Lisa Kudrow reveals surprising amount co-stars earn from Friends over 20 years later
Friends is one of the most-watched sitcoms of all time, bringing in millions of hours of viewing across streaming platforms.
Despite ending over two decades ago in May 2004, the American comedy remains a fan-favourite TV show for many and is still binged by new generations.
Starring Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courtney Cox, and the late Matthew Perry, it follows six best pals who are navigating life in their 20s and 30s in New York City.
Kudrow, 62, who played eccentric musician Phoebe Buffay for all 10 seasons, has sat down with The Times and revealed what made Friends so special.
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She also seemingly confirmed the gigantic sum that the main cast members still earn annually, simply from reruns and repeat fees.
The publication reports that the surviving cast members still take home a whopping $20 million (£15 million) a year.
Guessing why, the actress joked: “Because Phoebe Buffay was so great?"
Switching to a more serious tone, she explained how her co-star Perry's death prompted her to watch the show again through a different lens.
The actor, who played Chandler Bing in the show died in October 2023 at the age of 54.
He was found in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home, with it later being discovered that the star's death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine.
Kudrow told the publication: 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.
"I felt I did OK, but Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew - he was just beyond us all."
Speaking of why so many Gen Zers, who weren't even born when the series aired, love the show now, the actress added: "Friends captured a kind of innocence that maybe a younger generation has never got to experience."
The outlet revealed how the cast were initially paid $22,500 (£16,319) per episode, but instead of competing against each other, they worked together a sa team to secure a whopping $1 million an episode by the end.
However, it wasn't all a happy family experience as Kudrow detailed how the show’s writers’ room was home to 12-15 staff, mostly men, who would allegedly make inappropriate and brutal comments behind the scenes.
She claimed: "Don’t forget we were recording in front of a live audience of 400, and if you messed up one of these writers’ lines or it didn’t get the perfect response they could be like, ‘Can’t the bitch f***ing read? She’s not even trying. She f***ed up my line.’
"And we know that back in the room the guys would be up late discussing their sexual fantasies about Jennifer and Courteney. It was intense."
Tyla/LADbible Group previously reached out to Lisa Kudrow's representatives and Warner Bros for comment.
Topics: Friends, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Gen Z, Celebrity, TV And Film
Madison Burgess