Lisa Kudrow Movies
Lisa Kudrow first made her name playing Phoebe, the ditzy, New Age member of the titular close-knit pals on NBC's highly successful sitcom Friends. Since then, she has bridged the gap between television and film with undeniable success, winning particular acclaim for her role as an uptight school teacher in Don Roos' The Opposite of Sex (1998).Born in Encino, California on July 30, 1963, Kudrow earned a degree in biology from Vassar College before beginning her acting career. After college, she joined the Los Angeles improvisational group, The Groundlings, at the urging of family friend Jon Lovitz. Improv paved the way for more work, and Kudrow was soon appearing in bit roles in a number of films. Her first real break didn't come until 1993, when she began appearing on the TV sitcom Mad About You as Ursula, the waitress from hell. Real fame came in 1994, when the actress was cast as Phoebe on Friends; the enormous success of the show gave her both wide recognition and a steady day job.
Kudrow's first leading role on the big screen was as one of the titular heroines (alongside Mira Sorvino) of the 1997 comedy Romy and Michele's High School Reunion; unfortunately, her character was little more than a film version of Phoebe. Fortunately, Kudrow got to widen her range a little further that same year with a starring role in the independent drama Clockwatchers, portraying a struggling actress alongside the likes of Toni Collette and Parker Posey. The following year, Kudrow won raves and critical respect for her turn in The Opposite of Sex, a scathing black comedy in which she gave a comic and poignant performance as an embittered woman coping with the death of her brother, the presence of her best friend's malicious little sister (Christina Ricci), and the romantic attentions of Lyle Lovett. The acclaim she received for her portrayal was complemented the same year with an Emmy Award for her work on Friends. In 1999, Kudrow shared the screen with Robert DeNiro in the comedy Analyze This, and later that year she starred with Diane Keaton and Meg Ryan as three sisters dealing with the imminent death of their irritating father (Walter Matthau) in the comedy Hanging Up, directed by Keaton and written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron.
~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- 1994
While cleaning out their apartment, Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie (Helen Hunt) come across a bundle of WWII-era love letters written by the former tenants. Sentimental Jamie believes that the story told in these tender missives has a spiritual connection with the relationship between herself and Paul. But Jamie is in for a surprise when she tracks down the now-elderly authors of the letters. Jerry Adler makes his first series appearance as apartment superintendent Mr. Wicker (though the actor had previously shown up in different roles). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
It's another evening out at Riff's, where Jamie (Helen Hunt) has arranged a blind date between her friends Fran (Leila Kenzle) and Nick (David Beron). The cozy tête-à-tête quickly goes south when Fran's ex-husband, Mark (Richard Kind), makes an unexpected appearance. But this is only the first of several startling surprises, each more hilarious than the one before. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The first season of Friends could easily have been retitled "Getting to Know You," as all the soon-to-be-familiar characters, and their equally soon-to-be familiar interrelationships, were swiftly and economically established. In the opening episode, Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) abandons her "Mr. Potato Head" spouse at the altar and moves in with her former high-school friend Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) in Monica's spacious New York loft apartment. Not long afterward, we meet Monica's brother, Ross (David Schwimmer), who is down in the dumps because his ex-wife, Carol (Jane Sibbett), has not only declared herself a lesbian, but will soon be giving birth to his son (named Ben), whom she and her partner intend to raise without any of Ross' help. Also, we are treated to the first of aspiring actor Joey Tribbiani's (Matt LeBlanc) dead-end "big breaks" when he is hired as Al Pacino's stand-in. Finally, airhead Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) is given the opportunity to perform her treacly folk songs at the gang's favorite hangout, the Central Perk coffeehouse -- only to have her debut spoiled by a citywide power blackout. In other developments, Ross "adopts" a monkey named Marcel; Joey briefly falls for Phoebe's bitchy twin sister, Ursula (also played by Lisa Kudrow); and Joey's roommate, Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), betrays a confidence by informing Rachel that Ross has a crush on her. A solid hit from the moment it left the starting gate, Friends wound up its freshman season as the eighth highest-rated program on American television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette, (more)
- 1992
The title of this episode should have been "When Paul Met Jamie." In an extended flashback, the viewer is apprised of the first encounter between the future Mr. and Mrs. Buchman. Paul (Paul Reiser) ends up chasing Jamie (Helen Hunt) so fast that she finally catches him -- and it's a true Rembrandt Moment. Appearing as Paul's "Ten-Second Date" is Lisa Kudrow, long before becoming a series semi-regular in the role of waitress Ursula Bufay. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A married woman who has not been able to successfully conceive a child turns to a specialist who succeeds in inseminating her artificially. Before too long, she hears rumors of the doctor's past and present genetic experiments and when she finally aborts the fetus, finds that it is a monster as she had feared--and still alive! ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Jeffrey Hayenga, (more)
- 1989
Aspiring actor Woody (Woody Harrelson) lands his first starring role in a stage revival of Our Town. The prospect of making love to the production's Emily Webb (played by a pre-Friends Lisa Kudrow) has Woody nervous -- and his girl friend Kelly (Jackie Swanson) fuming. Meanwhile, the guys at Cheers wager on who can grow the longest beard. Fans of Kelsey Grammer's later series will be amused by a reference to the "late" father of Frasier Crane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The comedy series loved all over the world. Now for the first time on video and DVD - the top episodes of the long-running series, as voted by fans and the series' creators.
1) Pilot
2) The One with Two Parts [Parts 1 and 2]
3) The One with All the Poker
4) The One Where Ross Finds Out
5) The One with the Prom Video
1) Pilot
2) The One with Two Parts [Parts 1 and 2]
3) The One with All the Poker
4) The One Where Ross Finds Out
5) The One with the Prom Video
