Lisa Kudrow’s Journey from Biology Student to Emmy-Winning ‘Friends’ Star

Lisa Kudrow was born on July 30, 1963 in Encino, California. She earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Vassar College and initially pursued a career in medical research alongside her physician father. After encouragement from a family friend, she began studying improv, joined the Groundlings comedy troupe, and landed early television roles before being cast as Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom Friends in 1994. Her performance earned an Emmy Award in 1998 and a SAG award in 2000, and she became one of the highest‑paid TV actresses of the era.

Beyond Friends, Kudrow appeared in films such as Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, co‑created and starred in the web series Web Therapy, and hosted the genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?. She married French advertising executive Michel Stern in 1995 and the couple have a son, Julian Murray Stern.