What The Cast Of Ellen Is Doing Today

Running from 1994 through 1998, "Ellen" was aired under the title "These Friends of Mine" for its first season. The title was later changed to keep people from confusing the show with the famous NBC sitcom "Friends." "Ellen" revolves around Los Angeles-based bookstore owner Ellen Morgan (played by Ellen DeGeneres) and her friends, who are just as hilarious as her. Just like the show's title, Ellen's group of friends was also changed in Season 2, but fans of the ABC sitcom can vouch that its essence wasn't.

However, its plot isn't the only thing that makes the show worth looking back on. In 1997, shortly after DeGeneres came out as lesbian in real life, so did her character, making her American television's first-ever protagonist to declare they're gay. Ellen Morgan came out in the fourth season and was given a partner in the fifth. Given that this was over two decades ago, the show received mixed reactions from the public and was ultimately canceled by the network.

Regardless of whether you're a true "Ellen" fan or not, you may want to catch up on what its main cast is currently working on. Here's what nine principal actors from the five-season-long iconic yet underrated sitcom are doing now.

Joely Fisher portrayed Ellen Morgan's quirky childhood friend, Paige Clark, in "Ellen." First introduced in Season 2, Fisher's character stayed on the show until it was canceled. Although Paige was initially upset when her friend, Ellen, revealed her sexual orientation, she ultimately accepted it and became one of Ellen's biggest supporters.

Following the cancelation of "Ellen," Fisher appeared in movies like "Inspector Gadget," "Cougar Club," and "You" alongside TV shows such as "Normal, Ohio," "Danny," "Baby Bob," "Desperate Housewives," and "'Til Death." She has also acted in two Broadway shows — "Grease" and "Cabaret." Fisher is also a singer: The 1993 album "Tradition: A Family at Christmas" features multiple Christmas carols Fisher recorded with her mother and sister. Another of her most notable works as a vocalist is the song "One For My Baby" from Harold Arlen's 1995 album "STAGE."

Fisher's been serving as the secretary-treasurer for The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) since 2021. She was re-elected for the role in 2023. She shares three daughters with her husband and cinematographer Christopher Duddy. She's also a stepmother to Duddy's two sons from his previous relationship.

Portrayed by Clea Lewis, the character Audrey Penney first appeared in Season 1 and became part of Ellen Morgan's core friend group in Season 3. Audrey likes to get dolled up in pink clothes and has an annoyingly squeaky voice. In "Ellen," she initially works at Ellen's bookstore but eventually becomes co-owner.

After "Ellen," Lewis was seen in 16 episodes of "Maggie Winters," which ran from 1998 to 1999. She played the wife of the title character in NBC's "Andy Barker, P.I." and had recurring roles in USA Network's "Royal Pains" and the fifth season of FX's "The Americans." Lewis has appeared in films like "Perfect Stranger," "Confessions of a Shopaholic," and"Antarctica," but is also well-known for her work as a voice-over artist. She voiced Nicky Little in the Disney animated series "Pepper Ann" and multiple characters in "Ice Age: The Meltdown" and "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs."

In 1999, Lewis acted in Peter Ackerman's play, "Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight," and ended up marrying him in 2000. The couple now share two children. Lewis's other theatrical credits include "An Experiment with an Air Pump," "Fuddy Meers," and "Writer's Block." She debuted on Broadway with the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2005 production of "Absurd Person Singular."

Arye Gross portrayed Adam Green, an old friend and roommate of Ellen, in the first three seasons of "Ellen." Before Adam leaves for England to pursue a career in photojournalism, his friendship with Ellen is given a romantic aspect that ultimately doesn't play out. First appearing in Season 1, Adam was a main character until he was written off at the beginning of the third season.

Following his departure from the sitcom, Gross has mostly been seen in smaller roles in TV shows and movies. Notable projects Gross has appeared in include films like 1997's "Big City Blues," 1998's "Spoiler," 2000's "Big Eden," and 2018's "Nostalgia" and shows like "Diagnosis: Murder," "Knight Rider," "Six Feet Under," and "Castle." Gross also directed a movie titled "The Prince and the Surfer" in 1999. He has acted in the Broadway production of Pulitzer-winning playwright Donald Margulies' "Brooklyn Boy." Some non-Broadway plays Gross has been part of include "Our Mother's Brief Affair," "The Square," "Room Service," and "La Bete." He's been married to Lisa Schulz since 1999 and has one daughter.

Only appearing in the first season of "Ellen," Maggie Wheeler played Anita Warwell, a part of Ellen Morgan's friend group, which also included Holly Jamison and Adam Green. However, Wheeler is probably best known for portraying Janice, the ex-girlfriend of Matthew Perry's Chandler Bing in NBC's "Friends."

You may have also seen her in the CBS series "Everybody Loves Raymond." Wheeler has played supporting roles in movies like 1998's "The Parent Trap" and 2021's "Mark, Mary & Some Other People" and brief roles in shows like "Will & Grace," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Drake & Josh," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Shameless." Additionally, she has done voice-over work for a huge range of projects, including "Dr. Dolittle 3," "The New Batman Adventures," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," and "The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants."

The actor has been married to sculptor Daniel Borden Wheeler since 1990, and the duo is seemingly going strong with two daughters.