How old were the Friends cast in Season 1? Details revealed

The NBC sitcom, Friends, has been getting a lot of heat, especially in recent years, for its objectionable depiction of its queer characters.

Some believe that the humor has not aged well either. Still, the show holds a special place in many people's hearts, and one of the key reasons for this is its six characters who go through adulting together in New York City.

Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey, and Ross begin their Friends journey in their mid-20s, and mature over the course of its ten seasons. They bicker about their troubles finding love or work, while trying to make sense of their place in the world. So, viewers revisit the show, not just for its humor, but to find comfort in these characters.

The characters entered he show as flawed 20-somethings who didn't exactly know what they wanted to do in their lives. By the end, they all become more self-aware and get even more than what they could have asked for. That's why their late-coming-of-age journey is relatable to many fans, who are always up for a rewatch.

Much like their characters, the cast of Friends were mainly in their mid-twenties to late-twenties when they first appeared on screen in 1994. Their characters, however, were almost entirely in their mid-20s.

Here's how old the Friends cast and characters were in Season 1

The first season of Friends began with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) running from her wedding to find Monica (Courteney Cox). At the time, Rachel and Monica should have been the same age since they used to study in the same class. However, according to CBR, there have been inconsistencies throughout the show when it comes to their actual age.

Monica and Rachel were 24-25 years old. While Aniston was the same age as her character, Cox was 30. Similarly, Lisa Kudrow and Phoebe were of different ages, as both the actress and her character were the oldest among the bunch. At the time of the premiere, Lisa was 31, while Phoebe was 27-28 in the pilot episode.

Speaking about Friends' male characters, Matt LeBlanc was 26 years old when he first appeared in Friends, while his character Joey was about a year or two younger, according to CBR. The same is the case with David Schwimmer, who played Ross. Schimmer was 27 in season 1, while his character was 26.

Lastly, Matthew Perry first appeared in the show when he was 25, while his character, Chandler, was possibly the same age as Ross, i.e, 26.

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The exact age may be immaterial, but the characters' ages play a part in how they saw the world and each other. Ross wanted respect as an older brother, but he was immaturely grieving the loss of his relationship with his former partner. Joey, an up-and-coming actor, relied on Chandler's salary and his kindness to stay at his place while struggling to land gigs.

Rachel had lived a fairly comfortable life with her rich parents, unlike Monica, who grew up in a modest environment. Still, throughout the show's run, they all grow into more mature selves.

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