What Happened to Lisa Kudrow?

Lisa Valerie Kudrow, born July 30, 1963, in Los Angeles, California, initially pursued a scientific path, earning a degree in psychobiology from Vassar College before transitioning to comedy. Her comedic talents were honed at The Groundlings, an improv and sketch comedy school, leading to early television roles, including Ursula Buffay on 'Mad About You' in 1992.

Kudrow achieved international fame with her role as Phoebe Buffay, Ursula's twin sister, in the iconic NBC sitcom 'Friends', which premiered in 1994 and ran for a decade. Her portrayal of the eccentric, free-spirited massage therapist earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1998, making her the first 'Friends' cast member to win an Emmy. During her time on the show, her real-life pregnancy was famously written into the fourth season, with Phoebe becoming a surrogate mother to triplets. By the final seasons, Kudrow and her co-stars were earning $1 million per episode, setting new standards for television actor salaries.

Following 'Friends', Kudrow diversified her career, moving into producing and writing. She co-created, wrote, and starred in the HBO mockumentary series 'The Comeback', which first aired in 2005. The show, a biting satire of Hollywood and reality television, garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated cult following, leading to its revival for a second season in 2014. She also produced and starred in the Showtime program 'Web Therapy' (2011–2015) and served as executive producer for the U.S. version of the genealogy documentary series 'Who Do You Think You Are?'. Her film credits include 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion' (1997), 'The Opposite of Sex' (1998), 'Analyze This' (1999), 'P.S. I Love You' (2007), 'Neighbors' (2014), 'Booksmart' (2019), and 'Long Shot' (2019).

In recent years, Kudrow has continued her work in voice acting, notably as Honey the dog in the animated series 'HouseBroken' (2021–2023), which was canceled in May 2024. In May 2021, she reunited with her 'Friends' co-stars for the highly anticipated 'Friends: The Reunion' special on HBO Max. The passing of her co-star Matthew Perry in October 2023 deeply affected Kudrow, who has spoken about finding comfort in rewatching 'Friends' episodes. As of early 2026, Kudrow has made a significant return with the third and final season of 'The Comeback', which premiered on March 22, 2026. This season explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the entertainment industry, a theme Kudrow and co-creator Michael Patrick King felt was timely. She also recently revealed in April 2026 interviews that during her 'Friends' tenure, parts of her talent agency referred to her as 'the sixth Friend' and had no clear vision for her career beyond the show. Kudrow has also expressed her views on modern sitcoms, stating they are 'too afraid' to take risks with humor. Her personal life remains stable; she celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary with French advertising executive Michel Stern in May 2025, attributing their lasting marriage to mutual respect and commitment. Her son, Julian Murray Stern, born in 1998, also made an appearance in the third season of 'The Comeback'.