# Which "Friends" cast members will still be stars in five years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192 "2002-08-23T07:08:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/21 "2002-08-24T14:36:55Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **RexDart** _I’ve never thought Kudrow had much talent. It does take a clever actor to portray an idiot, that’s a familiar axiom. How much of that is her, and how much the material? I’d say it’s largely her – she has a BS in Biology from Vassar, so she’s got to have a few active brain cells. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/22 "2002-08-25T00:13:04Z")
Anniston? You guys are kidding me. She’s the female Matt LeBlanc. Lisa Kudrow has demonstrated far more talent in a variety of movies. Does Anniston have anything comparable to _Opposite of Sex_? Of the females of the cast, I would have thought the consensus would be that she had the least chance. Esp. given how ugly she is. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/23 "2002-08-25T00:29:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > \*\* > > Joey and Ross will probably always be able to get work in other TV fare, but I don’t see much beyond that. Although I gotta admit that Ross was pretty good in **Apt Pupil**. \*\* He was excellent in Band of Brothers on HBO. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/24 "2002-08-25T00:59:27Z")
Matthew Perry has been on the talk show circuit recently to promote his latest movie. He is one of the most unappealing “actors” I have ever seen. I saw him on Letterman and The Daily Show last week. A concrete bridge abutment has more personality. And talent. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/25 "2002-08-25T02:20:27Z")
Band of Brothers and Breast Men. The Opposite of Sex. Fools Rush In (OK, this is a personal favorite-- I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy) If you judge the cast of Friends only on their roles on Friends, then you are only going to see them as Friends. Schwimmer needs to knock off the whiny roles – 6 Days, 7 Nights comes to mind-- or he will be stuck in typecast hell. Perry has had a few good roles in romantic comedies. Kudrow could become an indie queen if she chooses (Old? Is Meg Ryan old? Sigorney Weaver, Meryl Streep— Old?) ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/26 "2002-08-25T15:29:14Z")
I also thought that David Schwimmer did a relatively good job as CPT Sobol in Band of Brothers. It was odd for the first part, as I still saw him as Ross a bit, but as it moved along, I think he did a very good job with it. Jman ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/27 "2002-08-25T17:06:45Z")
Biggirl writes: \> Is Meg Ryan old? Sigorney Weaver, Meryl Streep— Old? Yeah, but they were all movie stars by the time they were 30. (Well, just barely in Sigourney Weaver’s case, since her first starring role was in _Aliens_ when she was 30.) Weaver and Streep have transitioned naturally to middle-aged roles and are actually better actors now than they were in their 30’s and 40’s, although they don’t get the recognition for it since middle-aged women don’t get high-profile jobs as much as younger women. The jury’s still out on whether Meg Ryan will transition naturally into middle-aged starring roles in films or will end up playing the mother of a teenager in some TV series. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/28 "2002-08-25T22:46:33Z")
Agree with WendellWagner and Gaspode, the gals are too old now for film – let alone 5 years from now: It will be one of the men. As mentioned, due to his drug use probably not Perry. Here are the top grossing films of 2001. Find the one with the Woman +37 in a starring — or even in a “2nd lead” role. [http://www.the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/moviesofyear.mv?moviesof2001+ByTGross](http://www.the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/moviesofyear.mv?moviesof2001+ByTGross) TV is where I _would_stay if I were the girls: An interesting older character (e.g. Heaton, or Roberts of **Raymond** ) it is a place where an “older” actress can win emmys, get critical acclaim, huge $$$’s and still be a star … but not film –or at least it is longer odds in Hollywood’s sexist and unfair culture. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192/29 "2002-08-26T02:51:37Z")
_Matt LeBlanc_ I can see him disappearing for a bit but then establishing a solid career in Soap Operas like Josh Taylor’s soap career (the dad from “The Hogan Family.”) He’ll be the innocent, earnest character that is always depicted as a decent person. _Lisa Kudrow_ May have a career similar to Martha Plimpton’s. Hollywood is pretty nasty when it comes to looks. She doesn’t have the kind of charisma that Hollywood execs look for – she’ll need a kickass indie roll in order to be a serious contender for “star” status. If she gets that kickass role, she may get a Golden Globe for best supporting actress and then her career will go the way of Marisa Tomei’s. If he does well in the indie film roles she’ll have the most interesting career of the lot. _Courtney Cox_ Will continue to do the smaller roles that fit in the same category as _Scream_. May end up doing voice work for animated features and/or she’ll start her own production company and become a ruthless studio exec. _David Schwimmer_ Could fit into to the live theatre world. In film/TV he has no hope unless he can shake Ross. He needs to do something shockingly against type. He’d have to be in the next _Shine_ or _Sling Blade_ or be cast as a serial killer like in _Seven_ and be so non-Ross that critics are rattled. He needs to be scary, or threatening, or tormented or _anything_ that seriously contrasts Ross. If he doesn’t shed Ross, he’ll be in the upper left corner of “Hollywood Squares.” _Jennifer Anniston_ Will stay a “celebrity” for a few years yet. As soon as she’s pregnant, she’ll be a huge news item. Due to her “star status” she’ll be able to snag a few good roles – if she doesn’t shine in the rolls, she’ll be the next Lindsay Wagner in TV Movies of the Week. Could very well be in a remake of “The Bionic Woman.” [i[Matthew Perry\* Lacks the charisma to be a leading man. Destined for supporting character roles. Could be the next George Costanza or the second banana to a talk show host like Conan O’Brien. OR he could replace Drew Carey on “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-friends-cast-members-will-still-be-stars-in-five-years/125192.md?page=1)