Even though Friends concluded its final season nearly two decades ago, the show remains a beloved comfort to many. The sitcom, which premiered in 1994, chronicled the ups and downs of six quirky 20-somethings navigating life in New York City. This show catapulted Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry to stardom and created a lasting legacy in television.
Throughout its 10 seasons, Friends featured a memorable lineup of guest stars who have sadly passed away since the show ended. Here, we honor the lives of these actors and the unforgettable characters they portrayed.
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Matthew Perry
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Matthew Perry brought Chandler Bing’s sarcasm and wit to life, making him one of the most memorable characters. After Friends, he continued acting, including a role in The Good Fight.
Tragically, Perry passed away in October 2023, with reports attributing his death to complications from ketamine use, drowning, and coronary issues. Several individuals, including a doctor and his assistant, are facing charges in connection with the case.
Teri Garr
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Teri Garr appeared as Phoebe’s biological mother, Phoebe Abbott, in the season three finale, “The One at the Beach.” Known for her versatility, she received an Oscar nomination for Tootsie in 1982.
Garr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002 and passed away from complications related to MS on October 29, 2024, at age 79. Lisa Kudrow expressed gratitude for Garr’s influence on her own comedic style.
James Michael Tyler
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Tyler portrayed Gunther, the Central Perk manager known for his unrequited love for Rachel and his bright blonde hair. After revealing a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2021, he passed away from complications later that year at age 59.
Robin Williams
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Robin Williams made a guest appearance in the episode The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion, sharing the screen with Billy Crystal. The world lost this beloved actor in 2014 at the age of 63 to suicide, a tragic event that shocked his fans worldwide.
Heathcote Williams
Heathcote Williams played a memorable role as the drunk wedding guest at Ross and Emily’s wedding, confusing Monica for Ross’s mother.
This misunderstanding led to Monica seeking comfort and reassurance from Joey, ultimately resulting in her iconic relationship with Chandler.
Williams passed away on July 1, 2017, at 75 due to emphysema.
Mike Hagerty
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Mike Hagerty, best known for his role as Mr. Treeger, the building superintendent, appeared in five episodes of Friends. His warm and comedic presence was cherished by fans. Hagerty died on May 5, 2022, at 67, after an adverse reaction to an antibiotic for a leg infection.
Audra Lindley
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Audra Lindley portrayed Phoebe Buffay’s grandmother, Frances, a role that won over the hearts of viewers. Sadly, Lindley passed away from leukemia in 1997.
Ron Leibman
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Ron Leibman was known for playing Dr. Leonard Green, Rachel Green’s father, in Friends. His hilarious and often confrontational portrayal became a fan favorite. Leibman passed away in 2019 from complications related to pneumonia.
Ron Glass
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Ron Glass played Russel, Ross’s divorce lawyer, in the storyline following his annulment after marrying Rachel in Las Vegas. Glass passed away in 2016 at the age of 71 due to respiratory failure.
Stan Kirsch
Actor Stan Kirsch, who portrayed Ethan, Monica’s boyfriend in Friends, tragically died on January 11, 2020, at 51.
His character, a high school student lying about his age, remains a notable part of the show. His death was ruled a suicide.
Joel Beeson
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Joel Beeson appeared as Todd the Hombre Man in Friends, engaging in a comedic rivalry with Joey Tribbiani in The One with the Breast Milk. Beeson passed away from liver disease on October 17, 2017, at 51.
Fred Willard
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Fred Willard, a versatile actor known for his comedic timing, made a memorable guest appearance in The One After the Superbowl, Part 1, playing Dean Lipson, a zoo manager. Willard passed away from a heart attack on May 15, 2020, at 86.
Dick Clark
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Dick Clark, the famous television personality, appeared as himself in The One with the Routine, hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in Times Square. Clark passed away on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82, after suffering a heart attack following a surgical procedure.
Alice Drummond
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Alice Drummond, best known for her role as Nana, Ross and Monica’s grandmother in the episode Nana Dies Twice, passed away on November 30, 2016. She was 88 years old and died due to complications from a fall she had sustained two months earlier.
Beverly Garland
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Beverly Garland portrayed Monica and Ross’s Aunt Iris, teaching them how to play poker in a memorable episode of Friends. Garland passed away from a long illness on December 5, 2008, at the age of 82.
Phil Leeds
Phil Leeds played Mr. Adelman in the Friends episode The One with the Lesbian Wedding. He passed away on August 16, 1998, at the age of 82, due to pneumonia.
Taylor Negron
Actor Taylor Negron portrayed the character of Alessandro, Monica’s fiery boss on Friends. Negron died from liver cancer on January 10, 2015, at the age of 57.
Paul Gleason
In the Friends episode “The One That Could Have Been,” Paul Gleason portrayed Jack, Phoebe’s boss. He passed away from mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer, on May 27, 2006, at the age of 67.
Alaina Reed-Hall
Known for her role on Sesame Street, Alaina Reed-Hall also appeared in Friends as the admissions woman at the hospital in The One with Two Parts. She passed away from breast cancer in 2009 at the age of 63.
Gary Collins
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Gary Collins made an appearance on Friends as himself in the episode The One Where Phoebe Hates the PBS, where he hosted a PBS telethon. Collins passed away on October 13, 2012, at the age of 74 due to natural causes.
Richard Roat
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Richard Roat played Burt in The One Where Ross Dates a Student. He passed away on August 5, 2022, at the age of 89, after suffering a heart attack during a vacation in California.
Danny Dayton
Danny Dayton played Buddy Doyle, the lawyer who reads Mr. Heckles’ will, in The One Where Heckles Dies. He passed away on February 6, 1999, at the age of 75 from emphysema.
Gretchen Wyler
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Gretchen Wyler portrayed Mrs. Burkart, a widow who refuses to pay Monica and Phoebe for catering at a funeral, in The One with the Dirty Girl. Wyler died of complications from breast cancer on May 27, 2007, at the age of 75.
Max Wright
Max Wright, known for playing Terry, the ex-manager of Central Perk, passed away on June 26, 2019, after battling cancer.
Charlton Heston
The legendary actor Charlton Heston appeared as himself in The One with Joey’s Dirty Day. He passed away from pneumonia on April 5, 2008, at the age of 84.
Ralph Manza
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Ralph Manza played Ross’s old neighbor in The One with Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss. He passed away on January 31, 2000, at the age of 78 from a heart attack.
Sandra Gould
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Sandra Gould, best known for her role as Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched, appeared in Friends as a woman who refuses to buy Girl Scout cookies from Ross. She passed away from a stroke on July 20, 1999, at the age of 82.
Peter Dennis
Peter Dennis portrayed Sherman Whitfield, the wealthy benefactor who takes Chandler’s seat in The One Where No One’s Ready. Dennis passed away on April 18, 2009, at the age of 75.
Andre Rosey Brown
Andre Rosey Brown, who played the delivery man from The Mattress King in The One with the Race Car Bed, passed away on July 18, 2006, at the age of 50 following a short illness.
Shelley Berman
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Shelley Berman appeared as Mr. Kaplan Jr., Rachel’s boss at Fortunata Fashions, in Friends. He passed away from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease on September 1, 2017, at the age of 92.
Penny Santon
Penny Santon played Joey’s grandmother, Nonna Tribbiani, in Friends. She passed away on May 12, 1999, at the age of 82.
Lilyan Chauvin
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Lilyan Chauvin portrayed Joey’s other grandmother, Nonnie Tribbiani, in Friends. She passed away from breast cancer on June 26, 2008, at the age of 82.
Cyndi Martino
Cyndi Martino played Henrietta, a contestant on The $100,000 Pyramid who competed against Joey. She passed away on October 28, 2015, at the age of 52.
Kellie Waymire
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Kellie Waymire portrayed Colleen, Phoebe’s friend who helps Monica and Chandler with the adoption process.
Waymire tragically passed away on November 13, 2003, at the age of 36 due to a cardiac arrest caused by an undiagnosed heart condition.
Buck Kartalian
Buck Kartalian played Frankie, Joey’s tailor who tricked Chandler in Season 2. He was best known for his work in Planet of the Apes. Kartalian passed away from natural causes on May 24, 2016, at the age of 93.
Terry Rhoads
Terry Rhoads made a memorable appearance as a Maitre D’ in one episode of Friends. He tragically died on October 11, 2013, at 61 due to amyloidosis, a rare protein condition.
Jackie Bright
Jackie Bright appeared twice on Friends, first as Mr. Weinberg at Barry and Mindy’s wedding and later as a janitor in the episode when Ben was born. Bright passed away on August 28, 2006, at 87.
Fritzi Burr
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Fritzi Burr portrayed Mrs. Weinberg in the wedding episode of Friends and also appeared as Mrs. Tedlock in the “Stoned Guy” episode. She passed away on January 17, 2003.
Steve Susskind
Known for his role as the priest who was about to marry Chandler and Monica in the Friends episode “The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding,” Steve Susskind tragically died in an automobile accident on January 21, 2005, at 62.
Jack Riley
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Jack Riley played an airline passenger in the season 1 finale, where Rachel learns about Ross’s feelings for her. He passed away on August 19, 2016, at 80 due to complications from pneumonia.
Alexis Arquette
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Alexis Arquette made two guest appearances on Friends, once as a customer in “The One with Rachel’s Sister” and once as a waiter in drag in “The One with Chandler’s Dad.” Arquette died from a heart attack, which resulted from a bacterial infection of the heart, on September 11, 2016, at the age of 47.
Jack Ong
Jack Ong played a scientist at Ross’s museum in the episode where Joey becomes a museum tour guide. He passed away on June 13, 2017, at 76 from complications of brain cancer.
Paxton Whitehead
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Paxton Whitehead portrayed Mr. Waltham, Rachel’s Bloomingdale’s boss, and he was also the uncle of Emily, Ross’s eventual love interest. Whitehead passed away on June 16, 2023, at 85 after complications from a fall.
Rose Marie
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Rose Marie made a special guest appearance on Friends as Sally, in a throwback to The Dick Van Dyke Show. Her appearance led to Monica’s humorous comment, “I guess Rose Marie belongs to smaller screens.” Marie passed away on December 28, 2017, at the age of 94.
Each of these talented actors left a legacy that contributed to Friends’ long-lasting charm. They may no longer be with us, but their performances continue to bring joy to audiences worldwide.
