All of the Friends actors who have sadly died after appearing on the show
Across its generational 10-season run, Friends had a wealth of acting talent alongside its six leads, including character actors with dozens of credits, and even actors who cut their teeth on the vaudeville stage.
And sadly, with more than 30 years having passed since the show premiered, a lot of the cast have now passed away.
Here we have listed 45 actors who appeared on the show and who sadly have died since their appearance. The list is up to date as of October 2026.
You'll remember many for their fantastic roles in this project and others throughout the years.
Regular characters
Matthew Perry
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One of the biggest and most harrowing celebrity deaths in TV modern times was that of Perry's.
Known as being arguably the funniest of the cast, Perry played Chandler Bing for all episodes of the decade-long show.
Perry tragically died in October 2023 from a fatal ketamine overdose at just 54, leading to a major investigation into his death.
James Michael Tyler
Tyler played none other than barista Gunther, who was in love with Rachel Green and never got the girl.
The actor sadly died from prostate cancer in 2021 and was mourned by his co-stars, with Jennifer Aniston, who played Green, writing: "Friends would not have been the same without you. Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed."
Ron Leibman
Another person who was in favour of Rachel was her on-screen father, Dr. Leonard Green, played by Ron Leibman for four episodes of friends over the years.
Leibman passed away in 2019, at the age of 82 after suffering complications from pneumonia.
Michael Gerard Hagerty
Hagerty was a fantastic addition to the show, who was known for his recurring role as Mr. Treeger, the building superintendent, on Friends.
Sadly, Hagerty passed away at 67 in May, 2022, after suffering a reaction to antibiotics given to him in hospital whilst being treated for a leg infection – per the NY Post.
Teri Garr
There are only so many people on the Earth that can emulate Ms Phoebe Buffay (Princess Consuela Banana Hammock), and Garr was one of them.
Garr was the recurring character Phoebe Abbott in Friends for a couple of scenes where she played the estranged birth mother of Phoebe.
Her role was a big shock for Pheebs, who was on a mission to find her mum.
Sadly, she passed away on 29 October, 2024, from complications of MS.
Paxton Whitehead
Whitehead's character may have been small, but he portrayed Mr Waltham, Rachel's boss and Emily's uncle perfectly.
Whitehead featured in The One With Rachel's Crush and The One With Joey's Dirty Day.
The actor passed away on 16 June 2023 at 85 due to complications of a fall.
One-off cameos and other appearances
Robin Williams
Robin Williams had a brief cameo in season three episode ‘The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion’ in 1997 as a character named Tomas.
Appearing alongside fellow actor and comedian Billy Crystal, the pair appeared in Central Perk in what ScreenRant describes as an ‘unplanned and improvised’ scene, as the pair just happened to be on a nearby set when filming was going on.
Williams passed away in August 2014 at the age of 63, with his death later being ruled a suicide. It would later be revealed that Williams had been living with undiagnosed Lewy body dementia at the time.
Charlton Heston
Heston appeared in the episode 'The One with Joey's Dirty Day' where he played himself. Joey had arrived home after not being able to shower, and sneaks into Heston's dressing room on set where he attempts to take a shower, and is inevitably caught by the legendary actor. He died in 2008 aged 84.
Fred Willard
Willard was known for his work on 'rockumentary' This Is Spinal Tap and in Anchorman, and had a part in the Friends episode 'The One After the Super Bowl: Part 1', where he played a zookeeper at the San Diego Zoo who informs Ross that his pet monkey Marcel has died. Willard died in 2020 aged 86.
Gary Collins
Collins had roles stretching from the 1960s up to 2000, played himself in the episode 'The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS'. He died in 2012 aged 74.
Ron Glass
Glass is known for his role as Shepherd Book in space western Firefly, and appeared in two episodes of Friends in 1999, where he played Ross' lawyer Russell. He died in 2016, aged 71.
Paul Gleason
Gleason had a role in Die Hard as Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson, and appeared in the Friends episode 'The One That Could Have Been' in 2000 where he played the character Jack. He died in 2006 aged 67.
Audra Lindley
Lindley had her earliest roles in 1941, and would play Phoebe's grandmother in Friends in 1995. She died in 1997 aged 79.
Danny Dayton
Dayton had guest role in hit comedy M*A*S*H, and played Buddy Doyle in Friends in 1995. He died in 1999 aged 75.
Sandra Gould
Gould was best known for her role as Gladys Kravitz in Bewitched, and has a voice credit as 'Old Woman' in 'The One Where Rachel Quits' in 1996. She died in 1999, aged 82.
Penny Santon
Santon is known for her role in Funny Girl in 1968, and played Nonna in 'The One Where Chandler Can't Remember Which Sister' in 1997. She died in 1999 at the age of 82.
Ralph Manza
Manza was a character actor with over 160 acting credits, including with no less than Alfred Hitchcock, and played 'Old Man' in the Friends episode 'The One With Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss'. He died in 2000 aged 78.
Fritzi Burr
Burr had numerous TV roles, as well as working in vaudeville and on Broadway, and played Mrs. Weinberg in three episodes of Friends. She died in 2003 aged 78.
Kellie Waymire
Waymire is known for her role in Six Feet Under, and played Colleen in 'The One Where Ross is Fine' in 2003. She died in 2003 aged 36 of an undiagnosed heart condition.
Steve Susskind
Susskind had voice roles in films including The Prince of Egypt, The Emperor's New Groove, and The Lion King, and played Father Karembetsos in 'The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding'. He died in 2005 aged 62.
Jackie Bright
Bright appeared as The Janitor in 'The One with the Birth' in 1995, and would also have a role in the Friends spinoff Joey in 2005. He died in 2006 aged 86.
Andre Rosey Brown
Brown worked as a jazz drummer, police officer, and actor, and played a delivery man in 'The One with the Race Car Bed'. He died in 2006 aged 50.
Gretchen Wyler
Wyler appeared in six original Broadway productions over her career, and played Mrs Burkart in 'The One with the Dirty Girl' in 1997. She died in 2007 aged 75.
Lilyan Chauvin
Chauvin had roles in Magnum P.I. and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and played Grandma Tribbiani in 'The One Where Ross Can't Flirt' in 1999. She died in 2008 aged 82.
Alaina Reed Hall
Hall had a recurring role in Sesame Street, featuring as Olivia Robsinson in 59 episodes, and played the Admissions Woman in 'The One with Two Parts: Part 2'. She died in 2009 aged 63.
Peter Dennis
Dennis was a voice actor who had a role in Shrek as one of the ogre hunters, and played Sherman Whitfield in 'The One Where No One's Ready' in 1996. He died in 2009 at the age of 75.
Terry Rhoads
Rhoads had supporting roles in shows including Desperate Housewives and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and played Maître d' in 'The One with the Holiday Armadillo'. He died in 2013 aged 61.
Taylor Negron
Negron was an actor and painter, and played Allesandro in 'The One Where They're Going to Party!'. He died in 2015 aged 57.
Cyndi Martino
Martino had roles in Martin and Cold Case, and played Henrietta in 'The One Where the Stripper Cries' in 2004. She died in 2015 aged 52.
Buck Kartalian
Kartalian was a character who had a role in Planet of the Apes, and played Frankie in 'The One with Ross's New Girlfriend'. He died in 2016 aged 93.
Jack Riley
Riley voiced Stu Pickles in Rugrats, and played an airline passenger in 'The One Where Rachel Finds Out'. He died in 2016 at the age of 80.
Alexis Arquette
Arquette was an actress and advocate for the transgender community, and played two roles in Friends, once in 'The One with Rachel's Sister' and again in 'The One with Chandler's Dad'. She died in 2016 aged 47 of complications from HIV.
Jack Ong
Ong was a licensed minister with the Missionary Church and played The Older Scientist in 'The One with Phoebe's Uterus'. He died in 2017 aged 76.
Shelley Berman
Berman appeared in shows including The Twilight Zone and Knight Rider, as well as releasing comedy music albums, and played Mr. Kaplan Jr. in two episodes of Friends. He died in 2017 aged 92.
Hugh Dane
Dane had roles in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and The West Wing, and played Jim in 'The One With The Baby On The Bus'. He died in 2018 aged 75.
June Whitfield
Whitfield was a British actor who had roles in The Morecambe and Wise Show and Doctor Who, and played The Housekeeper in 'The One with Ross' Wedding' in 1998. She died in 2018 at the age of 93.
Ethel Ayler
Ayler had numerous theatrical roles and appeared in The Sleep With Anger, and played Hospital Administrator in 'The One with the Tiny T-Shirt' in 1997. She died in 2018 at the age of 88.
Max Wright
Wright's longest running role was playing the antagonistic Max Denby in 49 episodes of The Norm Show from 1999 to 20012, and in Friends he played Terry in two episodes. He died in 2019 at the age of 75.
Mary Pat Gleason
Gleason had roles in numerous films and TV shows, including Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives, and played Nurse Sizemore in 'The One with George Stephanopoulos'. She died in 2020 aged 70.
Conchata Ferrell
Ferrell is best known for playing Berta in Two and a Half Men between 2003 and 2015, and in Friends she played The Judge in 'The One with Joey's Porsche'. She died in 2020 aged 77.
Warren Berlinger
Berlinger was a character actor who was known for his roles in The Cannonball Run and The Long Goodbye, and played Bob in 'The One Where Joey Moves Out'. He died in 2020 aged 83.
Willie Garson
Garson was best known for playing Stanford Blatch in Sex and the City, and in Friends played Steve Cera in 'The One with the Girl Who Hits Joey'. He died in 2021 aged 57.
Richard Roat
Roat was a character with over 130 film and TV credits, and in Friends played Burt in 'The One Where Ross Dates a Student'. He died in 2022 aged 89.
Nicky Katt
Katt had roles in King of the Hill and School of Rock, and in Friends he played Arthur in 'The One with the Bullies'. He died in 2025 aged 54.
Pat Finn
Finn's longest running role was as Bill Norwood in 23 episodes of The Middle, as well as a main role as Bob Forman in Marvin Marvin, and in Friends he played Dr Roger in 'The One That Could Have Been'. He died in 2025 at the age of 60.
Topics: Celebrity, Friends, News, TV and Film
Kit Roberts
