Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow | |
---|---|
Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
Education | Vassar College (BA) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1983–present |
Known for | Friends |
Spouse |
Michel Stern
(m. 1995) |
Children | 1 |
Signature | |
Lisa Valerie Kudrow (/ˈkuːdroʊ/ KOO-droh; born July 30, 1963) is an American actress. She rose to international fame for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the American television sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. The series earned her Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Satellite, American Comedy and TV Guide awards. Phoebe has since been named one of the greatest television characters of all time and is considered to be Kudrow's breakout role, spawning her successful film career.
Kudrow initially appeared in a 1989 episode of the hit sitcom Cheers playing a character named Emily. She also starred in several episodes of the show Mad About You (1993) as Ursula, before auditioning and earning the role of Phoebe on Friends; her character on Mad About You was initially written-into the Friends storyline as Phoebe’s twin. In the late 1990s, Kudrow starred in the cult comedy film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) and followed it with an acclaimed performance in the comedy/drama The Opposite of Sex (1998), which won her the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress and a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. She created, produced, wrote, and starred in the HBO mockumentary series The Comeback, which initially lasted for one season in 2005 but was revived for a critically acclaimed second and final season in 2014. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for both seasons.
In 2007, Kudrow received praise for her starring role in the film
Kudrow has also had roles in Analyze This (1999) and its sequel Analyze That (2002), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), Bandslam (2008), Hotel for Dogs (2009), Easy A (2010), Neighbors (2014) and its sequel Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), The Girl on the Train (2016), The Boss Baby (2017), Long Shot (2019) and Booksmart (2019).
Early life
Lisa Valerie Kudrow
Kudrow attended Portola Middle School in the
Career
1989–1994: Pre-Friends
At the urging of comedian Jon Lovitz, who was a childhood friend of her brother,[4] Kudrow began her comedic career as a member of The Groundlings, an improv and sketch comedy school in Los Angeles. She has credited Cynthia Szigeti, her improv teacher at The Groundlings, for changing her perspective on acting, calling her "the best thing that happened, on so many levels".[11][12] Briefly, Kudrow joined with Conan O'Brien and director Tim Hillman in the short-lived improv troupe Unexpected Company.[13] She was also the only regular female member of the Transformers Comedy Troupe.[14] She played a role in an episode of the NBC sitcom Cheers. She tried out for Saturday Night Live in 1990, but the show chose Julia Sweeney instead.[15] She had a recurring role as Kathy Fleisher in three episodes of season one of the Bob Newhart sitcom Bob (CBS, 1992–1993), a role she played after taking part in the series finale of Newhart's previous series Newhart.[16] Prior to Friends, she appeared in at least two network-produced pilots: NBC's Just Temporary (also known as Temporarily Yours) in 1989, playing Nicole; and CBS' Close Encounters (also known as Matchmaker) in 1990, playing a Valley girl.[17]
Kudrow was cast as Roz Doyle in Frasier, but the role was re-cast with Peri Gilpin during the taping of the pilot episode. In 2000, Kudrow explained that when rehearsals started, "I knew it wasn't working. I could feel it all slipping away, and I was panicking, which only made things worse."[4] Her first recurring television role was Ursula Buffay, the eccentric waitress on the NBC sitcom Mad About You.
1994–2004: Friends and worldwide recognition
Kudrow, the oldest actor of the main cast, reprised the character of Ursula on the NBC sitcom
During her tenure on Friends, Kudrow appeared in several comedy films such as
2004–present: Post-Friends
Following Friends, Kudrow starred as protagonist Valerie Cherish on the single-season
Kudrow co-created an improvised comedy webseries,
Kudrow has appeared in multiple comedic films such as
Personal life
Kudrow married French advertising executive Michel Stern on May 27, 1995. The couple reside in Beverly Hills, California, and have a son named Julian who was born on May 7, 1998.[34][35] Kudrow's pregnancy was written into the fourth season of Friends, with her character having triplets as a surrogate mother for her half-brother and his wife.[36] In addition to her Beverly Hills home, Kudrow maintained a penthouse in Park City, Utah, which she sold in April 2017.[37] She revealed in 2019 that she had experienced body dysmorphic disorder while working on Friends.[38]
Filmography
† | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
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 |
The Unborn | Louisa | ||
1992 | Dance with Death | Millie | |
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 | |
Clockwatchers | Paula | ||
Hacks | Reading Woman | ||
1998 | The Opposite of Sex | Lucia DeLury | |
1999 | Analyze This | Laura MacNamara Sobel | |
2000 | Hanging Up | Maddy Mozell | |
Lucky Numbers | Crystal | ||
2001 | All Over the Guy | Marie | |
Dr. Dolittle 2 | Ava | Voice | |
2002 | Bark! | Dr. Darla Portnoy | |
Analyze That | Laura Sobel | ||
2003 | Marci X | Marci Field | |
Wonderland | Sharon Holmes | ||
2005 | Happy Endings | Mamie | |
2007 | Kabluey | Leslie | |
P.S. I Love You | Denise | ||
2009 | Hotel for Dogs | Lois Scudder | |
Powder Blue | Sally | ||
Paper Man | Claire Dunn | ||
Bandslam | Karen Burton | ||
The Other Woman | Dr. Carolyn Soule | ||
2010 | Easy A | Mrs. Griffith | |
2014 | Neighbors | Carol Gladstone | |
2016 | El Americano: The Movie | Lucille | Voice |
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising | Carol Gladstone | ||
The Girl on the Train | Martha | ||
2017 | Table 19 | Bina Kepp | |
The Boss Baby | Janice Templeton | Voice | |
2018 | Lovesick Fool – Love in the Age of Like | Ozma | Voice, Short film |
2019 | Long Shot | Katherine | |
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 | |
Cheers | Emily | Episode: "Two Girls for Every Boyd" | |
Just Temporary | Nicole | Television film | |
1990 | Newhart | Sada | Episode: "The Last Newhart" |
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" |
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 | Ursula Buffay
|
Recurring role, 8 episodes | |
1996 | Hope & Gloria | Phoebe Buffay | Episode: "A New York Story" |
Duckman | Female Beta Maxians | Voice, episode: "The One with Lisa Kudrow in a Small Role" | |
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" |
Blue's Clues | Dr. Stork | Voice, episode: "The Baby's Here!" | |
2005 | Father of the Pride | Foo-Lin | Voice, 2 episodes |
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[39] | 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" |
Scandal
|
Congresswoman Josephine Marcus | 4 episodes | |
2015 | BoJack Horseman | Wanda Pierce | Voice, 7 episodes |
2016 | Angie Tribeca | Monica Vivarquar | Episode: "Pilot" |
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 |
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" |
Space Force | Maggie Naird | Recurring role | |
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[40]
|
History of the Sitcom | Herself | Television documentary | |
2021-present | HouseBroken | Honey | Voice, main role |
2022 | Celebrity Iou | Herself | HGTV |
Rick and Morty | Tyrannosaurus | Voice, episode: "JuRicksic Mort" | |
TBA | Time Bandits † | Penelope | Upcoming miniseries |
Awards and nominations
Kudrow has been honored with numerous accolades over her career. For her role in the sitcom
In total, she has received fifteen Emmy nominations, with her most recent nomination in the 2021
References
- ^ "Lisa Kudrow says her middle name". Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2013 – via YouTube.
- ^ FYI/A&E Networks). April 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
- ^ "Lisa Kudrow Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
- ^ a b c Zaslow, Jeffrey (October 8, 2000). "Balancing friends and family". USA Weekend. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
- ^ Harris, Rob. (June 26, 2012) Oh, what a tangled 'Web' Lisa Kudrow weaves. The Times of Israel. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Zaltzman, Lior (August 18, 2022). "Jewish 'Friends' Star Lisa Kudrow Feels Connected to Her Family's Holocaust Trauma". Kveller. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Grobel, Lawrence (November–December 2013). "Lisa Kudrow: The versatile comedian (and former science nerd) reflects on high school bullies, motherhood, and life after Friends". The Saturday Evening Post. Indiana. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ Susman, Gary (October 23, 2002). "Here's what the cast of Friends were up to this week". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
In the November issue of Allure magazine, Kudrow reveals a secret she's kept for 23 years: When she was 16, she had a nose job. 'I had a hook nose, and now it's certainly smaller,' she says. 'But I'm not even sure I love how that turned out. I think plastic surgery looks weird – like plastic surgery.'
- ^ Justine Elias. "Lisa Kudrow: No Problem Playing Two Roles." Indiana (PA) Gazette, August 21, 1982, p. TV 7.
- S2CID 8476897.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (August 19, 2016). "Cynthia Szigeti, Groundlings Improv Teacher and 'Seinfeld' Actress, Dies at 66". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- Archive of American Television. December 22, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ^ "Unexpected Company: Entertaining audiences since 2003". Cranston Herald. November 18, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "From Stand-Up To Screen - 10 Comics Who Made The Biggest Leap". HuffPost UK. February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ISBN 978-0316045827.
- ^ Kovalchik, Kara (July 15, 2009). "The Early TV Appearances of Seven Big Stars". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012.
- ^ Close Encounters (TV Movie 1990) - IMDb, retrieved May 12, 2023
- ^ "Fast Chat: Lisa Kudrow". Newsday. January 18, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Lisa Kudrow Emmy Nominated. Emmys.com. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Carter, Bill (February 12, 2002). "'Friends' Deal Will Pay Each Of Its 6 Stars $22 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ "Lisa Kudrow Dishes It Out". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1026. December 19, 2008. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "Lisa Kudrow". IMDb. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ a b "Lisa Kudrow- Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (October 31, 2017). "Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky's Is or Isn't Entertainment Inks First-Look Deal With Sony TV". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ Hunt, Stacey Wilson (August 24, 2012). "Emmys 2012: Lisa Kudrow's Own Holocaust Surprise On 'Who Do You Think You Are?' (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Jessica Parker And Susan Sarandon Star In NBC's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' Premiering April 20" (Press release). NBC. January 28, 2009. Archived from the original on February 19, 2010.
- ^ "'Web Therapy' Renewed: Lisa Kudrow's Showtime Series Get A Season 3". HuffPost. November 16, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Hale, Mike (July 28, 2011). "Analyze This: A Webisode's Id Meets Its TV Ego". New York Post. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Amanda N'Duka (August 11, 2015). "Lisa Kudrow's 'Web Therapy' Cancelled By Showtime After 4 Seasons". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- ^ O'Connor, Mickey (October 27, 2009). "Lisa Kudrow Will Guest-Star on Cougar Town". TV Guide.
- ^ Kit, Borys (November 3, 2015). "Lisa Kudrow Joins 'The Girl on the Train' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2016. She has also starred recently on The Good Place as Hypatia of Alexandria.
- ^ Turchiano, Danielle (April 8, 2020). "Lisa Kudrow Joins Steve Carell in 'Space Force,' Netflix Sets Premiere Date". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ 25 Words or Less (TV Series 2018– ) - IMDb, retrieved May 12, 2023
- ^ Michaelson, Judith (June 17, 1997). "Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press". Los Angeles Times.
- InterfaithFamily. Archived from the originalon March 31, 2017.
I also learned that her husband, French advertising executive Michael Stern, whom she married in 1995, is not Jewish, as many assume. Stern and Kudrow have one child, a boy named Julian Murray, who is now 14
- ^ "20 TV Pregnancies So Impossible To Hide, They Were Just Written into The Show". BabyGaga. February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ "Lisa Kudrow sells Park City, Utah home". April 21, 2017.
- ^ "Lisa Kudrow Reveals Body Image Struggles During Time On 'Friends'", Today, archived from the original on October 29, 2021, retrieved July 29, 2021 – via YouTube
- ^ "About the Show". Who Do You Think You Are. NBC. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 21, 2020). "'Friends' Reunion Special Officially A Go At HBO Max With Cast Returning". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
External links
- Lisa Kudrow at AllMovie
- Lisa Kudrow at Emmys.com
- Lisa Kudrow at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Lisa Kudrow at IMDb
- Lisa Kudrow on Twitter
- Lisa Kudrow on Instagram