The cast of Friends have aged significantly since the show first aired 30 years ago, and fans have been left shock at the realization of how old the actors are
Friends may be three decades old, but the sitcom continues to captivate audiences.
The iconic show was broadcast on NBC from 1994 to 2004, spanning a total of 10 seasons. During this period, the characters were portrayed as being in their twenties and thirties. Given that fans are accustomed to seeing the characters (and the actors who portray them) at these younger ages, it’s quite startling for many to realize how much older the real-life actors are now.
Rachel (Jennifer Anniston) was depicted as the youngest character when the show aired, at 24, followed by Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Monica (Courteney Cox), both 25.
Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Ross (David Schwimmer) were 26, while Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) was the oldest at 27. Naturally, a decade later when the show concluded, the characters were then in their thirties.
However, this is still significantly younger than they are today.
A post on a Friends Facebook page underscored this fact, noting that Courtney Cox and David Schwimmer are now the same age as Monica and Ross’ parents were in the show.
According to the post, Judy and Jack, played by Christina Pickles and Elliott Gould, were 59 and 57 respectively in the show.
Courtney is now a year older than Judy was in the show at 60 years old, while David Schwimmer is the exact same age Jack was supposed to be at 57. The internet went into a frenzy over the post, which garnered 18,000 interactions.
Fans were both stunned and reflective as they pondered the passage of time after seeing the aging Friends stars. One fan commented: “Wow, that’s hard to believe.”
Another offered a reminder: “Time and tide wait for no man,” while someone else noted the obvious: “Yep that will happen after 30 years.”
Praise was abundant for how well the cast members have aged, with comments like “All of them look great,” and specific adulation for Courteney Cox: “Courtney still looks absolutely beautiful.”
The youthful spirit of the group is marked with Jennifer Aniston at 55 years young, while her costars Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer are each 57, and Lisa Kudrow joins Cox at 60.
The group faced a profound loss with Matthew Perry passing away at 54 last year.
The legacy of Friends persists, transcending generational divides. It’s earned impressive rankings, including landing at number 21 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time and at number 5 on Empire’s elite list.
With an impressive Emmy track record of 62 nominations, Friends achieved its pinnacle win for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002.
Its final episode, which aired on May 6, 2004, attracted about 52.5 million U.S. viewers, etching it into history as the fifth most-watched series finale ever and the most-viewed telecast of the decade.
