A sitcom doesn't have much charm without its supporting characters that often help the main characters' storylines. These characters add a bit of spice, dating drama, or even a fun cameo here and there. While Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, and Phoebe may have been the fan favorites on Friends, its supporting characters get almost just as much recognition.
For some, the sitcom would help launch the supporting actors' careers. For others, it would be their most notable work to date. It's not hard to recall Gunther's (James Michael Tyler) white-blonde hair and Janice's (Maggie Wheeler) high pitched voice. Beyond the 1992 sitcom, these actors still upheld their names in the acting world.
(Gunther): Sabrina The Teenage Witch
James Michael Tyler ended up playing his role as Gunther for 10 years, for a total of 148 appearances. The Central Perk barista was known for his shocking white hair and his never-ending love for Rachel. After the show's end, Tyler would appear in a handful of shows.
He appeared in one episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch in 2001, where he had a small role as a character named Ethan. In the following years, he would appear in Episodes and Scrubs. In 2013, he took on one of the main roles as Chad Levitz in a music drama called Modern Music.
Ron Liebman (Dr. Green): Kaz
Throughout the sitcom, audiences get introduced to the families of the main characters. Rachel is first seen running away from her wedding and arguing on the phone with her father. Ron Liebman would play Dr. Green for four episodes as a recurring character, but before his debut in the sitcom, he was already a notable actor.
Liebman was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role as Martin 'Kaz' Kazinsky in the short-lived crime drama, Kaz. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in the 1986 television movie, Christmas Eve. Liebman's accolades on stage are just as hefty and long as his on-screen work.
Reese Witherspoon (Jill Green): Big Little Lies
Reese Witherspoon's rise to fame in Hollywood doesn't need much explanation. She first appeared in the sitcom in the 2000s as Rachel's younger sister. By then, Witherspoon was already gaining momentum after breaking through in the thriller movie, Fear, and later, Cruel Intentions.
Her biggest role that became her trademark was in the comedy movie, Legally Blonde, as Elle Woods. Witherspoon has gone on to accumulate a long list of notable work, her latest being in 2017 as the lead role in Big Little Lies, for which she and the cast were nominated and won both Primetime Emmy's and Golden Globes.
Giovanni Ribisi (Frank): Avatar
Phoebe's family backstory is a bit tragic, from her mother's suicide and her father's abandonment to her grandmother's death. In the sitcom, she meets her half brother, Frank (Giovanni Ribisi). Ribisi would play the character for 10 episodes and lead to one of Phoebe's biggest storylines in carrying and birthing his triplets.
Ribisi was already getting roles in notable movies and television, like Saving Private Ryan, The Gift, and My Two Dads. In the epic science fiction movie, Avatar, he played Parker Selfridge and will reprise the roles for the sequels. In the movie, Selfridge is the corporate administrator for the RDA mining operation who shows remorse at the destruction of the Na'vi.
Jane Sibbett (Carol): It Takes Two
The role of Carol Willick in the sitcom went through a few actor changes, but it finally settled on one actor who would become well-known for the role, Jane Sibbett. Carol was Ross's former wife turned lesbian who raises their son with her partner. Sibbett would play the role for seven years.
Before playing Carol, Sibbett had already played main roles on television. In 1987, she was Jabe Wilson in Santa Barbara and become even more known for her main role as Heddy Newman in the sitcom Herman's Head. Her biggest movie role was in the 1995 movie version of The Parent Trap, It Takes Two. She played Clarice Kensington, the gold-digger fiancé in a storyline similar to that in the 1961 film version.
Elliott Gould (Jack): Ocean's Eleven
Elliot Gould is Hollywood gold by most people's standards. He started his career years before his appearance in the sitcom. His stardom hit when he appeared in the social comedy Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. Gould would continue to dazzle on screen in the wartime satire, M*A*S*H.
His contribution to television and movies goes on and on. He made his debut on Friends as Jack Geller in 1994 and appeared for 20 episodes. One of his more recognized characters is Reuben Tishkoff in Ocean's Eleven - a flamboyant businessman who is an integral part of the team and family of thieves.
Christina Pickles (Judy): St. Elsewhere
Christina Pickles was nominated in 1995 for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Judy Geller in the sitcom. But before that, she had previously been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her roles as Nurse Helen in St. Elsewhere.
The 1982 medical drama centered around doctors and nurses at a rundown Boston hospital as they help hopeful interns in their future careers. Pickles became a star on television and would have lead roles in soap operas like Guiding Light and Another World. For Shakespeare fans, she was Caroline Montague in Baz Luhrmann's adaption of Romeo + Juliet.
Maggie Wheeler (Janice): Archer
Fans of sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends may have noticed that the two shows have one actor in common. Maggie Wheeler appears in one episode of Seinfeld, "The Fix-Up." This was before she became a huge supporting character in Friends as Janice. Janice would be Chandler's on-again-off-again love interest, often disliked for her high-pitched, shrill voice.
Wheeler would continue acting and even became a series regular on Everybody Loves Raymond. She has appeared in many shows, from Drake & Josh to Shameless, but her most noted role comes from her voice acting. In the adult animated sitcom, Archer, she played Trinette Magoon for a total of 11 episodes.
Tom Selleck (Richard): Blue Bloods
One can certainly understand why Monica fell hard for Richard in the sitcom. Linda from Bob's Burgers also has a crush on the actor who portrays him. Tom Selleck's character would become one of Monica's main love interests before finding her true love in Chandler.
Before his role in the sitcom, Selleck was already known for his lead role in the detective show, Magnum, P.I. He was a dreamboat to many and his stardom didn't stop there. Selleck would become known for his roles on television, with one of his more recent being NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods.
Paul Rudd (Mike): Ant-Man
One of the sitcom's supporting characters went from being Phoebe's husband to one of the MCU's most recognized superheroes. Phoebe gets her happy ending when she meets Mike (Paul Rudd) and they end up getting married on the snowy streets of New York. Rudd was already known for his roles in Clueless, Romeo + Juliet and much more.
In 2015, he got one of the biggest roles an actor can get. He took on the role of Marvel superhero, Ant-Man. In the role of Scott Lang, he's a low time criminal who's given a second chance and the ability to become small with Pym technology. Rudd would cement himself in the MCU for its following franchise releases.