Friends recently celebrated its 28th anniversary, and it continues to win new fans even after so many years. The must-see NBC sitcom launched the careers of six up-and-coming actors but would have looked drastically different if the show's co-creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, had gone in a different direction with any of the main cast members. Although Lisa Kudrow auditioned twice, she was cast early on as Phoebe Buffay due to her role as Ursula on Mad About You. While some characters on Friends were written with certain actors in mind, other roles required thousands of auditions.
After 236 episodes, it is unfathomable that anyone aside from Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, and Jennifer Aniston could have portrayed the gang of friends. Their chemistry is undeniable, but at the time, there were several other actors who came close to joining the cast.
Eric McCormack As Ross Geller
When Eric McCormack spoke with HuffPost, he explained that he wanted to explore the "funnier, lighter side" of acting, so he auditioned for the role of the lovelorn paleontologist, Ross Geller. McCormack was unaware at the time of his audition that the part was written with David Schwimmer in mind until director Jimmy Burrows broke the news to him years later.
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If Schwimmer had decided not to leave the theater, McCormack could have been Ross, instead of portraying Debra Messing's roommate Will Truman on Will & Grace. Both Ross and Will often corrected people when they were wrong, but also offered a shoulder to cry on, which is why McCormack may have been a great fit.
Mitchell Whitfield As Ross Geller
During his interview with The Guardian, Mitchell Whitfield playfully pointed out, "I'm the reason the show exists," since he played Dr. Barry Farber, the character Rachel had left at the altar prior to entering Central Perk in her wedding dress in the pilot of Friends, which he appropriately describes as, "the impetus for the show."
Although Whitfield previously had a notable role in My Cousin Vinny, he is most recognized as the orthodontist with one of the best side character storylines on Friends. However, Whitfield originally made it to the final round of auditions for Ross Geller, until Schwimmer decided to audition for the role he was meant to play.
Craig Bierko As Chandler Bing
Kauffman and Crane had considered Matthew Perry early on for Chandler Bing, but he was committed to a pilot for a show about baggage handlers in the future, called LAX 2194. Since Perry didn't think he was available for Friends, he coached his former co-star, Craig Bierko.
Bierko was the producer's choice for Chandler, but he turned it down. After Perry's futuristic sitcom failed to launch, he was able to take the role. Kauffman was thrilled, and she told Vanity Fair, "there was something snidely whiplash" about Bierko's performance, which he later utilized as the complex and diabolical producer, Chet Wilton on UnReal.
Jon Favreau As Chandler Bing
Most know that esteemed writer, director, and producer, Jon Favreau, started his career as an actor. Friends fans will recognize him as one of Monica Geller's early love interests, Pete Becker, a tech millionaire whose sudden desire to become the Ultimate Fighting Champion caused Monica to break up with him. However, Favreau originally auditioned for the role of Monica's future husband, Chandler Bing, according to Esquire.
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At the time Favreau reportedly turned down the role of Chandler, he was channeling his energy into writing, co-producing, and starring in the movie, Swingers, which established him as a creative force. His impressive list of credits spans the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with films featuring Iron Man and The Avengers, as well as parts of the Star Wars franchise, such as The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian.
Vince Vaughn As Joey Tribbiani
The casting director of Friends, Ellie Kanner, told HuffPost she remembered Vince Vaughn auditioning for the part of Joey Tribbiani and noted that he was "handsome and tall and a good actor," but that he didn't fit the role as well as Matt LeBlanc. Although Vaughn was still waiting for his big break, his Friends audition had a strange connection to his first major role.
Vaughn's character, Trent, in one of Favreau's best films, Swingers, shared Joey Tribbiani's affinity for beautiful women, but Trent's ulterior motives made him more menacing than Joey. In a dark comedic alternate universe version of Friends, Vaughn and Favreau could have been Joey and Chandler, but it's hard to picture them raising a chick and a duck together.
Louis Mandylor As Joey Tribbiani
One of the most meta moments of Friends took place in season 6, episode 17, "The One With The Unagi." In the secondary plot for the episode, Joey wants to join a medical study for identical twins to earn some fast cash. But before he signs up for it, he attempts to fool his friends with a look-alike he met at an audition.
Oddly enough, the actor who plays Joey's "identical twin," is Louis Mandylor, who originally auditioned for Joey several years earlier. This was one of the best reveals at the Friends reunion and confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. Mandylor portrays Nick Portokalos in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise and is set to appear in the third film, which is in post-production.
Leah Remini As Monica Geller
Leah Remini balances a tough exterior with moments of vulnerability, on-screen and off. She was born and raised in New York City, so auditioning for Friends seemed like a perfect fit. Remini made it to the final round of auditions for Monica Geller, but the second she crossed paths with Courteney Cox in the parking lot, she knew she had lost the part, according to The U.S. Sun.
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Remini returned for a memorable cameo as a pregnant woman named Lydia in "The One With The Birth." Joey quickly bonds with her over basketball, even though they root for opposing teams. After her spot on Friends, Remini went on to play Carrie Heffernan in The King Of Queens. Both Monica and Carrie experienced fertility issues in their final seasons, which were relatable to many fans.
Nancy McKeon As Monica Geller
Nancy McKeon had short hair like Courteney Cox when she auditioned for Monica Geller, as well as previous ensemble cast experience as Jo on The Facts Of Life. The final decision came down to McKeon and Cox and, as casting executive Lori Openden recalled to Vanity Fair about McKeon, "She gave a great performance." But they decided to go with Cox.
As Kauffman explained, "Because we were casting an ensemble, there was something appealing about Not Nancy McKeon," and Cox came across as "more maternal," than other actresses who auditioned. Since her Friends audition, McKeon has played Demi Lovato's mother in Sonny With A Chance, and as Jessica Mason in the Hunger Games-esque show, Panic.
Jami Gertz As Rachel Green
When Jami Gertz auditioned for Rachel Green, she had an impressive resume, which included Square Pegs, The Facts of Life, and The Lost Boys. Friends co-creator David Crane spoke with Vanity Fair and recalled that Gertz was offered the part of Rachel by an NBC executive, and although she was talented, Crane didn't think she was Rachel.
Gertz passed on the role, but she became a series regular on ER and was Emmy-nominated for her guest role on one of the best legal dramas, Ally McBeal, before landing her own sitcom as Judy Miller on Still Standing for four seasons.
Jane Krakowski As Rachel Green
On the red carpet at the Emmy Awards, Jane Krakowski revealed to Giuliana Rancic of E! News, "Well, I, like almost every actor, auditioned for Friends." She lost the part of Rachel Green to Jennifer Aniston, but later proved she could lead a comedic ensemble cast in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and 30 Rock.
Krakowski recently starred in two series for Apple TV+, including the comedy musical Schmigadoon! and the modern retelling of Emily Dickinson's life story in Dickinson, which may win her more dramatic roles in the future.
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