Lisa Kudrow
Biography
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress born on July 30, 1963, in Encino, California. She rose to international fame for playing Phoebe Buffay in the American television sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. This breakout role earned her Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Satellite, American Comedy, and TV Guide awards, and Phoebe has since been recognized as one of the most significant television characters of all time. Kudrow initially appeared in a 1989 episode of the sitcom Cheers as a character named Emily and starred in several episodes of Mad About You in 1993 as Ursula before earning her role on Friends. Her extensive acting career includes 131 known credits in movies and television shows.
Career overview
Lisa Valerie Kudrow was born on July 30, 1963, in Encino, California, USA. She is an American actress with known acting credits in the entertainment industry. She rose to international fame for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the American television sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. Her work on the series earned her Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Satellite, American Comedy, and TV Guide awards. Phoebe has since been named one of the most significant television characters of all time and is considered Kudrow's breakout role, spawning her successful film career.
Before her time on Friends, Kudrow initially appeared in a 1989 episode of the hit sitcom Cheers, playing a character named Emily. She also starred in several episodes of the show Mad About You in 1993 as Ursula before auditioning and earning her later prominent television roles.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
151 titles- The Claudia Winkleman Show (2026) as Self
- Shut Up Evan (2026) as Self - Guest
- Variety & CNN Actors on Actors (2025) as Self
- The Parenting (2025) as Liddy
- Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- No Good Deed (2024) as Lydia Morgan
- Time Bandits (2024) as Penelope
- Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023) as Self - Guest
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Better Nate Than Ever (2022) as Aunt Heidi
- The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) as Janice Templeton (voice)
- Friends: The Reunion (2021) as Self
- Friends: The Reunion (2021) Executive Producer
- HouseBroken (2021) as Honey (voice)
- Space Force (2020) as Maggie Naird
- Feel Good (2020) as Linda
- Celebrity IOU (2020) as Self
- Celebrity Escape Room (2020) as Self
- Death to 2020 (2020) as Jeanetta Grace Susan
- Like a Boss (2020) as Shay Whitmore
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Today with Jenna & Sheinelle (2019) as Self
- Booksmart (2019) as Charmaine
- Long Shot (2019) as Katherine
- Human Discoveries (2019) as Judy Elk (voice)
- Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (2019) Executive Producer
- Friends 25th: The One with the Anniversary (2019) as Phoebe Buffay
- 25 Words or Less (2018) as Self
- Lovesick Fool - Love in the Age of Like (2018) as Ozma
- The Boss Baby (2017) as Janice Templeton (voice)
- Table 19 (2017) as Bina Kepp
- The Good Place (2016) as Hypatia
- Angie Tribeca (2016) as Monica Vivarquor
- The Girl on the Train (2016) as Martha
- Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) as Dean Carol Gladstone
- Join or Die with Craig Ferguson (2016)
- Americano (2016) as Lucille (voice)
- Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows (2016) as Self
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
- Grace and Frankie (2015) as Sheree
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015) as Fairy Godmother (voice)
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015) as Lori-Anne Schmidt
- Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live (2015) as Self - Musical Guest
- Web Therapy (2015) Original Series Creator
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- BoJack Horseman (2014) as Wanda Pierce (voice)
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- Celebrity Name Game (2014) as Self
- Neighbors (2014) as Carol Gladstone
- Rick and Morty (2013) as Tyrannosaurus Rex (voice)
- Hollywood Game Night (2013) as Self
- The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) as Self
- Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot (2013) as Self
- Scandal (2012) as Congresswoman Josephine Marcus
- Web Therapy (2011) as Fiona Wallice
- Web Therapy (2011) Creator
- Conan (2010) as Self
- Easy A (2010) as Mrs. Griffith
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2010) as Self
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2010) Producer
- The Other Woman (2010) as Carolyne Soule
- The Other Woman (2010) Executive Producer
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Special Guest
- Cougar Town (2009) as Dr. Amy Evans
- Hotel for Dogs (2009) as Lois Scudder
- Powder Blue (2009) as Sally
- The Streamy Awards (2009) as Self - Presenter
- Bandslam (2009) as Karen Burton
- Paper Man (2009) as Claire Dunn
- A Home for Everyone: The Making of 'Hotel for Dogs' (2009) as Self
- Web Therapy (2008) as Fiona Wallice
- Web Therapy (2008) Producer
- Web Therapy (2008) Creator
- P.S. I Love You (2007) as Denise
- Kabluey (2007) as Leslie
- The Megan Mullally Show (2006) as Self - Guest
- American Dad! (2005) as The Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- The Comeback (2005) as Valerie Cherish
- The Comeback (2005) Writer
- The Comeback (2005) Executive Producer
- The Comeback (2005) Creator
- Happy Endings (2005) as Mamie
- Hopeless Pictures (2005) as Sandy
- Father of the Pride (2004) as Foo Lin (voice)
- Father of the Pride (2004) as Foo-Lin (voice)
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Mean Tweets
- Wonderland (2003) as Sharon Holmes
- Picking Up & Dropping Off (2003) Executive Producer
- Marci X (2003) as Marci Feld
- Celebrities Uncensored (2003) as Self
- American Idol (2002) as Self
- Analyze That (2002) as Laura Sobel
- Bark! (2002) as Darla
- Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) as Ava (voice)
- All Over the Guy (2001) as Marie
- Lucky Numbers (2000) as Crystal
- Hanging Up (2000) as Maddy Mozell
- Analyze This (1999) as Laura MacNamara Sobel
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self
- Hercules (1998) as Aphrodite (voice)
- The Opposite of Sex (1998) as Lucia DeLury
- King of the Hill (1997) as Amy Pittman (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) as Michele Weinberger
- Sink Or Swim (1997) as Reading Woman
- Clockwatchers (1997) as Paula
- Blue's Clues (1996)
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- Ruby Wax Meets (1996)
- Mother (1996) as Linda
- The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA (1995) as Self
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) as Lisa (voice)
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) Additional Writing
- Hope and Gloria (1995) as Phoebe Buffay
- Friends (1994) as Phoebe Buffay
- Duckman (1994)
- The Crazysitter (1994) as Adrian Wexler-Jones
- In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful (1994) as Teller
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self
- Mad About You (1992) as Ursula Buffay
- Mad About You (1992) as Karen
- MTV Movie & TV Awards (1992) as Self / Host
- Bob (1992) as Kathy Fleisher
- In the Heat of Passion (1992) as Esther
- Dance with Death (1992) as Millie
- To the Moon, Alice (1991) as Friend of Perky Girl
- Murder in High Places (1991) as Miss Stitch
- The Unborn (1991) as Louisa Krelm
- The Simpsons (1989) as Alex Whitney (voice)
- Coach (1989) as Nurse Alice
- Coach (1989) as Lauren
- Cheers (1982) as Emily
- Newhart (1982) as Sada
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self - It Got Better
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Romy and Michele 2 as Michele Weinberger
- Romy and Michele 2 Executive Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lisa Kudrow best known for?
Lisa Kudrow is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Shut Up Evan (2026), Time Bandits (2024), The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022), The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021).
When and where was Lisa Kudrow born?
Lisa Kudrow was born on July 30, 1963 in Encino, California, USA.
How many credits does Lisa Kudrow have?
Lisa Kudrow has accumulated over 151 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is Lisa Kudrow's background in cinema and television?
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress born on July 30, 1963, in Encino, California. She rose to international fame for playing Phoebe Buffay in the American television sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. This breakout role earned her Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Satellite, American Comedy, and T...