Over the course of its decade-long run, "Friends" featured a wide range of talent. From guest stars
to occasional side characters to a main cast member, here are the actors who have died.
Matthew Perry famously played the loveable, wisecracking Chandler Bing on "Friends."
"You were supposed to be in there so I could see your thing!"
"Sorry, my thing was in there with me."
Before joining the legendary sitcom, he was a rising star who appeared in
television shows like "Sydney" and "Beverly Hills 90210." But Perry yearned for more and,
through "Friends," he achieved his lifelong dream of becoming famous. During and after the show,
Perry dominated the industry, starring in several more successful films and television series.
Despite having reached meteoric fame, Perry suffered behind the scenes. In his memoir,
"Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing," the actor opened up about the
untold truth of his life — including his addiction to opioids and alcohol,
which nearly killed him. After getting sober, Perry aspired to be an anchor for those facing
similar struggles. In April 2023, he told the Los Angeles Times how he'd like to be remembered:
"As a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well and helped people."
The beloved "Friends" actor died at his Los Angeles home on October 28,
2023, as the result of an apparent drowning. He was 54. Fans and fellow
entertainers shared an outflow of tributes and memories in his honor. On October 30,
his co-stars responded to his death and reflected on their real-life relationship
with one of the most iconic "Friends" of all time. They said in a shared statement to People:
"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of
Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family."
James Michael Tyler played Gunther, the platinum-blonde manager of Central Perk
and not-so-secret admirer of Rachel Green. He made 159 appearances on the show, cementing him as an
essential figure in the "Friends" universe. Prior to slinging coffees at Central Perk,
Tyler worked as an actual barista at The Bourgeois Pig in Hollywood — and
he continued to do so for several years during his run on the sitcom. He told BuzzFeed in 2014:
"I kept my day job, in other words, because I never knew if they were going to bring me back."
Sadly, he died from prostate cancer on October 24, 2021, at the age of 59. Fans and colleagues
alike paid tribute to the iconic "Friends" star. His manager, Toni Benson, announced:
"The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh "Friend"), but Michael's loved ones knew him as
an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband. Michael loved live music,
cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and
unplanned adventures. If you met him once, you made a friend for life."
It's hard to pinpoint which of the many guest stars on "Friends" was the most memorable,
but Robin Williams is certainly a contender. The legendary funnyman had a long list of
credits and is beloved for films like "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Jumanji," "Aladdin,"
and "Hook," as well as shows such as "Mork & Mindy" and "The Crazy Ones."
Williams appeared on "Friends" in the episode "The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion" as Tomas,
a man who sits in the area at Central Perk usually reserved for the main gang,
and talks about his fear that his wife is cheating on him. Things hit a climax when
Tomas' confidante, Tim, confesses he's the one having an affair with Tomas' wife. Tomas
is only on screen for about a minute, but it's a minute that fans will never forget.
Williams died by suicide in 2014 after struggling with complications from Lewy body dementia.
Charlton Heston is one of the more famous guest stars to have appeared on "Friends,"
and that's truly saying something considering the number of venerated names that appeared
on the hit series. The Hollywood veteran appeared as himself in the episode "The
One with Joey's Dirty Day." In the episode, Joey works on a film with
Heston and gets caught in the actor's dressing room where Heston gives him some acting advice.
"No matter how badly you think you stink,
you must never, ever bust into my dressing room and use my shower!"
Heston was a Hollywood legend who needed no introduction when he
appeared on "Friends." Some of his iconic films include
"The Ten Commandments," "Julius Caesar," and "Planet of the Apes."
Heston died in 2008 at the age of 84 of Alzheimer's Disease.
"Friends" fanatics will remember Fred Willard as Dean Lipson, the cheeky zoo administrator
who almost tricks Ross into believing that his former pet monkey, Marcel, has died.
"He got sick, then he got sicker, and then he got a little better, but then he died."
In real life, Willard was a formidable comedy actor who claimed his place at the top of the
pop cultural zeitgeist. The legendary funnyman was known for his appearances on "Fernwood 2Nite," "A
Mighty Wind," the "Anchorman" movies, and many more. In addition to his comedy chops, Willard
was known for his warmth and enthusiasm, which earned him a gleaming reputation in the industry.
Willard died of cardiac arrest on May 15, 2020, at the age of 86. Upon his death, fans and fellow
entertainers honored his larger-than-life legacy with a wave of tributes. Willard's "Anchorman"
co-star Christina Applegate shared her grief on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing:
"Gutted. His immense talent and kindness will never be forgotten. We love you,
Fred Willard. Thank you for the decades of laughter."
In the episode "The One That Could Have Been," the "Friends" gang imagines what things would
have been like had their lives gone a bit differently. In this imagined reality,
the carefree massage therapist Phoebe is a corporate hotshot working in the
finance industry. Paul Gleason played Jack, her boss in the alternate reality,
who confronts Phoebe after she turns up to work in spite of having been fired.
Gleason didn't get a lot of screen time so you may not remember him from "Friends," but
there are lots of films you've likely seen him in. Gleason's career spanned decades,
with credits dating back to an uncredited role in the 1962 film "Panic in Year Zero!"
By the time the actor appeared in the 2000 "Friends" episode, he was an established star
who you may recognize from films like "The Breakfast Club" and "Die Hard."
"But what about the body that fell out the window?"
"Well, who knows. Maybe it was some stockbroker who got depressed."
He died in 2006 from mesothelioma.
"Friends" fans will remember the episode "The One with All the Poker," in which Ross and
Monica's Aunt Iris teaches Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe how to play poker. The card shark
Aunt Iris was played by Beverly Garland in a guest role, but TV viewers may also
remember the actress from her extensive list of credits in shows like "My Three Sons," and "7th
Heaven," as well as several films including "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Death Falls."
Garland died in 2008 at the age of 82,
four years after she ended her acting career with her final episode of "7th Heaven."
While we hear Phoebe talk about her grandmother, Frances, a lot
on "Friends," we only actually see her once — in the episode "The One with Phoebe's Dad."
In her sole appearance on the show, Frances answers some questions about Phoebe's roots.
Audra Lindley played this important figure in Phoebe's life. Lindley may have only appeared
in one episode of "Friends," but she was far from a newcomer to the screen in that
episode. Lindley's career dated back to a handful of uncredited roles in the 1940s,
but most people remember her as Mrs. Roper on "Three's Company". Lindley died at the age of 79.
Ron Leibman played the role of Rachel Green's father,
Dr. Leonard Green. Despite his brash and occasionally pompous behavior, Dr. Green
was an unforgettable character — not to mention a doting father to Rachel. In real life, the man
behind the cheeky cardiologist was a celebrated actor with an illustrious entertainment career.
Leibman was already a star before making his mark on "Friends." Having started his career
in the 1960s, he was known for "Kaz," "Pacific Station," "Slaughterhouse-Five," and more.
Leibman died on December 6, 2019, at the age of 82. The iconic television,
film, and Broadway performer was honored by his colleagues,
including fellow icon Sally Field, who wrote on social media:
"So many of the best memories of my career,
have Ron Leibman in them. Thank you, Ron. For my being my champion. Rest, my friend."
One of the running jokes on "Friends" centers on Ross and his chaotic love life. The show
opens with him in the midst of a divorce, and he proceeds to get married two more
times on "Friends." Enter Ron Glass, who played Ross' lawyer, Russell, in "The One Where Ross
Hugs Rachel" and "The One Where Joey Loses His Insurance." Even Russell is shocked when Ross gets
married yet again, and gives him advice on how to have his third marriage, to Rachel, annulled.
Glass was a prolific actor with a long list of credits. Some notable roles include parts in
shows such as "Barney Miller" and "Firefly." Glass was also an accomplished voice actor,
whose voice you may have heard in a number of shows including "Rugrats" and "The Proud Family."
"Egads. Did you gargle with garlic juice this morning?"
Glass died at the age of 71 in 2016.
Mike Hagerty portrayed Mr. Treeger, the pesky superintendent of the friends' apartment building.
He only appeared in five episodes of the series, but he gave us some truly unforgettable scenes,
such as his iconic dance with Joey and the time he made Rachel cry.
"Well why don't you think of someone else for a change?"
With his mighty star power, Hagerty brought irresistible charm and humor
to the role of Mr. Treeger. After appearing on "Friends," the actor continued his television
reign with appearances in "Shameless," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," and more. In 2022,
Hagerty starred in the HBO series "Somebody Somewhere."
Unfortunately, Hagerty's life was cut short in 2022. The New York Times reported that
while being hospitalized for an illness, the actor suffered "an adverse reaction to an
antibiotic" and died. The tragedy occurred on April 22, 2022 – just two weeks before
season two of "Somebody Somewhere" was set to begin filming. Grief-stricken fans and
colleagues honored the late entertainer with an outpouring of tributes. Carolyn Strauss,
an executive producer of "Somebody Somewhere," told The New York Times:
"His impact endures. He's left everybody with a gift:
that gravity and humor and forthrightness that characterize him, we all carry it."
Taylor Negron guest-starred on "Friends" as Allesandro,
the owner of a local Italian eatery. When Monica writes a scathing review of his restaurant,
Allesandro comes to confront her but hilariously ends up hiring her as his
head chef. His single-episode appearance was brief but memorable, thanks to the effortless
sarcasm and humor that Negron brought to the role. Before appearing on the "Friends" roster,
Negron was already well-established in the entertainment world. He was known for his roles
in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Angels in the Outfield," "The Last Boy Scout," and many more.
Negron died of liver cancer on January 10, 2015. He was memorialized by his
fellow entertainers — including director Joey Soloway, who wrote:
"He is one of the most beautiful, brilliant souls
I have ever encountered. His words and his art will be in my heart forever."
Jack Ong was only in one scene of "Friends," but it was a noteworthy one. The actor played Andrew,
a scientist who works alongside Ross at the museum. Ong had a few lines during a scene in
"The One With Phoebe's Uterus," in which Ross and Joey break down social barriers at work.
At the time of Ong's appearance on "Friends," he'd been acting for more than two decades but
hadn't landed many large roles. Most of his TV appearances, like his part
on "Friends," were guest spots on shows such as "Love and War" and "Touched By An Angel".
Ong stepped back from acting after that, but continued to lead a busy
life before he died from a brain tumor in 2017 at the age of 76.
Gretchen Wyler's "Friends" character, Mrs. Burkart, shows Monica one of the
downsides of running your own business in the episode "The One with the Dirty Girl." Monica,
with the help of Phoebe, caters a funeral for Mrs. Burkart's late husband but has trouble getting her
payment from the widow. Phoebe eventually has to confront her to get the money owed.
Wyler's impressive pipes can be heard in the episode. The Broadway veteran was in
some pretty big productions on The Great White Way, including "Guys and Dolls,
"Silk Stockings," "Damn Yankees," "Bye Bye Birdie," and "Sly Fox." Wyler also
had a long resume of film and television credits including roles in "Dallas," "Santa
Barbara," "MacGyver," "Who's the Boss?," "The Marrying Man," and "Designing Women."
"So I said to her, Mary, you're letting those Von Trapp brats upstage you."
"Oh!"
"Kids and animals…Lethal!"
She died of breast cancer at the age of 75.
In the early seasons of "Friends," the buds have a grumpy older neighbor named Mr. Heckles. While Mr.
Heckles dies on the show, the actor who played him, Larry Hankin, is still with us. Sadly,
Danny Dayton, who played Mr. Heckles' attorney, Buddy Doyle, is not. Dayton appears as Doyle in
a scene from "The One Where Heckles Dies" in which he reveals that Mr. Heckles left all of
his possessions to Rachel and Monica – aka "the noisy girls who live in the apartment above mine."
The 1995 appearance on "Friends" was one of Dayton's final acting parts, as he died
of emphysema just a few years later in 1999 at the age of 75. Dayton had a long and successful
career that included such notable credits as "Guys and Dolls," "Wonder Woman," and "All in
the Family." He was also an accomplished director who won three Clio awards for his commercial work.
Phoebe's free-spirited nature on "Friends"
often makes her seem a bit out of touch with reality to the rest of the group.
"You know that psychic I see?"
"Yeah?"
"Well she told me I'm going to die this week, so I'm kinda bummed about that."
One of the best examples of this is in the episode "The One with the Lesbian Wedding," in
which Phoebe believes she's carrying the spirit of a client who died while she was giving her
a massage. Her friends think she's imagining things, but Phoebe is insistent and meets with
the woman's widower, Mr. Adelman, to see if her client had any unresolved business left on Earth.
Mr. Adelman was played by Phil Leeds, an actor who racked up over 100 credits throughout his career,
starting with an appearance on the show "Front Row Center" in 1949.
Leeds' impressive list of credits also includes roles in "ER" "Barney Miller,"
"Night Court," "Roseanne," "Boy Meets World," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "Ally McBeal."
Leeds died of pneumonia in 1998 at the age of 82, just two years after his guest role on "Friends."
Buck Kartalian had a creepy but memorable turn on "Friends" as Joey's tailor, Frankie, in "The
One with Ross's New Girlfriend." In the episode, Joey sends Chandler to Frankie for a new suit,
and Chandler is shocked when Frankie measures his inseam a little too thoroughly. Making the
whole thing even creepier is that Joey reveals he's been going to Frankie since he was a kid,
and that he thinks "cupping" is part of how the inseam is supposed to be measured.
Kartalian had a long career dating back to the 1950s. His dozens of credits include
roles in "The Monster Squad," "Here Come the Brides," "ER" "Cool Hand Luke," "The
Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "How I Met Your Mother."
Kartalian's final acting credit is in 2006's "Cattle Call." After that,
he seems to have retired from show business but lived for several more
years. Kartalian lived to be 93, dying of natural causes in 2016.
Considering that Alice Drummond's "Friends" character is on her deathbed when we see her
on the show, many people may not realize that the acting veteran was on the sitcom at all.
Drummond appeared as Ross and Monica's grandmother in "The One Where Nana Dies
Twice," in which Ross and Monica pay their respects to their deceased Nana. Drummond
doesn't even appear in the episode's credits for the non-speaking role.
Drummond may not have shown off her acting chops in her minor role on "Friends," but she did flex
them throughout her long career. Drummond's many acting credits include roles in "Dark
Shadows," "Where the Heart Is," "Another World," "Ghostbusters," "Night Court," "Ace Ventura:
Pet Detective," "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar," "Pieces of
April," "The Honeymooners," and "Furry Vengeance." Playbill noted that she was also an accomplished
stage actress who was nominated for a Tony for her role in the Broadway play "The Chinese and
Dr. Fish." Drummond retired from acting in 2011 and died in 2016 at the age of 88.
In case you forgot, "Friends" character Joey Tribbiani is Italian American and proud of it.
One scene that really plays up his heritage is in the episode "The One Where Chandler Can't Remember
Which Sister," in which Joey and Chandler have dinner with Joey's family. At the dinner table,
Chandler tries to figure out which of Joey's many sisters is Mary Angela. Chandler's attempts are
thwarted by Joey's nonna, who dominates the dinner table conversation with talk of her tiramisu.
Joey's nonna was played by Penny Santon. She didn't get much screen time, but her role
did show where Joey's love of food comes from. The small role was also one of Santon's last,
as she only has two more credits on her resumé after her "Friends" appearance. The veteran
actor had a long career dating back to the 1950s that included roles in iconic shows like "Zorro,
"Bonanza," and "Laverne & Shirley." She also appeared in some notable films,
including "Funny Girl" and "West Side Story." She died in 1999 at the age of 82.
If you don't remember Heathcote Williams' appearance on "Friends," you're forgiven.
He only appeared briefly, after all, but his character sets a lot in motion.
Williams played a wedding guest at "The One with Ross's Wedding: Part 2," and kicks off
the romance between Monica and Chandler when he drunkenly mistakes Monica for Ross' mother.
"My god. You must've been a teenager when you had him."
Chandler assures Monica that she's young and beautiful and, well, "Friends" fans know what
happens next: They end up in bed together and eventually get married and start a family.
Williams appeared in many films and shows over his career including "The Tempest," "The Odyssey,"
"The Legend of 1900," "Lover's Prayer," and "Dinotopia." However, acting wasn't his only
claim to fame. The "Friends" actor was also a celebrated writer whose work included plays,
pamphlets, and poems. Among his many other accomplishments were fire-eating,
discovering a species of wasp, and helping found the newspaper Suck.
He died at the age of 75.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues,
help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts,
please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.