Friends
Summary
The ensemble cast ofFriendsis a huge reasonableness why the show achieved such global popularity , but there are plenty of side fictional character who are also key to the show ’s success . Friendsran for 10 season , and the show had a marvelous cast of recurring case , with some comedy legends step in for a few installment . Friendshad some bright one - instalment characters , but some others returned for longer catamenia of time .
Friendssqueezes a sight of comedy out of the nonadaptive relationships between its six primary characters . As they rely on each other in the early level of adulthood in New York City , they press and pluck against one another , creating a lot of comedic conflict and plenty of heartwarming moments too . Friendsneeds a revolving cast of guest stars and recurring characters to keep affair interesting though , and these characters can sometimes outshine the main roll and become devotee favorites .
The Most Frequent Supporting Characters In Friends
graphic symbol
Number Of Episodes
Gunther ( James Michael Tyler )
185
Jack Geller ( Elliot Gould )
21
Judy Geller ( Christina Pickles )
20
Janice Litman - Goralnik ( Maggie Wheeler )
19
Mike Hannigan ( Paul Rudd )
18
10Marcel
Played by Katie and Monkey
Joey and Chandler are the show ’s identification number one bromance , but Marcel and Ross have their moments too .
Marcel was played by two distaff capuchins inFriends , one named Katie and one named Monkey . AlthoughDavid Schwimmer disliked filming with monkeys inFriends , Marcel is a view - stealing presence . Ross is usually the butt of every jape inFriends , especially during the first couple of season , but his relationship with Marcel is loose and play . Joey and Chandler are the show ’s number one bromance , but Marcel and Ross have their consequence too .
Ross initially gets Marcel because he require a piffling companionship after his divorce(the first one ) . Marcel deform out to be a surprisingly effective refilling for the daily push and pull of marriage , since Ross bickers with him like a spouse . When Ross invite an emotional farewell to Marcel , he is n’t just say bye to an one-time acquaintance . He ’s also saying adios to the stage of his life which Marcel represent to him . Instead of care for a imp to ignore his woe , Ross has to senesce and face up his feeling .
9Ugly Naked Guy
Played by Jon Haugen
Ugly Naked Guy is rarely more than a clout line inFriends , but there are a twain of episode which feature him more conspicuously .
Ugly Naked Guy is precisely as he sounds , and that ’s pretty much all that is cognize about him for a very long time . His apartment is visible from the back windowpane of Monica and Rachel ’s home , so the main case will now and then take a peek to see what the neighborhood nudist is up to . When he gets a Thighmaster , has a distaff visitor or sits on his big cat , someone in Monica and Rachel ’s apartment will let the whole chemical group know about it .
Ugly Naked Guy is rarely more than a punch line inFriends , but there are a brace of episodes which feature him more prominently . When Phoebe think that her dental practitioner condemnation has vote out him , the friends all band together to construct a giant poking gimmick out of chopsticks to give him a friendly jog . His last installment is the first sequence which show him nearer up , as Ross undress off with him to bond , and hopefully get preferential discourse as he sublets his flat .
Though the six primary player in the Friends cast of characters have had successful career since the sitcom ended , they ’ll always be remembered for their characters .
8David
Played by Hank Azaria
David ’s return in season 9 is a semisweet send - off , but it show how Phoebe ’s life has moved on .
David is Phoebe ’s first major love interest inFriends . Their kinship commence with her cry at him to keep quiet during her gig at Central Perk , but he explains that he was only discussing with his booster how beautiful she is . In another life history , David could have ended up with Phoebe for the long outpouring , but his employment takes him to Minsk , and the pair decide to call it depart despite still having feelings for one another .
David is the archetypal dorky scientist . He always seems fluster , probably because he lacks the social skills to speak articulately without filler words and stuttering . He also has such a deep warmth for his work that it often gets in the way of other parts of his biography . or else of sweeping everything off his desk and throw Phoebe on top in a burst of amorous mania , he first has to neatly tidy away some equipment . David ’s return in season 9 is a bittersweet send - off , but it shows how Phoebe ’s living has moved on .
7Dr. Richard Burke
Played by Tom Selleck
Richard has some funny lines inFriends , but his relationship with Monica is more tragic than comedic .
Monica recognizes Richard as a family ally , but once they get to spill the beans , they both realize they have romantic feelings for one another . Monica ’s kinship with Richard is one of the most interesting inFriends . They have a long list of well cogitate out ground why they should n’t be together , including the fact that it could take to an awkward dynamic between Richard and Monica ’s parent , but they are also extremely compatible .
Ultimately , Monica and Richard break up because they are at two different stages of life . She sees children in her time to come , while he already has two grandchildren . Richard has some funny lines inFriends , but his family relationship with Monica is more tragic than comedic . He also present the total antithesis of Chandler , with his ego - sang-froid and calm maturity . It takes a long time for Chandler to come to terms with the fact that Monica moved on from dating Richard and Pete the billionaire to dating him .
6Estelle Leonard
Played by June Gable
Joey ’s factor Estelle Leonard sometimes appear as if she belong in a completely unlike show . Friendsrevolves around relatable humour , but Estelle is a comically grandiloquent impersonation of a New York entertainment industry veteran . She has a wardrobe full of loud business leader suits , a chaotically cluttered office , and a string - smoke habit which eventually kill her . This is her whole animation .
Estelle ’s other clients include a pyramid of dog and a military personnel who eats newspaper , but Joey is always her favourite . He ’s loyal to her even when she only offers him role in gay smut , and she ’s loyal to him except for one time when she badmouths him around townsfolk because she forget he ’s her client . Estelle Leonard is as bad an agent as Joey is an actor , and that ’s why her expiry is a surprisingly sad present moment . Estelle believe in Joey and resonate with him more than many of his closest champion .
June Gable also play one of the nurses who delivers Ross ' first baby , Ben .
5Ursula Buffay
Played by Lisa Kudrow
Ursula barely ever imagine of Phoebe , even on their birthday .
Giving Lisa Kudrow double duty as her own twin sister was one of the most divine casting choice inFriends . Naturally , Kudrow excels as Phoebe ’s selfish and apathetic twin . Ursula first appeared in the sitcomMad About You , but she crossed over intoFriendsafter Kudrow get the theatrical role of Phoebe Buffay . Phoebe ’s scenes with Ursula inFriendsare directly eye - catching , but they ’re also some of Phoebe ’s funniest moments .
Although Phoebe often references her traumatic past , Ursula does n’t seem to show any interest in keeping the family together . Phoebe has to much beg her for the diminutive bit of information about their past tense . Ursula hardly ever thinks of Phoebe , even on their birthday . The one metre that she does think of her is when she use her name as an assumed name in her career in pornography . Phoebe is in the main a patient and convinced soul , but Ursula can send her flying into a rage at any moment .
Which season of Friends is the best has been debated since the show complete in 2004 , but it ’s undeniable some Friends season are honest than others .
4Mike Hannigan
Played by Paul Rudd
Mike play some sweet aviation pianoforte for Phoebe on their first date , show up that he ’s not afraid to make a fool of himself in a busy public place .
Mike eventually does what no other side fibre could do , becoming the 7th friend by the final stage of the show . Mike join the group by complete concurrence . When Phoebe and Joey agree to find blind dates for each other , Joey bury until the last second . He differentiate Phoebe that he has a perfect guy call in Mike , and then he is forced to go into Central Park and scream " Mike " . fortunately , the man who answer turns out to be Phoebe ’s perfect match .
Mike is the perfect type of weird for Phoebe . He make her finger completely comfortable with who she is , andhe gratify her every freakish whim , even if that means changing his name to Crap Bag . Mike play some sweet air piano for Phoebe on their first date , showing that he ’s not afraid to make a fool of himself in a engaged public space . Their wedding in time of year 10 is one of the show ’s happy moments , even though Mike is only acquaint in season 9 .
3Gunther
Played by James Michael Tyler
Gunther has two comedic crotchet which make him stand out : his unspoken honey for Rachel and his for good white expression .
Gunther is the character who seem most often inFriendsbesides the primary cast , although he ’s often just a setting instrumentalist in Central Perk . Gunther has two comedic quirks which make him stand out : his unverbalized beloved for Rachel and his for good blank look . He engross a strange ecological niche in the show . The master characters know him well enough to invite him to some parties , but he ’s never on the guest list at any significant issue .
Gunther is n’t unremarkably an of import character , but he does play a polar role inRoss and Rachel ’s human relationship . His jealousy lead him to tell Rachel about Ross ' infidelity when he thought they were on their ill-famed break . His dearest for Rachel also gives him one of the funniest moments in theFriendsseason finale , when he cuts in front of Ross to confess his true tactile sensation . This completely ruins an emotional orgasm which had been construct for ten seasons .
2Janice Litman-Goralnik
Played by Maggie Wheeler
Janice is the most divisive character inFriends , but the objectionable woman who Chandler ca n’t seem to escape is primal to some of the show ’s funniest minute
Janice is the most divisive grapheme inFriends , but the objectionable char who Chandler ca n’t seem to escape is key to some of the show ’s funniest moments . She ’s an on - again - off - again love interest for Chandler during the earlier season , butJanice usually look inFriendsafter he ’s gotten together with Monica at the most inopportune moments . When Chandler visits a fertility rate clinic or expect at a Modern house in the suburbs , there ’s Janice .
Janice ’s finest hour come in when she and Chandler get together once again , soon before he remembers he ca n’t stand her . This forces him to think up a bizarre Trygve Halvden Lie about go to Yemen , and he must then adopt through when he realize she wo n’t leave the airport until she sees the woodworking plane take off . Janice is also celebrated for having arguably the most iconicFriendsquote of all:“Oh . My . God ! "
Monica and Chandler are one of the cunning couples in Friends - but how did their family relationship play out over the old age ?
1Jack Geller
Played by Elliot Gould
He ’s often accused of favoring Ross over Monica , but he ’s generally more empathetic than his married woman , and he has a batch of heady words for Monica when she needs them most .
Elliot Gould is a comedic geniuscapable of stealing any show , and he examine it multiple time inFriends . AlthoughFriendsultimately hit such an incredible level of achiever thanks to the remarkable chemistry of the dramatis personae , Gould ’s dry wit and slant - perfect delivery often makes him the standout performer whenever he evidence up as Monica and Ross ' father . Jack and Judy Geller are the perennially stoic and unimpressed parents who do n’t translate their children and rarely attempt to do so .
Jack Geller is central to some ofFriends ' good episodes , such as " The One with the Prom Video " and " The One Where Ross Got High " . He ’s often charge of favoring Ross over Monica , but he ’s loosely more empathic than his married woman , and he has a portion of judicious words for Monica when she demand them most . He also has passel of inappropriate password when he gives unasked advice on how to gestate , but he ’s not one to filter his thought very much .
