A look back at the young actors to appear on Friends

The one where they all grew up! As former Friends child star Cole Sprouse laments his early introduction to TV, a look back at the iconic show’s other young actors

We know the show, we know the cast, and those of us with long enough memories know it’s been an astonishing 19-years since Friends came to an end. 

Time certainly flies when you’re having fun – unless of course you’re Cole Sprouse, who recently accused his mother of pushing him into the acting industry at an early age to satisfy her own ‘wicked narcissism.’ Ouch. 

Friends obsessives will no doubt recognise Sprouse as Ben Geller, the son of bumbling Ross Geller and a recurring character between seasons six and eight of the iconic show.

But while the actor – irrespective of his personal misgivings – went on to establish  a successful career in his own right, what became of the other young stars to feature across its hugely successful 10-year run?

Pull up a La-Z-Boy and make yourself comfortable. MailOnline has the answers.  

Iconic: We know the show, we know the cast, and those of us with long enough memories know it’s been an astonishing 19-years since Friends came to an end 

Cali and Noelle Sheldon (Emma) 

Cali and Noelle Sheldon, 20, are identical twins who shared the role of Emma – Rachel and Ross’ daughter – between each other.

They took over the role from another set of twins and appeared in 11 episodes from 2003 to 2004.

Cali told Insider: ‘All of the cast were super nice to us, they treated us all like little princesses and when we had holidays and stuff, they’d give us little Christmas gifts.’

Then: Cali and Noelle Sheldon both played Rachel and Ross’ daughter in Friends between 20034 and 2004, when they show finally ended 

Now: They have both continued with acting, and most recently appeared as Lindsey and Becca Tyler in horror film Us in 2019, opposite Lupita Nyong’o (pictured in 2019)

Speaking on being part of the show, she added: ‘It’s kind of cool to see something that we were in but can’t really remember, so it’s kind of like the memories are preserved for us.’

They have both continued with acting, and most recently appeared as Lindsey and Becca Tyler in horror film Us in 2019, opposite Lupita Nyong’o.

Cali has said her dream is to become a biochemist, explaining she wants to ‘become a chemist and cure cancer’. 

Alexandria, Cole, Justin and Paul Cimoch (Phoebe’s triplets)

In season five of the hit show, Phoebe (played by Lisa Kudrow) served as surrogate for her little brother Frank Jr. and his wife Alice, giving birth to the couple’s triplets.

Those triplets were actually played by quadruplets from the Cimoch family, in 2020 Alexandria Cimoch shared photos of her and her siblings on the sitcom.

But it turns out that the the babies were actually played by four children: Alexandria and her three brothers, Cole, Justin, and Paul.

Alexandria, who is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, recently joined TikTok — and her first video is all about her famous baby status.

Then: In season five of the hit show, Phoebe, played by Lisa Kudrow, served as surrogate for her little brother Frank Jr. and his wife Alice, giving birth to the couple’s triplets

‘Yes… I was on friends, she captioned the video, which has been viewed over 2.6 million times.

Not only did the video reveal that the triplets were in fact played by quadruplets, but Alexandria joked in the comments section that one of her brothers had to play a baby girl, a fact that they still laugh over to this day. 

However, it wasn’t just the clips and photos shared in the video that had viewers going wild, but also Alexandria’s resemblance to her on-screen surrogate mom Lisa Kudrow. 

Now: Those triplets were actually played by quadruplets Alexandria, Cole, Justin and Paul Cimoch (pictured in an undated social media photo)

Within hours of her video being posted on TikTok, dozens of users had commented to point out just how similar she now looks to the Friends star.

‘This is so iconic, and you even look kind of like LIsa Kudrow now?’ one person wrote, while another added: ‘U look like Phoebe OMG.’

She does appear to have kept acting at least on a smaller level, having appeared in high school productions of Our Town, Beauty & the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and in college, she appeared in a production of Hair.

Tahj Mowry (Little Boy)

Tahj Mowry had already starred in another hit show before appearing on Friends as one of several kids Phoebe sang to in a 1996 episode of the show.

From 1991 to 1995 he played the best friend of Michelle Tanner in the famous show Full House.

After Friends, he went on to star in a string of successful projects including Kim Possible, Smart Guy, and The Game, while he also had a main role on the ABC Family show Baby Daddy until 2017.

Then: Tahj Mowry (seated front, second from right) had already starred in Full House before appearing on Friends as one of several kids Phoebe sang to in a 1996 episode of the show

Now: After Friends, he went on to star in a string of successful projects including Kim Possible, Smart Guy, and The Game, while he also had a main role on the ABC Family show Baby Daddy

Tahj is also the brother of twins Tia and Tamera, who starred in their own sitcom Sister, Sister.

He dated the late Glee star Naya Rivera for two years from 2000 and remained close friends with her till her death in 2020.

In 2021 he said: ‘She was definitely my first everything. I think subconsciously it’s why I never really date like that because no one really ever…

‘I know someday someone might, but it’s hard to measure up to the type of girl and woman she was.’

Emily Osment (Lelani Mayolanofavich) 

Emily Osment played Lelani, the little girl who goes trick or treating at Rachel and Monica’s apartment, and who Rachel gives a cheque to.

She went on to star as Gerti Giggles in the Spy Kids franchise, before landing her biggest role on Hannah Montana.

She played Miley Cyrus’ best friend Lilly Truscott on the Disney series from 2006 to 2011.

Then: Emily Osment played Lelani, the little girl who goes trick or treating at Rachel and Monica’s apartment, and who Rachel gives a cheque to

Now: Emily’s older brother is fellow actor Hayley Joel Osment, who famously starred in The Sixth Sense which gave him an Oscar nomination in 1999 (pictured in 2022)

Emily’s older brother is  fellow actor Hayley Joel Osment, who famously starred in The Sixth Sense which gave him an Oscar nomination in 1999.

Emily went on to play the main role in Young and Hungry and most recently became a series regular in Young Sheldon.

She also releases music, under the alias Bluebiird, and has released one extended play, When I Loved You in 2019. 

Dakota Fanning (Mackenzie)

These days she’s a household name, but in 2004 Dakota Fanning was an eight-year old unknown when she appeared in Friends episode The One with Princess Consuela. 

The actress plays Mackenzie, an intuitive young girl who counsels Joey after Chandler and Monica buy a house of their own, advising him to be happy for his friend as he embarks on a new chapter. 

Then: Dakota Fanning was an eight-year old unknown when she appeared in 2004 Friends episode The One with Princess Consuela

Now:  More recently Fanning – the sister of Hollywood star Elle Fanning – has featured alongside Oscar-winner Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3

Since then, Fanning – the younger sister of Hollywood star Ellie Fanning – has won numerous screen credits, most prominently her role as Jane Volturi in the Twilight franchise. 

She also played the precocious young daughter of Tom Cruise in Steven Spielberg’s War Of The Worlds and Manson cult member Squeaky in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. 

More recently Fanning, now 29, has portrayed American author and photojournalist Susan Ford in 2022 anthology drama The First Lady and has featured alongside Oscar-winner Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3. 

Daryl Sabara (Owen) 

An actor from an early age, Daryl Sabrara had already appeared in sitcom Will & Grace, sci-fi series Roswell, the 2001 movie Spy Kids and its sequel, Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams, before landing a role in Friends. 

Featuring in 2003 episode The One Where Ross is Fine, Sabrara plays Santa loving Owen, the adopted son of Phoebe’s friends Bill and Colleen. 

However, he doesn’t actually know he’s adopted until a hapless Chandler inadvertently tells him, prompting inevitable chaos. 

Then: Featuring in 2003 episode The One Where Ross is Fine, Daryl Sabrara plays Santa loving Owen, the adopted son of Phoebe’s friends Bill and Colleen 

Now: Sabrara is happily married to singer Meghan Trainor, who is currently pregnant with the couple’s second child  

The 30-year old actor has since gone on to enjoy a successful career, thanks largely to his starring role in the hit Spy Kids franchise, which spawned four movies in total. 

A popular character actor, Sabrara has also featured in 2007 slasher Halloween, 2009 sci-fi drama John Carter and animated TV film Ben 10 Versus the Universe: The Movie. He currently features as a judge on talent show Australian Idol. 

Away from acting he is happily married to singer Meghan Trainor,  who is currently pregnant with the couple’s second child. 

Mae Whitman (Sarah Tuttle)

Friends was still in its infancy when Mae Whitman landed a role as Sarah Tuttle. 

Featuring in 1996 episode The One Where Rachel Quits, Whitman plays a young Brown Bird on a mission to sell enough holiday cookies to win a coveted trip to Space Camp. 

But things go horribly wrong for Sarah when her leg is broken by Ross’s tennis racquet, scuppering her dream and prompting a guilty Ross and Joey to bring Space Camp to the ailing child’s bedroom. 

Then: Featuring in 1996 episode The One Where Rachel Quits, Mae Whitman plays a young Brown Bird on a mission to sell enough holiday cookies to win a coveted trip to Space Camp

Now: The actress has racked up regular TV appearances in shows such as Arrested Development, Chicago Hope, Parenthood, Desperate Housewives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Grey’s Anatomy (pictured in 2021)

That same year Whitman, now 34, took a lead role in hit film One Fine Day, playing George Clooney’s daughter Maggie, before portraying Sandra Bullock’s daughter Bernice in 1998 movie Hope Floats.

Since then, regular TV appearances in shows such as  Arrested Development, Chicago Hope, Parenthood, Desperate Housewives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Grey’s Anatomy have helped turn her into a household name. 

The talented actress has also provided a variety of voices to hit animated series Family Guy from 2008 to the present day. 

Then: Those familiar with Whitman’s appearance will also remember Kyla Pratt, who featured in the same episode, as Brown Bird Charla Nichols

Now: The actress has since won recognition by starring alongside Eddie Murphy in the Doctor Dolittle film franchise, in which she plays his daughter Maya Dolittle

Kyla Pratt (Charla Nichols)

Those familiar with Whitman’s appearance will also remember Kyla Pratt, who featured in the same episode. 

Kyla played Charla Nichols, another Brown Bird who remonstrates with Ross after he accidentally injures her young friend. 

The actress, 36, has since won recognition by starring alongside Eddie Murphy in the Doctor Dolittle film franchise, in which she plays his daughter Maya Dolittle.

Her TV credits include Moesha, Lizzie McGuire, Veronica Mars, ER and a recurring role in animated Disney show The Proud Family. 

A member of the Disney Channel Circle Of Stars, Kyla has also recorded songs for the The Proud Family soundtrack, as well as a cover version of Sir Elton John’s Circle Of Life for the DisneyMania 2 compilation album.

Then: Fans will remember Rachel Snow as Gert, the bespectacled girl Ross dances with in 2001 episode The One After I Do – the first episode to be aired following the September 11 attack on New York City

Over recent years she has taken a back seat by working as a theater educator and is understood to teach Drama and Technical Theater at a local Southern California high school

Rachel Snow (Gert) 

Fans will remember Rachel Snow as Gert, the bespectacled girl Ross dances with in 2001 episode The One After I Do – the first episode to be aired following the September 11 attack on New York City. 

Now 35, Rachel began her career in theatre when she was just four years old before starring in a series of American TV commercials. 

As well as Friends, the New York born actress’ TV credits have extended to Hope Floats, Lizzie McGuire and the hugely successful Curb Your Enthusiasm. 

Over recent years she has taken a back seat by working as a theater educator and is understood to teach Drama and Technical Theater at a local Southern California high school. 

Then: Cole Sprouse played Ben Geller – the son of cast regular Ross Geller and Carol Willick – from season six to season eight of the iconic show

Now: Sprouse has been vocal about his mother’s decision to push him and twin brother Dylan into the acting industry

And finally… Cole Sprouse (Ben Geller)

He’s been vocal about his mother’s decision to push him and twin brother Dylan into the acting industry, but despite his lingering resentment the actor went on to enjoy a successful career following his appearance in Friends. 

The American actor played Ben Geller – the son of cast regular Ross Geller and Carol Willick – from season six to season eight of the iconic show. 

But he would enjoy greater fame after being cast in hit Disney series The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody alongside his brother. 

The actor also took smaller roles in That ’70s show, Wizards Of Waverley Place and That’s So Raven. 

Now 30-years old, Sprouse is perhaps better known for playing Jughead in Netflix series Riverdale. 

Legendary: Friends ran for successful 10-years before going off air for good in 2004 

 

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