33 stars you forgot were on 'Friends'

01 of 33

Ellen Pompeo (Missy Goldberg)

Ellen Pompeo on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Just months before she made her debut as Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo played Missy Goldberg in a season 10 episode of Friends. Appearing in "The One Where the Stripper Cries," she was featured as a former college classmate of Ross (David Schwimmer) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry), who secretly made out with Chandler despite the two pals' pact not to fight over women they both liked.

02 of 33

Sean Penn (Eric)

Lisa Kudrow and Sean Penn on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Sean Penn appeared in two episodes of Friends during the show's eighth season. He played Eric, a man who was engaged to Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) sister Ursula (also Kudrow) but didn't know that she'd been lying to him about her life.

03 of 33

Dakota Fanning (Mackenzie)

Dakota Fanning on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

When she was just 10 years old, Dakota Fanning played Mackenzie in the season 10 episode "The One With Princess Consuela." Her character bonded with Joey (Matt LeBlanc) when Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler came by to look at her house in an attempt to move to the suburbs.

04 of 33

Julia Roberts (Susie Moss)

Matthew Perry and Julia Roberts on 'Friends'. NBC/Getty Images

Julia Roberts stopped by Friends' second season as Susie Moss. Appearing in "The One After the Superbowl: Part 2," she played a childhood acquaintance of Chandler's who finally got her revenge on him after years of teasing.

05 of 33

Jeff Goldblum (Leonard Hayes)

Matt LeBlanc and Jeff Goldblum on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Jeff Goldblum played Leonard Hayes, a serious theater director, in season 9's "The One With the Mugging." After a rocky start, Joey stumbled on some talents and went to great lengths to impress Leonard in his audition for a play.

06 of 33

Brooke Shields (Erika Ford)

Brooke Shields and Matt LeBlanc on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Brooke Shields was featured in one episode of Friends, playing a woman named Erika Ford in the season 2 installment "The One After the Superbowl: Part 1". A slightly out-of-touch woman, Erika could not understand that Joey the actor was not Dr. Drake Ramoray the TV doctor in real life. Thanks to a little acting from the gang, their short-lived affair came to a close.

07 of 33

Helen Hunt (Jamie Buchman)

Helen Hunt and Lisa Kudrow on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

In a brief Mad About You crossover bit, Helen Hunt played Jamie Buchman, her character from the famed sitcom, in a season 1 episode of Friends. Appearing in "The One With Two Parts: Part 1," she stepped into Central Perk and tried to order coffee from Phoebe, mistaking her for her server twin Ursula.

08 of 33

Rebecca Romijn (Cheryl)

Rebecca Romijn and David Schwimmer on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

In her very first onscreen role, Rebecca Romijn played Cheryl in the season 4 episode "The One With the Dirty Girl." Cheryl was the "dirty girl" in question, a new girlfriend of Ross' whose messiness was past the point of forgiveness.

09 of 33

Soleil Moon Frye (Katie)

Soleil Moon Frye and Matt LeBlanc on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

In the season 5 episode "The One With the Girl Who Hits Joey," Soleil Moon Frye was said girl who hit Joey. She played Katie, a spunky woman who playfully punched Joey's arm without realizing just how much it hurt.

10 of 33

Jane Lynch (Ellen)

Jane Lynch on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Jane Lynch made a brief appearance in the final season of Friends in the episode "The One Where Estelle Dies." She played the realtor, Ellen, who helped Chandler and Monica in their search for a home in the suburbs.

11 of 33

Richard Branson (The Vendor)

Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, and Richard Branson on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

In a rare acting gig, Richard Branson played a character named the Vendor in season 4's "The One With Ross's Wedding: Part 1." In the episode, the British businessman played a street vendor who met Joey and Chandler while they were seeing the sights in London.

12 of 33

Gabrielle Union (Kristen Lang)

Gabrielle Union and David Schwimmer on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Gabrielle Union became the person of Ross and Joey's affections as Kristen Lang. The actress played a recent New York transplant in season 7's "The One With the Cheap Wedding Dress," going on competing dates with both men.

13 of 33

Freddie Prinze Jr. (Sandy)

Freddie Prinze Jr. as 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Freddie Prinze Jr. played the nanny Sandy in season 9's "The One With the Male Nanny," caring for Ross and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) baby, Emma.

14 of 33

Jim O'Heir (Adoption Agency Worker)

Anna Faris and Jim O'Heir on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Before his co-workers struggled to keep his name straight on Parks and Recreation, Jim O'Heir played an unnamed character in Friends' final season. In "The One With the Birth Mother," he introduced Chandler and Monica to the woman who eventually gave birth to their babies.

15 of 33

Leah Remini (Lydia)

Leah Remini on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Playing a pregnant woman named Lydia, Leah Remini met the Friends gang at the hospital in the season 1 episode "The One With the Birth." Joey got to know the expectant mother as Carol was giving birth, and eventually stood by Lydia as she welcomed her own baby.

16 of 33

Charlie Sheen (Ryan)

Charlie Sheen on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Charlie Sheen's character Ryan caught a bad case of chicken pox from Phoebe in season 2's "The One With the Chicken Pox." He played a military man who had spent recent months in a submarine, but surfaced for an extended date with Phoebe. Their limited time together was so important that Ryan threw caution to the wind and contracted chicken pox from an ill Phoebe.

17 of 33

Ben Stiller (Tommy)

Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Ben Stiller appeared in Friends' third season, playing a very angry man named Tommy in "The One With the Screamer." He went on a date with Rachel and slowly showed his extremely short temper, even going so far as to yell at the chick and the duck.

18 of 33

Mae Whitman (Sarah Tuttle)

Mae Whitman on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

When she was just 8 years old, a young Mae Whitman appeared in the season 3 episode "The One Where Rachel Quits." She played Sarah Tuttle, a member of the Brown Bird Girl Scout troop selling cookies in an attempt to win a trip to space camp. Ross ended up filling in for her after the injury he caused prevented her from going door-to-door.

19 of 33

Sherri Shepherd (Rhonda the Tour Guide)

Sherri Shepherd and Matt LeBlanc on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Years before she joined The View, Sherri Shepherd picked up the small role of Rhonda in the season 4 episode "The One With Phoebe's Uterus." She worked as a tour guide in Ross' museum, and became friends with Joey during his short stint there.

20 of 33

Craig Robinson (The Clerk)

Craig Robinson on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

In one of his first onscreen roles, Craig Robinson played an unnamed clerk on Friends, appearing in "The One With Princess Consuela" in season 10. He assisted Phoebe when she visited his agency to change her name after marrying Mike. Instead of changing her last name to Hannigan, however, she opted for Princess Consuela Banana Hammock.

21 of 33

Tahj Mowry (Kid)

Tahj Mowry and David Schwimmer on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

A young Tahj Mowry made a brief appearance in "The One After the Superbowl: Part 1" in Friends' second season. He played an unnamed child who was a fan of Phoebe's honest music and tracked her down in the coffee shop after she was barred from playing for the children.

22 of 33

Gary Oldman (Richard Crosby)

Gary Oldman on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Gary Oldman played actor Richard Crosby in the two-part season 7 finale, "The One With Monica and Chandler's Wedding." Richard was starring alongside Joey in a forthcoming war drama, and showed up so drunk to work one day that he almost made Joey miss Monica and Chandler's wedding.

23 of 33

Alec Baldwin (Parker)

Alec Baldwin and Lisa Kudrow on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Alec Baldwin had a hilarious turn as Parker in Friends' eighth season. In "The One With the Tea Leaves" and "The One in Massapequa," he played a man who was dating Phoebe and accompanied the gang on a trip to the Gellers' anniversary party. Much to the despair of the friends, he got irrationally happy about every little thing.

24 of 33

Selma Blair (Wendy)

Selma Blair on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Selma Blair found her spot in the ninth season of Friends. Appearing as Wendy in "The One With Christmas in Tulsa," she worked with Chandler in his company's Oklahoma office, and flirted with him over the holidays.

25 of 33

Greg Kinnear (Dr. Benjamin Hobart)

Greg Kinnear on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Greg Kinnear played Dr. Benjamin Hobart in the season 10 episode "The One With Ross' Grant." Ross was up for said grant and had to appear before Dr. Hobart...who happened to be an ex of Ross' then-girlfriend, Charlie (Aisha Tyler).

26 of 33

Jennifer Coolidge (Amanda Buffamonteezi)

Jennifer Coolidge and Lisa Kudrow on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

Jennifer Coolidge graced Friends' final season with her comedic presence in "The One With Ross's Tan." She played Amanda, an old frenemy of Monica and Phoebe's who had spent a few years in England and picked up a fake British accent. Her annoying personality inspired the women to try to freeze her out and reveal details about the early years of their own friendship.

27 of 33

Jennifer Grey (Mindy)

Jennifer Grey on 'Friends'. Warner Bros. Television

A few years after she played Baby in Dirty Dancing, Jennifer Grey made a brief appearance as Mindy in the season 1 episode "The One With the Evil Orthodontist." The role later went to Jana Marie Hupp, who played Mindy in the episode in which she married Barry (Mitchell Whitfield).

28 of 33

Brad Pitt (Will Colbert)

Lisa Kudrow, Brad Pitt, and David Schwimmer on 'Friends'. NBC/Getty Images

In the midst of his marriage to Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt stopped by her show for a cameo appearance. He played a man named Will Colbert in season 8's "The One With the Rumor," joining the friends for Thanksgiving dinner. A former high school classmate of Rachel, Monica, and Ross', he revealed that he and Ross used to lead an "I Hate Rachel Green" club.

29 of 33

Reese Witherspoon (Jill Green)

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon on 'Friends'. NBC/Getty Images

Reese Witherspoon played Jill Green, one of Rachel's sisters, in the season 6 episodes "The One With Rachel's Sister" and "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." She spent time in New York and went on a date with Ross, much to Rachel's distress.

30 of 33

Susan Sarandon (Cecilia Monroe)

Susan Sarandon and Matt LeBlanc on 'Friends'. NBC/Getty Images

Susan Sarandon played a soap actress by the name of Cecilia Monroe in Friends' seventh season. Appearing in "The One With Joey's New Brain," she hooked up with Joey as the two rehearsed scenes together. Cecilia's character Jessica Lockhart was killed off of Days of Our Lives, and Joey's character Drake Ramoray was getting Jessica's brain.

31 of 33

Christina Applegate (Amy Green)

Courteney Cox, Christina Applegate, and Matt LeBlanc on 'Friends'. NBC/Getty Images

In the aptly titled "The One With Rachel's Other Sister," Christina Applegate played Amy Green — which landed her an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2003 — the second sister of Rachel's to meet the gang. After her season 9 appearance, Amy's lack of direction and self-absorption was further explored in the final season in "The One Where Rachel's Sister Babysits."

32 of 33

Winona Ryder (Melissa Warburton)

Winona Ryder on 'Friends'. NBC/Getty Images

Winona Ryder played Rachel's sorority sister Melissa Warburton in season 7's "The One With Rachel's Big Kiss." After the pair ran into each other, Rachel told the gang that she and Melissa drunkenly made out one night in college. Few believed her confession, but Melissa later confirmed it when she thought Rachel wanted to be with her.

33 of 33

George Clooney (Dr. Michael Mitchell)

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, George Clooney, and Noah Wyle on 'Friends'. NBC/Getty Images

In a nod to his turn as Dr. Doug Ross, George Clooney appeared on Friends with his ER costar Noah Wyle as doctors in a hospital. Starring in season 1's "The One With Two Parts: Part 2," they met Rachel and Monica after Rachel got injured and needed treatment, later going on a disastrous double date with the two women.