Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Intending to pursue a career in research, she returned to Los Angeles and began working with her father, a world-renowned headache specialist. In all likelihood, Kudrow would be a researcher today if she had not been inspired to perform by one of her brother’s friends, actor/comedian Jon Lovitz (NBC’s "Saturday Night Live").

Lisa Kudrow began studying with Cynthia Szigeti, a well-known improvisation teacher based in Los Angeles. In that class she met and became close friends with the then-unknown Conan O’Brien (NBC’s "Late Night with Conan O’Brien"). In 1989 her dream of becoming a performer became a reality when she was accepted as a member of the famed Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings.

A recurring role as Ursula, the ditzy waitress on NBC’s comedy series "Mad About You," led to Lisa Kudrow starring role on "Friends." Her other television credits include a recurring role on "Bob" and guest-starring parts in "Cheers," "Coach," "Newhart," "Flying Blind" and "Hope & Gloria."

Lisa Kudrow has also had success on the big screen. She starred opposite Mira Sorvino in the hit comedy "Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion" and she co-starred in Albert Brooks’ comedy "Mother." She earned a New York Film Critics Award for her starring role in "The Opposite of Sex," with Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan and Lyle Lovett, and starred in "Clockwatchers," with Toni Collette and Parker Posey. Most recently Kudrow co-starred in "Analyze This" for director Harold Ramis, co-starring Billy Crystal and Robert DeNiro.

A native of California, Lisa Kudrow was born in Encino and raised in Tarzana. She, her husband, Michel Stern, and their new baby live in Los Angeles. Her birthday is July 30.

Showtime lets Kirstie Alley turn weight taunts into series fodder
HBO and Showtime are banking on leading ladies and their comeback stories -- Lisa Kudrow for HBO, Kirstie Alley for the underdog.

 

Where they're going, where they've been
Lisa Kudrow: The Taft High School graduate and former member of L.A.'s Groundlings has always done good ditz. Pre-"Friends," Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula (played by Kudrow), the world's worst waitress, pulled in some laughs in "Mad About You," and the character also appeared on "Friends." Kudrow camped it up in "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion," played a scheming lottery girl in "Lucky Numbers," and was Billy Crystal's put-upon fiancee in "Analyze This" and "Analyze That." Kudrow took on a pair of roles against type in Don Roos' "The Opposite of Sex" and as John Holmes' ex-wife in "Wonderland." A producer of the TV film "Picking Up and Dropping Off," Kudrow also has two pilots in development for the upcoming season. Kudrow and husband Michael Stern, an advertising executive, have a 5-year-old son, Julian.

 

Secrecy surrounds Friends finale
The audience for the hour-long show consisted only of specially invited guests, while some scenes were filmed beforehand to maintain secrecy.

Peter Roth, president of Warner International Television, said he was "enormously satisfied" with the finale, which will be screened in the US in May

The show has been the most-watched sitcom on US TV for the past six years.

It has also transformed the show's close-knit cast of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer into global celebrities.

Before filming the show's end on Friday, Aniston told reporters the cast felt they were "speeding towards a brick wall".

Co-star Kudrow added: "Looking back on all the fun is not going to help me leave. I mean, that's exactly what I can't be thinking about because that's the saddest part for me."

The cast marked the end of the series with a party in a secret Los Angeles venue on Saturday night.

The final episode will air on NBC on 6 May, with the cost of placing a 30-second advertisement during the show reportedly reaching $2m (?1.1m).

A spin off on LeBlanc's character, called Joey, is currently being developed by NBC.

Other great sites:

• LISA KUDROW NUDE PICTURES, NAKED FAKES