FRIENDS is one of the most classic and popular sitcoms of all time. Thanks to the great chemistry between its six-core stars – David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, and Jennifer Aniston. However, the show also extended its appeal by featuring dozens of amazing celebrity guest stars during its time on air. Among those guest stars, some appearances stood out more than others. Here is the list of 15 guest appearances on FRIENDS that made history. Let’s check it out:
1. Susan Sarandon
In Season 7, Joey gets another chance at being a soap opera star with some help from Susan Sarandon. He learns that his former soap opera character Dr Drake Ramoray is getting a new brain in the episode. But, where does that new brain come from? Yes, it’s from Jessica Lockhart who is a soap character played by Susan Sarandon, a narcissistic veteran soap star.
2. Billy Crystal and Robin Williams
During a Season 3 episode, Robin Williams and Billy Crystal made a brief, but unforgettable impression. In this episode, they loudly burst into Central Perk and interrupt the conversation between the gang by asking them to move over on the couch. Well, then the gang overhears their conversation. In their conversation, Williams’s character suspects his wife is sleeping with someone else. However, the gang was shocked when Crystal’s character reveals he is the one who she is sleeping with.
3. Charlie Sheen
In Season 2, “Two and a Half Men” star, Charlie Sheen appeared as one of Phoebe’s former flames. He is a sailor who only sees Phoebe every few years when he comes from his submarine. When she came to know that he’s coming above ground for two weeks, Phoebe starts arranging romantic activities for the two of them. But, at the last minute, it all came down with chickenpox. Despite that, the duo manages to have a romantic-itchy visit.
4. George Clooney and Noah Wyle
In Season 1, “ER” stars Noah Wyle and George Clooney made a memorable appearance. The two played the role of a pair of doctors who ask Rachel and Monica out on a date. What they don’t know is that to utilize Monica’s health insurance, Rachel is using her name. This led to huge chaos and very awkward date.
5. Hugh Laurie
In Season 4, Rachel was on her way on the flight to try and stop Ross and Emily’s wedding. She was a chatty and nervous wreck at that time sitting next to Hugh Laurie, who was a man on a flight from New York to London. It made the unpleasant ride for the hilariously furious Laurie.
6. Alec Baldwin
In the eighth season of the series, over the course of two episodes, Alec Baldwin plays Parker, an overly enthusiastic guest at the Gellars’ 35th wedding anniversary party, who by the way came with Phoebe. Parker goes around complimenting everything he sees and every single person he meets. But eventually, his ridiculously overeager attitude and over-the-top antics become irritating to all of the other partygoers.
7. Jennifer Coolidge
In Season 10, Jennifer Coolidge donned a terrible fake British accent to play Amanda who is an old friend of Phoebe and Monica. After growing tired of her contrived posh attitude, they try to phase her out. Well, it doesn’t go smoothly. Amanda ends up causing a fight between Phoebe and Monica when she reveals Phoebe had tried to cut out Monica in the past. Her character is so nasty that you just can’t help but love to hate her.
8. Julia Roberts
In Season 2, Chandler’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of Julia Roberts as Susie “Underpants” Moss. Susie and Chandler attended the same school as a child and she still remembers the time when he pulled down her pants in front of the whole school. It led to her hated nickname. She pretends to forgive Chandler and agrees to go on a date with him. Later, she seduces him into taking his clothes off and putting on her underpants in a restaurant stall. Then, finally getting her long-awaited revenge, she takes off.
9. Danny DeVito
As a 50-year-old stripper, Danny DeVito got a lot of laughs who Monica and Rachel hire for Phoebe’s bachelorette party at the last minute. However, his character ends up dissolving into tears, when the three of them question his abilities. Later, Phoebe insists he finish his eccentric dance because of feeling guilty.
10. Winona Ryder
Phoebe doesn’t believe the story when Rachel admits that during a drunken college night, she and Melissa once kissed. The two invite Melissa to dinner to prove it, but she insists that it never happened. Furious Rachel kisses Melissa again to unleash the memory. However, her plan ends up working a little too well. Because of the kiss, Melissa admits that she’s still in love with Rachel.
11. Reese Witherspoon
In Season 6, Reese Witherspoon played Rachel’s bratty and spoiled younger sister Jill. She comes to New York to follow in Rachel’s footsteps. Rachel tries to help her find a job, but no luck. Jill ends up shopping with her dad’s credit card and even dates Ross to get back at Rachel.
12. Paul Rudd
Phoebe finally gets her happily ever after with Paul Rudd’s character, Mike Hannigan. Mike meets Phoebe during his 18-episode stint on Season 9 and 10 and the two kick off a serious relationship. Even though they break up due to different views on marriage, but still they end up getting back together. Later they get married after several failed proposals.
13. Christina Applegate
In Season 9 and Season 10, Christina Applegate played Rachel’s sister Amy. Even though she is the older one, she’s just as self-involved and absurdly shallow as Jill. She constantly calls her niece Emma the wrong name and also mocks Joey’s over-the-top eating habits. Amy ends up getting the baby’s ears pierced when Rachel allows her to babysit Emma that too without anyone’s permission.
14. Bruce Willis
For his work on Season 6 of the show, Bruce Willis won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He played the role of the father of Ross’ much-younger girlfriend Elizabeth, Paul Stevens, who does not approve of the match. He interrupts Ross and Elizabeth’s escape by showing up with Rachel to Paul’s cabin. Paul starts dancing and singing to himself in the mirror to prepare himself for a night with Rachel. Ross catches him doing that and later uses it to his advantage.
15. Brad Pitt
In Season 8, Brad Pitt made the most memorable guest star appearance in the series. Pitt played Ross’s best friend, Will Colbert from high school, who counted Rachel as his biggest enemy. His hatred toward her ran so deep that he admits that he started a rumor in high school that she was a hermaphrodite. If you don’t know, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were actually married at the time of his appearance.
