Lisa Kudrow Reveals How Much the ‘Friends’ Cast Still Earns in Residuals 20 Years After the Show Ended

Lisa Kudrow has revealed that the cast of “Friends” continues to receive huge yearly payments from the long-running sitcom, even more than two decades after it ended.

Speaking in an interview with the Times of London, as reported last Thursday, Kudrow said the group still brings in around $20 million each year from ongoing residuals tied to the show’s global popularity and reruns.

Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay across all 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, also spoke about revisiting the series years later. She explained that she returned to watching “Friends” after the death of co-star Matthew Perry in 2023. Perry, who played Chandler Bing, passed away at the age of 54.

She shared that her perspective on the show changed with time. Kudrow said she used to focus on her own mistakes when watching episodes, but after Perry’s passing, she was able to appreciate the show in a different way. She described it as something rare and special that could never really be repeated.

She also praised her fellow cast members, including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc, highlighting their performances across the series. She said Perry stood out as especially strong in his role, calling his work unique among the group.

At the same time, Kudrow reflected on the environment behind the scenes during production. She said filming often happened in front of a live audience, and pressure from writers could be intense, especially when jokes did not land the way they expected.

She also mentioned that there were uncomfortable moments involving the writing room during that period. According to Kudrow, the creative process behind the show involved long hours and high pressure, which sometimes led to tension between cast and writers.

Despite this, Kudrow made it clear that she still values her time on the sitcom. She said she would not speak negatively about the experience, calling “Friends” a major achievement in television that remains strong even today.

What do you think about actors still earning millions from old TV shows like “Friends”? Share your thoughts in the comments.