Actors you didn't know auditioned for 'Friends'

Updated
A Look at Actors You Didn't Know Auditioned for 'Friends'
A Look at Actors You Didn't Know Auditioned for 'Friends'


Here's a look at some actors who auditioned for one of the most successful sitcoms of all time.



Ellen DeGeneres was offered the role of Phoebe -- but she turned it down.

Courteney Cox was originally approached to play Rachel, but she liked the role of Monica better, so she asked to audition for that instead.

Tea Leoni was the first choice for Rachel but turned it down to do a show called 'The Naked Truth' that was canceled after only three seasons. Elizabeth Berkley auditioned for the role of Rachel, too, but it didn't work out.

Jennifer Aniston actually turned down a job on 'Saturday Night Live' to take the role of Rachel.

Eric McCormack auditioned a few times for Ross, but if he landed the role, 'Will and Grace' probably wouldn't exist and the world would be a much darker place without Karen Walker.

Jon Favreau was offered the role of Chandler but turned it down. He had a recurring role later in the show as Monica's boyfriend. Jon Cryer almost auditioned for Chandler, but his audition tape got to the execs too late and he missed out.

Hank Azaria auditioned for Joey several times but the producers liked what Matt Leblanc brought to a character who wasn't really fleshed out at the time.

Lisa Kudrow beat out Kathy Griffin and Jane Lynch for Phoebe.

Oh, and 'Friends' was originally called 'Six of One.' So yeah, I'd say everything worked out the way it was supposed to.

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