The casting of Friends was like striking gold. These six young, talented, and attractive actors – Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer – were brought together to portray a group of friends living in NYC. From 1994 to 2004, the show skyrocketed them to superstardom, making them incredibly wealthy and constant targets of tabloid attention.
Embracing the show’s iconic theme song, “I’ll Be There for You,” the cast approached their work with a united front, adopting an all for one, one for all mentality. Perry, who tragically passed away on October 28th, leaving his fellow cast members “devastated,” revealed in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” that they knew the show was going to be “something very, very special.” Following the advice of James Burrows, the co-creator of Cheers who directed the Friends pilot and 14 other episodes, they made a concerted effort to build a bond before the cameras started rolling.
Perry recounted that they gathered on the set of Monica’s apartment and were simply instructed to talk to each other. And it flowed naturally. “We talked and joked, about romance, our careers, our loves, our losses,” he wrote. “And the bond that Jimmy knew would be critical had begun.”
During a lunch break, Cox, arguably the most well-known cast member at the time, emphasized the importance of unity. She declared, “‘There are no stars here. This is an ensemble show. We’re all supposed to be friends… Let’s really work and get to know each other.'” Perry recalled that Cox, who had recently shot an episode of the megahit Seinfeld, revealed that this was how it was done on successful shows. Her words solidified their commitment to each other.
The show’s creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, envisioned Friends as a true ensemble, and the cast fully embraced that sentiment. They recognized that giving equal screen time to all the characters would ensure the show’s longevity.
Just before the show’s premiere on September 22, 1994, Burrows took the cast on a trip to Las Vegas. Each member was given $100 to gamble, and they were encouraged to enjoy their last moments of anonymity. Perry reminisced, “Six new friends got drunk and gambled and wandered through the casinos.” Cox later shared a photo of the group taken on their private plane.
From the very beginning, the cast’s on-screen chemistry was evident, propelling Friends to become a top-rated show. They would gather every week to watch the episodes together. Despite the ups and downs experienced by each actor, especially Perry’s struggles with addiction, their bond remained strong. This was exemplified when, twenty years after the show ended, Cox, LeBlanc, Kudrow, Aniston, and Schwimmer released a joint statement expressing shock and grief over Perry’s untimely death, referring to him as a “family” member.
There are numerous instances throughout the years that demonstrate the tight-knit nature of the Friends cast. Here are a few memorable moments:
The one where they insisted on doing press together at the start of Friends: In the early seasons, the actors made a point of appearing together on magazine covers. They wanted to convey the spirit of camaraderie in real life, which only enhanced the authenticity of their on-screen friendship.
The one where they teamed up during salary negotiations: During the third season, the cast collectively negotiated equal salaries for everyone. By the eighth season, each actor was earning $1 million per episode. Aniston explained that if someone had been making significantly more money, it would have been detrimental to the group dynamic.
The one where they banded together for Emmy consideration: In the earlier years of the show, the cast submitted their names in the supporting actor/actress categories for the Emmys because they believed that no one person was the lead. Kudrow was the first to win in 1998. In 2000, there was a complication when Perry’s team accidentally submitted him in the lead category. Ultimately, they all began submitting themselves as leads. Aniston won in 2002.
The one where they held an intervention for Perry: Perry openly discussed his struggles with addiction, revealing that he spent over $9 million on treatment for alcohol and opioid abuse. His castmates expressed concern and staged an intervention when they noticed his decline. Although their efforts weren’t ultimately successful, their support and loyalty were unwavering.
Even after the show concluded in 2004, Friends continues to be a lucrative venture for the cast. They each earn $20 million annually in syndication income from Warner Bros. for their roles as Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Joey.
The bond formed between the Friends cast is a testament to their genuine friendship and commitment to each other. It is undoubtedly one of the factors that contributed to the show’s enduring popularity and its status as a beloved cultural phenomenon.
