Lisa Kudrow was born on July 30, 1963 in Encino, California and raised in Tarzana. She is the daughter of a headache specialist. Kudrow expected to follow in her father's footsteps when she graduated from Vassar College in New York State with a B.S. in biology and returned to California to work with him.
However, Kudrow's career in research was cut short when a friend of her brother, Jon Lovitz (Saturday Night Live alum), suggested that she audition for the comedy troupe, The Groundlings. Kudrow was not accepted the first time because of her lack of experience but after working with Cynthia Szigeti, a well-known comedy teacher, she got in in 1989. During that time, Kudrow entered a romance which evolved into an enduring friendship with then-unknown late night host, Conan O'Brien.
On Kudrow's road to success, she suffered a few disappointments before winning the role of Phoebe Buffay. Kudrow was originally cast as radio producer, Roz Doyle, on Frasier, but was replaced by Peri Gilpin after rehearsals didn't work for her,before the pilot episode was filmed. Kudrow also had high hopes that her recurring role as waitress Ursula on Mad About You would turn into a steady gig. Fate, however, had other plans. The next pilot that Kudrow read for and cast in was Friends. The character of Phoebe was never written as a twin, but the producers of Friends decided not to ignore Ursula and make her Phoebe's twin, thus making Friends seem more "real".This can be seen in The One With The Two Parts - Part One And Two. Kudrow earned an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her work during the show's debut season.
Lisa is married to French Advertising Executive, Michel Stern. Together they had a son, Julian Murray Stern who is now a year old. Lisa took a month off this summer to spend with Julian. Michel loves Lisa but doesn't like her taste in shoes! He also says that he found some of her habits to be disgusting when they first moved in together - spreading M&M's on foil, putting them in the oven until they melted and eating them with a spoon!
Last year Lisa won an Emmy for her role as Phoebe in Friends- she definately deserved it.
Lisa's filmography
1.. Hanging Up (1999)
2.. Analyze This (1999) .... Laura MacNamara
3.. "Hercules" (1998) TV Series .... Aphrodite
... aka "Disney's Hercules" (1998) (USA)
4.. Opposite of Sex, The (1998) .... Lucia Delury
5.. Clockwatchers (1997) .... Paula
6.. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) .... Michele
Weinberger
7.. Hacks (1997) .... Reading Woman
... aka Sink or Swim (1997) (USA: video title)
8.. Mother (1996/II) .... Linda
9.. Crazysitter, The (1995) .... Adrian Wexler-Jones
... aka Two Much Trouble (1995)
10.. "Friends" (1994/I) TV Series .... Phoebe Buffay/Ursula
Buffay
11.. In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful (1994) .... Teller
... aka Behind Closed Doors (1994)
... aka Unfaithful (1994)
12.. "Mad About You" (1992) TV Series .... Ursula
Buffay (1993-1999)
13.. "Bob" (1992) TV Series .... Kathy Fleisher
14.. In the Heat of Passion (1992)
... aka Heat of Passion (1992) (USA)
15.. Dance with Death (1991)
16.. Unborn, The (1991) .... Louisa
17.. To the Moon, Alice (1990) (TV) .... Friend of Perky Girl
18.. L.A. on $5 a Day (1989) .... Charmer
Notable TV guest appearances
1.. "Simpsons, The" (1989) playing "Alex Whitney"(voice)
in episode: "Lard of the Dance" (episode # 9.26) 8/23/1998
2.. "Mad About You" (1992) playing "Ursula"
in episode: "Fire at Riff's" (episode # 6.18) 4/28/1998
3.. "Instant Comedy with the Groundlings" (1998)
playing "Herself"(episode # 1.2) 1998
4.. "Instant Comedy with the Groundlings" (1998)
playing "Herself"(episode # 1.1) 1998
5.. "Mad About You" (1992) playing "Ursula"
in episode: "Magic Pants, The" (episode # 6.6) 11/18/1997
6.. "Friends" (1994/I) playing "Ursula"(uncredited)
in episode: "One With The Jellyfish, The" (episode # 4.1)
9/25/1997
7.. "Ruby Wax Meets" (1996) playing "Herself"
1997
8.. "Friends" (1994/I) playing "Ursula"(uncredited)
in episode: "One with the Jam, The" (episode # 3.3) 10/3/1996
9.. "Duckman" (1994) playing "Female Beta Maxians"(voice)
in episode: "One With Lisa Kudrow in a Small Role, The"
(episode # 3.13) 4/20/1996
10.. "Hope & Gloria" (1995) playing "Phoebe
Buffay" in episode: "New York Story, A" (episode #
2.14) 3/9/1996
11.. "Friends" (1994/I) playing "Ursula Buffay"(uncredited)
in episode: "One with Two Parts, The: Part 1" (episode
# 1.15) 2/23/1995
12.. "Friends" (1994/I) playing "Ursula"(uncredited)
in episode: "One with Two Parts, The: Part 2" (episode
# 1.16) 2/23/1995
13.. "Coach" (1989) playing "Lauren" in
episode: "Like Father, Like Daughter" (episode # 6.17)
2/15/1994
14.. "Coach" (1989) playing "Nurse Alice" in
episode: "About Face" (episode # 5.21) 4/30/1993
15.. "Flying Blind" (1992) playing "Amy" in
episode: "My Dinner with Brad Schimmel" (episode # 1.17)
3/14/1993
16.. "Mad About You" (1992) playing "Karen"
in episode: "Met Someone" (episode # 1.11) 12/16/1992
17.. "Newhart" (1982) playing "one of the "Daryl's"
wives" in episode: "Last Newhart, The" 4/1990
18.. "Cheers" (1982) playing "Emily" in
episode: "Two Girls For Every Boyd" (episode # 8.9) 11/23/1989
19.. "Life Goes On" (1989/I) playing "Stella, a
ditzy secretary"