25 Years of FRIENDS: Our Favorite Celebrity Cameos

For those of you who remember the beginning of FRIENDS on TV, we’re going to make you feel old by telling you this was 25 years ago TODAY. With this in mind, you’re going to see all sorts of posts about the best episodes and moments from the main six. However, we want to show appreciation for the celebrity cameos that helped to make the show so special!

Brad Pitt                                                    

Who can forget when Brad Pitt stepped onto the famous set? Appearing as Will Colbert, he creates an awkward Thanksgiving with his then-wife Jennifer Aniston as it becomes clear he hated Rachel in their younger years. Not only this, he actually co-founded the ‘I Hate Rachel Green Club’. Pitt’s appearance was well-written, well-acted, and well worth the watch.

Ben Stiller

‘Dumb, Donald, Dodo’…need we say more? Ben Stiller appears as Rachel’s love interest and Ross is the only one who seems to see his crazy side. After frightening an elderly couple and shouting at Ross for spilling coffee, the audience is frustrated that Rachel isn’t seeing the real side of the character. However, he eventually goes one step too far when shouting at Joey and Chandler’s duck.

Bruce Willis

Apparently appearing after losing a bet to Matthew Perry, Willis actually went on to get an Emmy for his guest appearance as Paul, Elizabeth’s dad and Rachel’s partner. Though seemingly tough on the outside, he eventually breaks down in tears and sings ‘I’m Just a Love Machine’ during his three episodes.

Julia Roberts

As a former classmate of Chandler, Julia Roberts steps in as Susie Moss and seeks revenge after humiliation in fourth grade. In an episode that also featured Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chandler is hilariously left in a toilet cubical with no clothes.

Danny DeVito

Right at the end in Season 10, DeVito walks into the famous apartment to a huge cheer as a stripper. However, it soon takes a turn as he cries; eventually, the three girls take pity and encourage him to dance.

Hugh Laurie

Perhaps one of the shortest appearances on this list, but also one of the most memorable. After years of fighting about whether Ross and Rachel were indeed on a break when Ross slept with somebody else, Laurie argues with Rachel and ends with ‘Oh, and by the way, it’s clear you were on a break.’

Robin Williams and Billy Crystal

Again, this was only a short one but the two acting legends appeared in Central Park, and the others couldn’t help but listen into the conversation.

George Clooney and Noah Wyle

During the height of ER, these two appeared as doctors and found themselves back at the apartment after treating Rachel’s ankle. Although playing different characters, this was almost the birth of the crossover and many sitcoms have followed in their footsteps since.

Many, Many Others

Often, it’s easy to judge the success of a show by the celebrity cameos. We’ll let you judge for yourself, because we could have continued with Gary Oldman, Susan Sarandon, Elle Macpherson, Denise Richards, Tom Selleck, Alex Baldwin, Jeff Goldblum, Gabrielle Union, Sean Penn, Jim Rash, Charlie Sheen, and many more!