Friends continues to remain one of television’s most beloved sitcoms, and its legacy is often tied not only to its core cast but also to the impressive lineup of celebrity guest appearances featured throughout its run.
Recently, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow looked back on some of the biggest Hollywood names who appeared on the iconic series over the years.
Over its 10 season run, the show welcomed stars including Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Brooke Shields, Adam Goldberg and Isabella Rossellini in memorable cameo roles.
Among the most unforgettable guest appearances, however, was that of Brad Pitt, who appeared on the show while married to Jennifer Aniston.
Speaking about the celebrity cameos, Aniston recalled how even major Hollywood stars often felt intimidated stepping onto the Friends set.
“They were always nervous. Remember? I always found it fascinating how nervous they were,” she said while chatting with Kudrow.
The conversation soon turned to the famous Thanksgiving episode featuring Pitt, which aired in 2001 shortly after his marriage to Aniston. Ironically, while the pair were one of Hollywood’s biggest real life couples at the time, their on-screen relationship in the episode was anything but affectionate.
Pitt portrayed Will Colbert, a former classmate who deeply disliked Rachel Green, Aniston’s character. The episode revealed that Will had once created the “I Hate Rachel Club” alongside Ross Geller, played by David Schwimmer, during their school years.
Kudrow fondly remembered the episode as one of the funniest in the show’s history.
“The Thanksgiving episode when Brad was on, that was hilarious,” she said, with Aniston quickly agreeing.
The actresses also reflected on how the fast changing structure of the sitcom often caught guest actors off guard. Since scenes were frequently rewritten based on audience reactions during live tapings, many celebrities struggled to adapt to the unusual rhythm of the show.
“Because what’s the tone? It’s not theatre; it’s for TV. It’s not a movie. What the hell is this?” Kudrow joked.
Aniston and Pitt’s relationship remains one of Hollywood’s most talked about romances. The pair began dating in 1998 after being introduced by their agents and eventually married in 2000. At the time, they were widely seen as one of the entertainment industry’s biggest power couples.
Their marriage ended in 2005.
Pitt later married his Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-star Angelina Jolie. Their split eventually turned into a lengthy legal battle before their divorce was officially finalised in December 2024.
