The Cast Of Friends: Then And Now

Did you recognise Janice?

Friends Cast Then and Now

by Shana Lynch |
Updated on

It's been a good time to be Friends fan recently (although, when isn't it, really?) — the show turned 25 years old last year and since then, the new reunion has dropped featuring our old faves Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt Le Blanc along with some surprising celebrity guests.

So, before we watch the reunion for the third time, let's take a look back at all the stars of the iconic show and see what they've been up to since it ended in 2004, including Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice, and James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther.

Spoiler alert: some you won't even recognise 16 years on...

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Friends Cast: Then and Now

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Then

James Michael Taylor as Gunther, the barista holding a torch for Jennifer Aniston's Rachel Green. Taylor was the show's most frequent guest star, appearing in 148 out of 236 Friends' episodes.

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CREDIT: HBO

Now

James - aka Gunther - made a super short appearance in the Friends reunion - without his trademark blonde hair!

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CREDIT: Getty

Then

Cole Sprouse, as Ross and Carol Willick's son, Ben.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

Since starring on Friends, Sprouse acted alongside his twin brother, Dylan, on Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and its spinoff The Suite Life on Deck. Most recently, Sprouse has starred as Jughead Jones on teen drama Riverdale.

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Then

Twins Noelle and Cali Sheldon played Ross and Rachel's daughter, Emma.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

According to IMBD, both twins have appeared in shorts over the years, but their biggest role to date was in horror film Us last year.

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Then

Giovanni Ribisi as Phoebe's half-brother, Frank Buffay, Jr.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

Ribisi is best known for starring in TV series Sneaky Pete. He has also appeared in the films Saving Private Ryan, Avatar, A Million Ways to Die in the West and Ted.

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Then

Maggie Wheeler played Janice, a recurring character who was Chandler's long-time on-off girlfriend.

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CREDIT: HBO

Now

Wheeler is best known for her role as Janice, but has since starred in Everybody Loves Raymond. She also made an appearance in the Friends reunion, looking almost exactly the same!

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CREDIT: Getty

Then

Little-known actress Jennifer Aniston played Rachel Green.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

One of Grazia's favourite people, Aniston has gone on to have a very successful acting career, starring in films like Just Go With It, Rumor Has It, and The Break-Up. Most recently, Aniston starred in brand new AppleTV show The Morning Show alongside long-time friend and former on-screen sister, Reese Witherspoon, for which she won a SAG Award.

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CREDIT: Getty

Then

David Schwimmer as Ross Geller.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

In 2016, Schwimmer appeared in the American Crime Story series about the assassination of Gianni Versace. In early 2019, he had to prove his innocence to Blackpool Police after a lookalike thief was caught on CCTV and he made an appearance at this year's National Television Awards.

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CREDIT: Getty

Then

Courteney Cox as Monica Geller.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

Since starring in Friends, Cox has had a successful acting career, earning a Golden Globes nomination for her role as Jules Cobb in Cougar Town. She is also still very close friends with Jennifer Aniston.

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CREDIT: Getty

Then

Actor Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

Perry is best known for his role as Chandler, but he has since appeared in 17 Again alongsideZac Efron.

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CREDIT: Getty

Then

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

After Friends ended, LeBlanc starred in his own spin-off show, Joey, which ran for two seasons. LeBlanc received three Emmy's nominations for his role as Joey on Friends.

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CREDIT: Getty

Then

Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay.

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CREDIT: Getty

Now

Kudrow is best known for her role as Phoebe on Friends and received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her work. She also gained plaudits through Web Therapy and The Comeback. She is also still close friends with former co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox.

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