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Biographies - Lisa Kudrow
For her performance as the spacey but lovable Phoebe Buffay, Lisa Kudrow has earned two Emmy Award nominations (1994-95, 1996-97) for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also has received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and American Comedy Award nominations.
Kudrow graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY with a B.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. 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 then-unknown 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 the comedy series "Mad About You," led to Kudrow's starring role on "Friends." Kudrow has had success on the big screen too. Most recently, she starred in the hit comedy "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion" with Mira Sorvino. Before that she co-starred in Albert Brooks' comedy "Mother." She has a starring role in the upcoming film "Clockwatchers" with Toni Collette ("Muriel's Wedding") and during this summer's hiatus from "Friends," Kudrow starred with Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan and Lyle Lovett in "The Opposite Sex." Kudrow played varsity-level tennis in high school and college and is a pool shark. She grew up in a home that had a pool table and has mastered some of the more difficult trick shots. Kudrow was born on July 30, 1963 in Encino, CA, and was raised in Tarzana, CA. A recent newlywed, Kudrow and her husband live in Los Angeles. 
She may play the typical dumb blonde to perfection, but for Lisa being dumb is just an act - an act that has helped her land roles acting. She became a star by playing guitar-strumming ditz Phoebe Buffay on NBC's hit sitcom Friends and has used that role to unlock the door to more interesting work - from the dumb blonde in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion to more intelligent characters in films such as last year's hit comedy Analyze This. She makes it all look effortless, but behind that funny front she is a serious actress and comedian who has studied her craft and stays close to her roots.
FilmographyPhoto-Gallery Quotes Lifestyle Articles Publicity Awards Links Merchandise Interviews Send Fan-Mail to this address: Lisa Kudrow C/O Endeavor 9701 Wilshire Blvd. 10th Fl. Beverly Hills, CA 90212 USA |
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