Where Friends cast are now after unrecognisable Matthew Perry's health struggles (2024)

Friends may have ended 16 years ago - but that hasn't reduced the worldwide love of the hit American sitcom.

Six pals living in New York and dealing with the ups and downs of life together had us laughing and crying from 1994 until the final episode in 2004.

It ended with Ross and Rachel finally getting together and Monica and Chandler welcoming twins.

The critically acclaimed series finale is the fifth-most watched in television history - with the cast becoming superstars over the decade they worked on the show.

Core cast members David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc, and Matthew Perry have had varied success since starring together on Friends.

Most have gone on to be Hollywood stars, others have failed to emulate their success, while some have endured tough times in their personal lives.

There have also been rumours of clashes between the former co-stars over the years.

But they will finally be getting together for a reunion this year - with filming of the special show halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Levin Reilly, chief content officer at HBO Max said: "Guess you could call this the one where they all got back together — we are reuniting with David, Jennifer, Courteney, Matt, Lisa, and Matthew for an HBO Max special that will be programmed alongside the entire Friends library."

"I became aware of Friends when it was in the very early stages of development and then had the opportunity to work on the series many years later and have delighted in seeing it catch on with viewers generation after generation.

"It taps into an era when friends – and audiences – gathered together in real time and we think this reunion special will capture that spirit, uniting original and new fans."

Here is what the cast have been up to since they wrapped up filming on Friends.

Matthew Perry

Matthew played the lovable if not slightly annoying Chandler Bing on Friends for over ten years.

On the telly he looked like happy-go-lucky Chandler, but his personal life was very different as he was battle drink and drug addiction off-camera.

The now sober actor admitted he was a "sick guy" during a candid sit down chat with ABC News in 2013.

Admitting he even tried to hide his struggle from his Friends co-stars, Matthew admitted: "Mostly it was drinking, you know, and opiates.

"I think I was pretty good at hiding it but, you know, eventually people were aware."

Matthew opened a sober living home for addicts to come to terms with the transition from rehab back to real life - called Perry House - in Malibu, California.

Matthew has appeared in some major films including The Whole Nine Yards and 17 Again - as well as co-delevoping and starring in CBS sitcom The Odd Couple.

In 2018 the actor spent three months recovering in hospital after having abdominal surgery to repair a gastrointestinal peforation.

There has been some recent concern for his wellbeing after he was spotted looking very different to his usual self in July this year.

He was spotted out in Beverly Hills looking exhausted as he puffed on a cigarette with a face mask resting round his chin before leaning on a wall and looking down at the floor.

Fans have been worried after the beloved actor - who is worth an estimated $80million - split from his girlfriend of two years Molly Hurwitz in May.

Jennifer Aniston

Friends fans all longed for Rachel Green and her-long-time love Ross to have their happily ever after - and were rewarded when they did finally end up together.

However, the same cannot be said for Jennifer Aniston in her real-life relationships.

After a fairytale wedding to dreamboat Brad Pitt, the pair became Hollywood's golden couple during their five-year marriage between 2000 and 2005

But things came to a nasty end when Brad dumped Jen for his Mr and Mrs Smith co-star Angelina Jolie - sparking a tense rivalry that continues to this day.

“I still feel so lucky to have experienced it. I wouldn’t know what I know now if I hadn’t been married to Brad,” she told Vanity Fair shortly after the split, admitting she had no regrets.

Jen then endured failed relationships with actor Vince Vaughn and musician John Mayer, who reportedly ended their romance by text.

It seemed like Jennifer had finally met her 'Ross' in the shape of filmmaker Justin Theroux when they got married in 2015 - but they separated just two years later.

As one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, Jen knows how to make a great movie and has won Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.

Bruce Almighty, Marley & Me and Horrible Bosses have all been box office successes - and she is estimated to be worth $200 million.

Courteney Cox

Monica Geller was the organised one who had struggles with childhood obesity, romance and her relationship with her mother.

After the end of Friends, Courteney Cox's career shot off and she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role as Jules in Cougar Town for six years.

She also directed a handful of its episodes, as well as her first feature filmJust Before I Goin 2014.

The Friends star has appeared in four films in the Scream horror movie franchise and most recently Mothers and Daughters in 2016.

Courtney also set up her own production company, Coquette Productions, with ex-husband David Arquette during their 14 year marriage.

She began dating Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid and the couple got engaged in 2014, but called it off soon after while remaining a couple.

The rocker is almost 13 years her junior so it mirrors the relationship of her character in Cougar Town.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc had us giggling for the best part of a decade with his portrayal of struggling actor Joey Tribbiani.

When the show came to an end he launched a spin-off, which was aptly called 'Joey', but it failed to reach the heights of it's sister show.

Matt took five years off before returning to the small screen in Episodes where he played a hilarious fictional version of himself.

He was back with a bang and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and was nominated for four Primetime Emmys.

In a somewhat strange move, Matt was announced as the new host of Top Gear for the 18th series in 2016.

Despite having a lot of fun, being away from his family for a long time during extensive travel took its toll and he stepped down after three years.

Matt is divorced from Melissa McKnight, who is the mother of his daughter, and is now dating Irish Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan.

Lisa Kudrow

Phoebe Buffay was the funniest of all the Friends and provided comic relief even in some of the most dramatic moments - and is responsible for the 'Smelly Cat' song.

Lisa Kudrow's pregnancy was written into the fourth season of Friends as Phoebe was a surrogate mother to triplets for her brother Frank.

Years after filming had finished, Lisa confessed she suffered from body dysmorphia and would constantly compare herself to Courteney and Jennifer.

"You see yourself on TV, and it's that, 'Oh my god, I'm just a mountain of a girl'," she said in 2019.

"And I'm already bigger than Courteney and Jennifer. [I was] taller, bigger. My bones feel bigger, I just felt like this mountain of a woman next to them."

Lisa has turned producer while also starring in some pretty big films over the years.

Some of her most famous movie appearances include P.S. I Love You, Dr. Dolittle 2, Hotel For Dogs and The Girl On The Train.

She has been married to advertising exec Michel Stern since 1995 and they have one son together.

David Schwimmer

Geeky Ross Geller finally managed to find eternal love with Rachel in the series finale of Friends.

While he played a paleontologist-turned-professor on-screen, actor David Schwimmer has proved to be more of a hero off it.

In 2014 he helped NYPD cops solve a stabbing crime involving a neighbour, transgender prostitute and a robber next door to the star's $4million home in New York.

Aside from being a bit of a Columbo, Schwimmer also provided the voice for Melman the giraffe in all of the animated Madagascar films.

The Friends star branched out into the theatre and has appeared in the West End and on Broadway.

In 2007 he directed his first film, Run Fatboy Run with Simon Pegg, and was also in charge of six episode of Little Britain USA.

Most recently, David became Robert Kardashian in The People v. O. J. SImpson and received his second Primetime Emmy Award.

David has a daughter, Cleo, with his ex-wife Zoe Buckman, who he divorced in 2017 after seven years of marriage.

Where Friends cast are now after unrecognisable Matthew Perry's health struggles (2024)
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