Lisa Kudrow: Biography
Lisa Kudrow was born on 30 July, 1963 in Encino, California. Lisa grew up in the suburbs of Los Angels. Lisa attended Vassar College, received a B.S. in biology. When she graduated in 1985 she wanted to become a medical researcher. Intending to pursue a career in research, she returned to Los Angeles and began working with her father, a world-renowned headache specialist. But when she had been inspired to perform by one of her brother’s friends, actor/comedian Jon Lovitz, (NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”).
She auditioned for the famous improvisation theatre group The Groundlings. Her first significant TV role was playing the girlfriend of Woody Harrelson’s character on an episode of Cheers. In 1993 she won a recurring role on “Mad About You” as the flakey waitress Ursula. Then in 1994 she won the role of Phoebe Buffay – Ursula’s twin sister in “Friends”. Lisa Kudrow earned an Emmy Award in 1998 as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Phoebe, the spacy but lovable folk singer and massage therapist. She was first nominated in 1995 for the same role. Kudrow has also been nominated for Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and American Comedy Awards for her performance on “Friends.”
Kudrow has also had success on the big screen. She starred opposite Mira Sorvino in the hit comedy “Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion” and she co-starred in Albert Brooks’ comedy “Mother.” She earned a New York Film Critics Award for her starring role in “The Opposite of Sex,” with Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan and Lyle Lovett, and starred in “Clockwatchers,” with Toni Collette and Parker Posey. Most recently Kudrow co-starred in “Analyze This” for director Harold Ramis, co-starring Billy Crystal and Robert DeNiro. As for her love life she is married to Michael Stern and presently has one child, named Julian Murray who was born on May 7, 1998.