast 2.jpg
Lisa-Kudrow--C10102399.jpeg
Lisa Kudrow.jpg
Lisa Kudrow Boots 1.jpg
Lisa Kudrow Boots 2.jpg
Lisa Kudrow Boots 3.jpg
File:Lisa Kudrow reveals a Friends guest star told her, Now youre f—able.png
==External links==
* Lisa Kudrow at the Internet Movie Database
Category:Actors
Category:Season 1 Actors
Category:Season 2 Actors
Category:Season 3 Actors
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Category:Season 10 Actors
Category:Cast and Crew
Category:Actors playing different characters
Category:Main Cast
Category:Friends: The Reunion Actors