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Lisa Kudrow extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Lisa Kudrow
Kudrow at the 2009 Streamy Awards
Born	Lisa V. Kudrow July 30, 1963 (1963-07-30) (age 46) Encino, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress/Voice actress
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Michel Stern (1995-present)

Lisa Valerie Kudrow¹ (born July 30, 1963) is an American actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends, for which she received many accolades including an Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 4.1 Film 4.2 Television 5 Awards and nominations 6 References 7 External links

Early life

Lisa Valerie Kudrow was born in Encino, California, the daughter of Nedra S. (née Stern), a travel agent, and Dr Lee N. Kudrow (born 1933), a headache specialist and physician.² She was raised in an upper-middle-class Jewish family³ and has an older sister, Helene Marla (born 1960), and an older brother, neurologist David B. Kudrow (born 1957). She is the niece of composer/conductor Harold Farberman. She took guitar lessons as a child and is left-handed. In 1979, at the age of 16, she underwent surgery which reduced the size of her nose. ⁴

After attending Portola Middle School in Tarzana, California, she graduated from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California. She received her B.S. in Biology from Vassar College, intending to follow in her father's footsteps and research headaches. Kudrow worked on her father's staff for eight years while breaking into acting, earning a research credit on his study on the comparative likelihood of left-handed individuals developing cluster headaches.³⁵

Career

At the urging of her brother's childhood friend, comedian Jon Lovitz,³ Kudrow began her comedic career as a member of The Groundlings, joining the ranks of those such as Will Ferrell and Janeane Garofalo. Briefly, Kudrow joined with Conan O'Brien and director Tim Hillman in the short-lived improv troupe Unexpected Company.⁶ She was also the only regular female member of the Transformers Comedy Troupe.⁷ She played a role in an episode of the NBC sitcom Cheers. She tried out for Saturday Night Live in 1990, but the show chose Julia Sweeney instead.⁸ She had a recurring role as Kathy Fleisher in three episodes of season one of the Bob Newhart sitcom Bob (CBS, 1992-1993), a role she played after taking part in the memorable series finale of Newhart's previous series Newhart. Prior to Friends, she appeared in at least two produced network pilots: NBC's Just Temporary (also known as Temporarily Yours) in 1989, playing Nicole; and CBS' Close Encounters (also known as Matchmaker) in 1990, playing a Valley girl.²

Kudrow was hired to play the role of Roz Doyle in Frasier, but the part was re-cast with Peri Gilpin during the filming of the pilot episode. Kudrow said in 2000 that when rehearsals started, "I knew it wasn't working. I could feel it all slipping away, and I was panicking, which only made things worse".³ However, one of the people working on Frasier also worked on Friends and suggested Kudrow audition for the show.^{citation needed} Her first recurring television role was Ursula Buffay, the eccentric waitress on the NBC sitcom Mad About You. Kudrow would reprise the character on the NBC sitcom Friends, in which Kudrow co-starred as massage therapist Phoebe Buffay, Ursula's twin sister. As Kudrow explained in 2009, "I did Mad About You first, and then it was pilot season, and I auditioned for this pilot that turned out to be Friends. And once I got that, the time slot we got was right after Mad About You, so the creative folk thought, 'Well, we can't just pretend like it's not her'".⁹

For her ensemble starring role as Phoebe on Friends (NBC, 1994 - 2004) Kudrow would win the 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series; she was the first Friends cast member to win an Emmy, as well as the most frequently nominated of the cast, receiving six nominations. The program was a long-running hit, and Kudrow and her fellow cast-members, gained wide renown among television viewers. According to the Guinness Book of World Records (2005), Kudrow and co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox became the highest paid TV actresses of all time, earning $1 million per episode for the ninth and tenth season of Friends.

Her film credits include comedic roles in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Hanging Up, Marci X, Analyze This and its sequel Analyze That. However, Kudrow has also starred in dramatic roles including the biographical Wonderland about the late porn star John Holmes. She has garnered critical acclaim^{citation needed} in dramatic roles for writer-director Don Roos in the films The Opposite of Sex and Happy Endings. In 2008, she commenced filming on Hotel for Dogs alongside Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin.

She has been a vocal performer on episodes of animated television series, including as Aphrodite on Hercules: The Animated Series, and as Springfield Elementary School student Alexandra Whitney on The Simpsons. She was the voice of the female grizzly bear Ava in the live action movie Dr. Dolittle 2. She also voiced the Ghost of Christmas Past in the American Dad Christmas Special: The Best Christmas Story Never Told After Friends, Kudrow starred as protagonist Valerie Cherish on the single-season HBO series The Comeback (premiered June 5, 2005), about a has-been sitcom star trying for a comeback. She also served as co-creator, writer, and executive producer. Kudrow received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on The Comeback, making her the first Friends cast member to receive a major award nomination since Friends ended. She has also appeared, alongside her niece, in a television commercial for Nintendo's Personal Trainer: Cooking,¹⁰ as well as in the Nintendo DS commercial for Professor Layton and the Curious Village with Lynn Brown Kogen. She and Lisa are friends (Lisa was in Lynn's wedding) and who is married to Jay Kogen (writer/producer for Frasier, Tracey Ullman, Simpsons).

Her latest project is as the executive producer for the American version of the hit UK television series Who Do You Think You Are? for NBC, in which celebrities trace their family trees. The show will also include Susan Sarandon, and Sarah Jessica Parker and others.¹¹ On March 19, 2010 Kudrow’s own search for her own roots in eastern Europe ¹² was broadcast.

Lisa Kudrow is currently filming her new web series called "Web Therapy" on Lstudio.com. She has had many famous actors as guests, including her former co-star Courteney Cox.^{citation needed}

Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox will reunite on Cougar Town, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Kudrow, 46, will play an accomplished dermatologist whose services become addictive to Jules (Cox), despite the doctor's evil temperament. Kudrow's episode is slated to air during November sweeps.¹³

Personal life

On May 27, 1995, Kudrow became the first "Friend" to marry when she wed Michel Stern, a French advertising executive.² She remained a virgin until her wedding, aged 31. She said she did so as she had been brought up to believe her virginity should be a special gift for her husband.¹⁴ They have one son, Julian Murray (born May 7, 1998), and live near Beverly Hills, California.¹⁵ Kudrow's pregnancy was written into Friends with her character Phoebe having triplets as a surrogate parent for her brother and his wife because they were not able to have children.

Kudrow can speak English and French fluently.

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1989	L.A on $5 a Day	Charmer
	Married to the Mob
	Just Temporary	Nicole	TV movie
	Murder in High Places	Miss Stich	TV movie
1991	To the Moon, Alice	Friend of Perky Girl	TV movie
	The Unborn	Louisa
1992	Dance with Death	Millie
	In the Heat of Passion	Bank Teller	Also know as: Heat of Passion
1994	In the Heat of Passion 2: Unfaithful	Bank Teller
1995	The Crazysister	Adrian Wexler-Jones
1996	Mother	Linda
1997	Romy and Michele's High School Reunion	Michele Weinberger	Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
	Clockwatchers	Paula
	Hacks	Reading Woman
1998	The Opposite of Sex	Lucia DeLury	Nominated - CFCA Award for Best Supporting Actress Won - Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated - American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female Won - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated - Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated - Teen Choice Award for best hissy fit
1999	Analyze This	Laura MacNamara Sobel	Nominated - American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Won - Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy
2000	Hanging Up	Maddy Moell	Won- Teen Choice Award for best hissy fit
	Lucky Numbers	Crystal
2001	All Over the Guy	Marie
	Dr. Dolittle 2	Ava	Voice
2002	Bark	Dr. Darla Portnoy
	Analyze That	Laura Sobel
2003	Marci X	Marci Field
	Wonderland	Sharon Holmes
2005	Happy Endings	Mamie
2007	Kabluey	Leslie	Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
	P.S. I Love You	Denise
2009	Hotel for Dogs	Lois Scudder
	Powder Blue	Sally
	Paper Man	Claire Dunn
	Bandslam	Karen Burton
	Love and Other Impossible Pursuits	Carolyne
	Dirty Girl	Peggy	Pre-production
2010	Easy A	Mrs. Griffith	Pre-production

Television

Year	Series	Role	Notes
1989	Cheers	Emily	Episode: "Two Girls for Every Boyd"
1990	Newhart	Sada	Episode: "The Last Newhart"
	Life Goes On	Stellla	Episode: "Becca and the Band"
1992	Room for Two	Woman in Black	Episode: "Not Quite... Room for Two"
1992-1999	Mad About You	Ursula Buffay	23 episodes
1993	Flying Blind	Amy	Episode: "My Dinner with Brad Schimmel"
	Bob	Kathy Fleisher	Episode: "Bob and Kaye and Jerry and Patty" Episode: "Tell Them Willy Mammoth Is Here" Episode: "The Entertainer"
1993-1994	Coach	Lauren	Episode: "About Face" Episode: "Like Father, Like Daughter"
1994-2004	Friends	Phoebe Buffay	236 episodes
1996	Hope & Gloria	Phoebe Buffay	Episode: "A New York Story"
	Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man	Female Beta Maxians	Episode: "The One with Lisa Kudrow in a Small Role"
1997	Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist	Lisa	Episode: "Reunion"
1998	The Simpsons	Alex Whitney	Episode: "Lard of the Dance"
1998-1999	Hercules: The Animated Series	Aphrodite	Episode: "Hercules and the Big Kiss" Episode: "Hercules and the Dream Date" Episode: "Hercules and the Gorgon"
2001	King of the Hill	Marjorie Pittman	Episode: "The Exterminator"
	Blue's Clues	Dr. Stork	Episode: "The Baby's Here!"
2004-2005	Father of the Pride	Foo-Lin	Episode: "What's Black and White and Depressed All Over?" Episode: "The Siegfried and Roy Fantasy Experience Movie"
2005	The Comeback	Valerie Cherish	13 episodes, Producer and writer
	Hopeless Pictures	Sandy	Episode: "Episode #1.2" Episode: "Episode #1.4"
2006	American Dad!	The Ghost of Christmas Past	Episode: "The Best Christmas Story Never"
2009	Web Therapy	Fiona Wallice	Web series, Producer and writer
2010	Cougar Town	Dr. Amy Evans	Episode: "Rhino Skin"
2010	Who Do You Think You Are?	Herself	Episode: "Lisa Kudrow" 16

Awards and nominations

¹⁷

Year	Award	Category	Result
1995	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Mad About You	Nominated
1996	American Comedy Award	Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series - Friends	Nominated
	Golden Globe Award	Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie - Friends	Nominated
	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
		Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Friends	Won
1997	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
1998	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Friends	Won
	New York Film Critics Circle Award	Best Supporting Actress - The Opposite of Sex	Won
	Satellite Awards	Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical - Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion	Nominated
1999	American Comedy Award	Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series - Seinfeld	Nominated
		Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - The Opposite of Sex	Nominated
		Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series - Mad About You	Nominated
	Chicago Film Critics Association Award	Best Supporting Actress - The Opposite of Sex	Nominated
	Chlotrudis Award	Best Supporting Actress - The Opposite of Sex	Won
	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
	Independent Spirit Award	Best Supporting Actress - The Opposite of Sex	Nominated
	Online Film Critics Society Award	Best Supporting Actress - The Opposite of Sex	Nominated
	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
		Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
2000	American Comedy Award	Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series - Friends	Nominated
		Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special - MTV Movie Awards	Nominated
		Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - Analyze This	Nominated
	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Friends	Won
		Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
2001	American Comedy Award	Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series - Friends	Nominated
	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
	Satellite Award	Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical - Friends	Won
	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
2002	Satellite Award	Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical - Friends	Nominated
	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
2003	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
2004	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
		Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Friends	Nominated
2006	Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - The Comeback	Nominated
	Gracie Allen Award	Outstanding Female Lead in a Comedy Series - The Comeback	Won
	Satellite Award	Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical - The Comeback	Nominated
2008	Satellite Award	Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical - Kabluey	Nominated
2009	Streamy Award	Best Female Actress in a Web Comedy Series - Web Therapy	Nominated

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lisa Kudrow

• Lisa Kudrow at the Internet Movie Database
• Lisa Kudrow at Allmovie
• Lisa Kudrow at Yahoo! Movies

Preceded by Samuel L. Jackson

MTV Movie Awards host 1999

Succeeded by Sarah Jessica Parker

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series Betty White (1976) Â· Mary Kay Place (1977) Â· Julie Kavner (1978) Â· Sally Struthers (1979) Â· Loretta Swit (1980) Â· Eileen Brennan (1981) Â· Loretta Swit (1982) Â· Carol Kane (1983) Â· Rhea Perlman (1984) Â· Rhea Perlman (1985) Â· Rhea Perlman (1986) Â· Jackée Harry (1987) Â· Estelle Getty (1988) Â· Rhea Perlman (1989) Â· Bebe Neuwirth (1990) Â· Bebe Neuwirth (1991) Â· Laurie Metcalf (1992) Â· Laurie Metcalf (1993) Â· Laurie Metcalf (1994) Â· Christine Baranski (1995) Â· Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1996) Â· Kristen Johnston (1997) Â· Lisa Kudrow (1998) Â· Kristen Johnston (1999) Â· Megan Mullally (2000) Complete list: (1953–1975) Â· (1976–2000) Â· (2001–present)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Helen Hunt (1994) Â· Christine Baranski (1995) Â· Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1996) Â· Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1997) Â· Tracey Ullman (1998) Â· Lisa Kudrow (1999) Â· Sarah Jessica Parker (2000) Â· Megan Mullally (2001) Â· Megan Mullally (2002) Â· Megan Mullally (2003) Â· Teri Hatcher (2004) Â· Felicity Huffman (2005) Â· America Ferrera (2006) Â· Tina Fey (2007) Â· Tina Fey (2008) Â· Tina Fey (2009)

Persondata
NAME	Kudrow, Lisa Diane Marie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	American actress
DATE OF BIRTH	July 30, 1963
PLACE OF BIRTH	Encino, California
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH