Lisa Kudrow has disclosed the substantial earnings she and her Friends co-stars continue to receive from the iconic sitcom, more than 20 years after its finale, The Last One, aired.
Residuals and Ongoing Success
The 62-year-old actress, who gained worldwide fame for her portrayal of Phoebe Buffay, revealed that she still makes approximately $20 million annually in residuals. When asked why the show remains so lucrative, she quipped, "Because Phoebe Buffay was so great?" Kudrow elaborated on the enduring popularity of the series, noting that she rewatched all episodes following the death of her co-star Matthew Perry in late 2023 at age 54.
Speaking to The Times, she said: "After Matthew died I watched the show again. Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better, but for the first time I truly appreciated just how great it was." She praised her co-stars, adding: "Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew - he was just beyond us all."
The Show's Legacy
Friends originally aired from 1994 to 2004, spanning 10 seasons. It has since become a billion-dollar franchise, with merchandise, frequent television reruns, and streaming on Netflix. The cast reunited in 2021 for a one-off special celebrating the show's legacy.
Kudrow also reflected on her career after Friends, admitting that despite being the first cast member to win an Emmy (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1998), she felt undervalued. She told The Independent: "Nobody cared about me. There were certain parts of [my talent agency] that just referred to me as 'the sixth Friend.'" She noted that offers only began to flow after her role in the 1999 comedy Analyze This alongside Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.
Regarding her character, Kudrow said Phoebe was initially "very, very far from me" but that over the decade, "a little bit of her came into me." She added: "I lightened up a little more and read some books on spirituality and things, just to try to understand her."
