Lisa Kudrow, whose full name is Lisa Valerie Kudrow, was born on July 30, 1963, in Encino, Los Angeles, California, United States. She is an American actress, comedian, writer, and television producer. She is best known for portraying Phoebe Buffay in Friends (1994–2004), for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1998. Her other television work includes Mad About You, The Comeback, Web Therapy, Time Bandits, and No Good Deed.

Early Life and Education

Lisa Kudrow was born to physician Lee Kudrow, a specialist in headache research, and travel agent Nedra Stern. She grew up in Tarzana, California, with her siblings, including brothers David Kudrow and Derrick Kudrow.

She attended Portola Middle School and William Howard Taft High School. In 1985, she graduated from Vassar College in New York with a bachelor's degree in biology.

After graduation, Kudrow returned to Los Angeles and worked with her father on medical research. Comedian Jon Lovitz, a friend of her brother, encouraged her to pursue acting.

Acting Career Beginnings

Lisa Kudrow studied improvisational comedy with Cynthia Szigeti and joined the Los Angeles-based comedy group The Groundlings. She also performed with Conan O'Brien in an improvisational group.

In 1993, she was cast as Roz Doyle in the television series Frasier, but was replaced by Peri Gilpin before the series premiered.

She subsequently appeared as Ursula Buffay, an eccentric waitress, in Mad About You. The character later became the twin sister of Phoebe Buffay in Friends.

Friends and Phoebe Buffay

In 1994, Lisa Kudrow joined the cast of Friends, created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. She played Phoebe Buffay alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer.

She portrayed Phoebe throughout the series' ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004. In several episodes, she also played Phoebe's twin sister Ursula.

Kudrow received six Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 1998. She also received Screen Actors Guild and American Comedy Awards for her performance.

Her real-life pregnancy in 1998 was incorporated into the show's fourth season. In the storyline, Phoebe served as a surrogate mother for her half-brother and his wife, giving birth to triplets.

Film Career

Lisa Kudrow appeared in films including Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997), alongside Mira Sorvino, and The Opposite of Sex (1998), for which she received the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She played Dr. Lucy Stevens in Analyze This (1999) and Analyze That (2002), alongside Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.

Her other film credits include Clockwatchers (1997), Hanging Up (2000), Wonderland (2003), Happy Endings (2005), P.S. I Love You (2007), Easy A (2010), Neighbors (2014), and Booksmart (2019).

The Comeback and Web Therapy

In 2005, Lisa Kudrow co-created The Comeback with Michael Patrick King. She played Valerie Cherish, a former television actress attempting to revive her career. Kudrow also worked as a writer and executive producer.

The first season aired in 2005. The series returned for a second season in 2014 and a third and final season in 2026. The final season premiered on HBO on March 22, 2026, and concluded on May 10.

Kudrow received Emmy nominations for both acting and writing for the show's final season.

In 2008, she created the improvisational web comedy Web Therapy, playing therapist Fiona Wallice. The programme was subsequently adapted into a television series that aired on Showtime from 2011 to 2015.

She also served as an executive producer of Who Do You Think You Are?, a documentary series examining family histories and genealogy.

Recent Television and Film Work

Lisa Kudrow appeared in The Good Place (2020), Feel Good (2020–2021), and Space Force (2020–2022).

In 2024, she played Penelope in the Apple TV+ fantasy comedy Time Bandits and Lydia Morgan in the Netflix dark comedy No Good Deed, alongside Ray Romano.

In 2025, she appeared in the horror comedy film The Parenting. She returned to her role as Valerie Cherish in the final season of The Comeback in 2026.

Personal Life

On May 27, 1995, Lisa Kudrow married French advertising executive Michel Stern. Their son, Julian Murray Stern, was born on May 7, 1998. Julian later pursued a career in filmmaking and appeared in the third season of The Comeback.

Selected Filmography

Television Series
1992–1999 - Mad About You (Ursula Buffay)
1994–2004 - Friends (Phoebe Buffay / Ursula Buffay)
1998 - The Simpsons (Alex Whitney, Voice)
2005–2026 - The Comeback (Valerie Cherish)
2008–2015 - Web Therapy (Fiona Wallice)
2013–2015 - Scandal (Josephine Marcus)
2014–2016 - BoJack Horseman (Wanda Pierce, Voice)
2018–2020 - Grace and Frankie (Sheree)
2020 - The Good Place (Patty)
2020–2021 - Feel Good (Linda)
2020–2022 - Space Force (Maggie Naird)
2024 - Time Bandits (Penelope)
2024 - No Good Deed (Lydia Morgan)
Films
1989 - L.A. on $5 a Day
1991 - Dance with Death
1991 - The Unborn
1992 - In the Heat of Passion
1994 - In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful
1995 - The Crazysitter
1996 - Mother
1997 - Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
1997 - Clockwatchers
1997 - Hacks
1998 - The Opposite of Sex
1999 - Analyze This
2000 - Hanging Up
2000 - Lucky Numbers
2001 - All Over the Guy
2002 - Analyze That
2002 - Bark!
2003 - Wonderland
2005 - Happy Endings
2007 - Kabluey
2007 - P.S. I Love You
2008 - The Deal
2009 - Bandslam
2010 - Easy A
2014 - Neighbors
2016 - The Girl on the Train
2019 - Booksmart
2021 - The Boss Baby: Family Business (Voice)
2025 - The Parenting

Awards and Nominations

1995 - Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Friends (Winner, with Cast)
1998 - Primetime Emmy Award - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Friends (Winner)
1998 - New York Film Critics Circle Award - Best Supporting Actress, The Opposite of Sex (Winner)
1999 - Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series, Friends (Winner)
2006 - Primetime Emmy Award - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, The Comeback (Nominee)
2015 - Primetime Emmy Award - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, The Comeback (Nominee)
2026 - Primetime Emmy Award - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, The Comeback (Nominee)
2026 - Primetime Emmy Award - Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, The Comeback (Nominee)

Source: Biyografiler.com