Hollywood actress Maggie Wheeler, best known for her unforgettable role as Janice on the global phenomenon Friends, was seen enjoying a casual stroll in Los Angeles this week. The 64-year-old star, whose career spans four decades, was spotted on Monday taking a phone call during her low-key daytime excursion.
A Casual Outing for an Iconic Actress
Wheeler, who has been a familiar face on screens since the early 1980s, kept her style relaxed for the outing. She wore a dark navy knit sweater paired with denim jeans and a matching denim jacket. Completing the look were brown boots, a light green shoulder bag, and subtle gold jewellery, including necklaces and mini earrings. Her hair was worn down naturally, flowing past her shoulders as she chatted on her smartphone.
The actress, born in New York, launched her professional career with a role as a nurse in the 1982 film Soup For One. She later starred opposite David Duchovny in the 1989 romantic comedy New Year's Day. Throughout the 1990s, Wheeler became a familiar face on hit US shows including L.A. Law, Seinfeld, The X-Files, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Ellen.
The Role That Defined a Generation: Remembering Janice
It was in 1994 that Maggie Wheeler secured her place in television history, landing the recurring role of Janice, the on-and-off girlfriend of Matthew Perry's character Chandler Bing. Appearing in 19 episodes until 2004, Janice became iconic for her nasal voice, distinctive laugh, and the catchphrase 'Oh. My. God'.
In an April appearance on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Wheeler reflected on the unique experience. She revealed that the character's famous laugh was born spontaneously from her first scene with Perry. 'Matthew Perry is so funny... I thought, 'Oh God, I'm gonna lose it... This character needs a laugh,'' she explained, crediting the late actor as her inspiration.
Such was Janice's popularity that Wheeler recalled being kept in her dressing room to avoid spoiling her entrances for the live studio audience. 'It's a little bit of a rock star feeling. To be able to make an entrance each time and have the audience gasp, and laugh, and howl,' she said, describing the overwhelming response.
A Lasting Bond and a Heartfelt Tribute
Wheeler fondly remembered the Friends set as 'unlike any other' and praised the close-knit cast. This bond was profoundly evident following the tragic death of Matthew Perry in October 2023. The actor, aged 54, drowned in his hot tub following a ketamine overdose.
Wheeler joined countless friends and co-stars in paying tribute, posting a poignant message alongside a photo from the show. 'What a loss. The world will miss you Matthew Perry,' she wrote. 'The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.'
Two years prior, Wheeler had reunited with Perry and the rest of the core cast for the acclaimed Friends: The Reunion special in 2021, an experience she described with great joy.
Beyond Friends, Wheeler's career includes roles in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap alongside Lindsay Lohan, and guest spots on series like How I Met Your Mother. More recently, she voiced a character in a 2025 episode of Bob's Burgers and appeared in the short film Being Dead Should Be Easy earlier this year. She also lent her voice to the 2025 animated feature Dog Man, which starred SNL alum Pete Davidson.
