Lisa Kudrow has been honored with five Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as the spacey but lovable folk singer and massage therapist Phoebe -- and she took home the statuette in 1998. She has also received a Screen Actors Guild Award (and two additional nominations) for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a Television Series and a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance on “Friends.”

In addition to her success on television, Kudrow has received rave reviews for her feature-film roles. She won the Best Supporting Actress Award from the New York Film Critics and an Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Chicago Film Critics Award nomination for her role in the Don Roos-directed film “The Opposite of Sex.” She also starred opposite Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro in the film “Analyze This,” for which she won a Blockbuster Award.

Kudrow’s recent film credits include starring roles in the “Analyze That” – the sequel to “Analyze This” - “Hanging Up” opposite Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton, and “Lucky Numbers” with John Travolta. In 1997, she shared top billing in the critically acclaimed hit comedy “Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion” with Mira Sorvino, and co-starred in Albert Brooks’ comedy “Mother.” She also starred in “Clockwatchers” opposite Toni Collette and Parker Posey.

Audiences will next see Kudrow star in “Wonderland” with Val Kilmer. Kudrow portrays Sharon Holmes, wife of porn star John Holmes, in a film based on the infamous Wonderland Avenue murders.

While Kudrow has always been passionate about acting, she never thought of it as a career until after college. While growing up, she performed and reenacted many of her favorite movie scenes for family and friends.

Kudrow graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York with a bachelor of science degree in biology. She returned to Los Angeles intending to pursue a career in research, but her passion to act and perform resurfaced when her brother’s good friend, actor/comedian Jon Lovitz, inspired her to pursue her dream. She began studying with improvisational instructor Cynthia Szigeti and acting teacher Ian Tucker. In 1989, Kudrow was accepted as a member of the famed Los Angeles improv group, the Groundlings.

In addition, Kudrow maintains the distinction of having been in two outstanding television series simultaneously. Along with her role on “Friends,” she portrayed the ditzy waitress Ursula on the comedy “Mad About You.” Playing the twin sisters Ursula and Phoebe, Kudrow had the opportunity to concurrently appear in what were at the time two of the most popular series on television.

A native of California, Kudrow currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Her birthday is July 30.

Phoebe Buffay

Phoebe's tragicomic past has both inspired her music and influenced her belief in karma. Her stepmom committed suicide, her father abandoned Phoebe when young and she is estranged from both her real mom and her twin sister, Ursula. Phoebe did, however, reunite with her younger brother (Frank, Jr.) and served as a surrogate to his triplets. A vegetarian, singer/songwriter/masseuse, Phoebe is currently single and lives alone in her late grandmother's apartment.

History in Entertainment

- Living and Breathing (2004) (announced)
- Happy Endings (2004) (filming)
- Wonderland (2003/I) .... Sharon Holmes
- Marci X (2003) .... Marci
- Night of Too Many Stars (2003) (TV)
- Analyze That (2002) .... Laura Sobel
- Bark (2002) .... Dr. Darla Portnoy
- Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) (voice) .... Ava
... aka DR.2 (2001) (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka DR2 (2001) (USA: promotional abbreviation)
- All Over the Guy (2001) .... Marie
- Lucky Numbers (2000) .... Crystal
... aka Bon numéro, Le (2001) (France)
- Hanging Up (2000) .... Maddy Mozell
- Analyze This (1999) .... Laura MacNamara Sobel
- "Hercules" (1998) TV Series (voice) .... Aphrodite
... aka "Disney's Hercules" (1998) (USA)
- Opposite of Sex, The (1998) .... Lucia DeLury
- Hacks (1997/I) .... Reading Woman
... aka Big Twist, The (1997) (USA)
... aka Sink or Swim (1997) (USA: video title)
- Clockwatchers (1997) .... Paula
- Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) .... Michele Weinberger
- Mother (1996/II) .... Linda
- Crazysitter, The (1995) .... Adrian Wexler-Jones
... aka Two Much Trouble (1995)
- In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful (1994) .... Teller
... aka Behind Closed Doors (1994)
... aka Unfaithful (1994)
- "Friends" (1994) TV Series .... Phoebe Buffay/Ursula Buffay
... aka "Friends: The Final Season" (2003) (USA: promotional title)
- "Mad About You" (1992) TV Series .... Ursula
- "Bob" (1992) TV Series .... Kathy Fleisher
- In the Heat of Passion (1992)
... aka Heat of Passion (1992) (USA)
- Dance with Death (1991)
- Murder in High Places (1991) (TV)
- Unborn, The (1991) .... Louisa
- To the Moon, Alice (1990) (TV) .... Friend of Perky Girl
- L.A. on $5 a Day (1989) .... Charmer