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Celebrities who had cameos on both "Seinfeld" and "Friends"
Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Celebrities who had cameos on both "Seinfeld" and "Friends"

Seinfeld and Friends are two of the most popular sitcoms in television history. But did you ever notice how many notable actors and actresses guest-starred or starred on both shows? Here's a look.

 
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Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander
YouTube

We know how renowned Alexander is for his role as George, Jerry's neurotic and balding best friend on Seinfeld. But there's a good chance that many Seinfeld fans forget he guest starred during the seventh season of Friends. He played Earl, a disgruntled and depressed office worker. Earl's attitude and outlook on life were a little darker than George's but offered a few notable laughs. 

 
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Bob Balaban

Bob Balaban
YouTube

The great Bob Balaban was unforgettable as NBC president and Elaine-obsessed Russell Dalrymple from Seinfeld. We also know he liked his pasta primavera. On Friends, he played Frank Buffay Sr., Phoebe's estranged father. A little introverted and somewhat scraggly with his long hair, we learn that when Phoebe was a baby, Frank would sing her a lullaby to the sound of her famed "Smelly Cat."

 
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Jennifer Coolidge

Jennifer Coolidge
IMDb

Jerry wanted a massage from his masseuse girlfriend, Jodi, but she did not want to mix business with pleasure. Naturally, that wasn't good enough for Jerry. Plus, George became obsessed with her not liking him as a friend. When Coolidge co-starred on Friends as Amanda Buffamonteezi, an old buddy of Monica and Phoebe, she hilariously annoyed the two with her poor British accent and lifestyle after living in the United Kingdom.  

 
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Courteney Cox

Courteney Cox
YouTube

The same year (1994) Cox began her iconic role as Monica Geller on Friends, she added her name to the list of Jerry's prominent girlfriends on Seinfeld. Cox's Meryl was mistaken as Jerry's wife, but he did not mind since it got him a discount on his dry cleaning. The charade blew up when Jerry tired of Meryl's reliance on the discount and offered his newfound savings to another woman. 

 
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Kristin Davis

Kristin Davis
The WB Television Network

Best known for her role as Charlotte on Sex and the City (and now the revival series And Just Like That...), Davis also did a nice job during turns on Seinfeld and Friends. On the former, as another in a long line of Jerry's girlfriends played by famous actresses, she drew Jerry's ire for using a toothbrush he accidentally dropped in the toilet. While guest starring on Friends, Davis plays one of Joey's one-night stands. He eventually falls for her, though we're not sure how hot the sparks are. She is a Mets fan, after all.

 
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Richard Fancy

Richard Fancy
YouTube

The veteran actor was best known as Mr. Lippman, Elaine's boss at Pendant Publishing. He's not a bad boss and took a brief liking to Elaine. He eventually opened a store that sold only muffin tops (Top of the Muffin to You!) Meanwhile, Fancy's role on Friends was as a bit guest star. As Mr. Fosner, he was part of the team that interviewed Rachel for a promotion at Bloomingdale's, which her current boss tried to sabotage.

 
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Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau
The WB Television Network

While Favreau is well known as Monica's millionaire boyfriend, Pete, who also took a shot at becoming an ultimate fighting champion, he also played one of the most memorable roles in Seinfeld history. Many probably don't remember that role because he was dressed as "Eric" the clown, chastised by George because he did not know who the famous Bozo the Clown was. 

 
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Kyle Gass

Kyle Gass
Pinterest

Perhaps best known for being one-half of the comical heavy metal music act Tenacious D (with Jack Black), Gass has enjoyed a pretty active acting career. His role on Seinfeld is small — a smoker looking for someplace to puff away during "The Abstinence" episode. On Friends, Gass played Lowell, a former homeless pal of Phoebe, who enjoys a reunion when he attempts to mug Ross and her.

 
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Mike Hagerty

Mike Hagerty
YouTube

Hagerty enjoyed a successful career as a character actor for decades before his passing in May 2022. One of his more celebrated roles was Mr. Treeger, the superintendent for the building where Joey, Chandler, Monica, and Rachel lived. He could be gruff but had a bit of a soft spot. And he's a pretty good dancer. When it came to Seinfeld, Hagerty's Rudy was annoyed when George sold him moth-ridden cabana wear at his second-hand thrift store.  

 
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Larry Hankin

Larry Hankin
The WB Television Network

Another great character actor. Hankin played Mr. Heckles on Friends. He's a subdued liar often seen in a robe. Sadly, Heckles passes away early in the series, which has a strange effect on Chandler. On Seinfeld, Hankin played Tom Pepper, the actor who portrayed Kramer in the pilot of "Jerry." Also, he really did steal that box of raisins during his audition

 
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Steve Hytner

Steve Hytner
YouTube

Arguably Hytner's most popular role during his career came as Kenny Bania, the annoying, soup-loving comedic hack on Seinfeld. Other than Newman, Bania was probably the next biggest thorn in Jerry's side. On Friends, Hytner's role was far less prominent. He played Mr. Thompson, who ran the fundraising auction where Joey won a boat.

 
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Jessica Hecht

Jessica Hecht
The WB Television Network

Another one of Friends' most celebrated recurring characters. Hecht played Susan Bunch,  the woman Carol fell in love with and eventually left Ross to marry. Susan and Ross did not get along, but their interactions were often comical. Hecht also appeared on Seinfeld as Lindsay, George's girlfriend, whose mother continues to see an unflattering picture of her daughter's new boyfriend. 

 
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Jon Lovitz

Jon Lovitz
The WB Television Network

This comedy veteran appeared twice on Friends. First, as "the stoned guy" and restaurateur that Monica is trying to impress through a fancy meal to get a job. Later in the series, his character goes on an unsuccessful blind date with Rachel. When Lovitz starred on Seinfeld as Gary Fogel, he was a friend of George and Jerry who falsely claimed to have cancer for attention.

 
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Dedee Pfeiffer

Dedee Pfeiffer
YouTube

The veteran actress' character ordered the same lunch that George did when he decided to do the opposite of every instinct he had done prior. "Chicken salad on rye, untoasted, with a side of potato salad and a cup of tea." On Friends, her Mary Ellen Jenkins was involved in Joey's double date where Mike (Paul Rudd) met Phoebe for the first time. 

 
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Denise Richards

Denise Richards
The WB Television Network

One of the more prominent names to guest star on both shows. It started with Seinfeld, where she played Molly Dalrymple, daughter of NBC president Russell. On Friends, she was cast as Cassie, the attractive cousin of Monica and Ross; she sent Chandler, Ross, and Phoebe into a quiver with her good looks.

 
16 of 20

Michael D. Roberts

Michael D. Roberts
YouTube

Perhaps not a household name, but Roberts has been around the block in Hollywood. Roberts' work on Seinfeld probably stood out more than his Friends role. As Mr. Ipswich, he investigated Elaine's excessive spending when in charge of J. Peterman's company. As for Friends, he was the head librarian Ross dealt with when he found out students were having sex in the aisle in which one of his published works was housed.   

 
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Debra Jo Rupp

Debra Jo Rupp
The WB Television Network

She may be best known as Eric's mom Kitty Forman on That '70s Show. However, Rupp spent some memorable time on both Seinfeld and Friends. On the former, she appears twice as one of Jerry's booking managers, Katie. She's indecisive and couldn't get Jerry a prime slot on career day at his old school. Plus, she was indirectly responsible for Jerry having a bad show and being kicked off a flight. On Friends, though, her role as Frank Jr.'s former Home Ec teacher and current wife was dysfunctionally endearing

 
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Christine Taylor

Christine Taylor
YouTube

Another big name to date Jerry, though he considered her a "loser girlfriend" because their first date was on her birthday. On Friends, Taylor played Bonnie, Phoebe's friend who was set up with Ross. Bonnie used to be bald but eventually grew her hair back — much to Rachel's chagrin.

 
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Kellie Waymire

Kellie Waymire
The WB Television Network

Waymire was a celebrated character who, sadly, passed away in 2003 at age 36 from a heart issue. One of her final roles came as Colleen, the wife of a couple who adopted a son and befriended Monica and Chandler. Chandler spilled the beans to the adopted boy. However, one of her earlier jobs came as Elaine's friend Vivian, a big fan of salted, cured meats, and eventually had sex with George on the kitchen floor. 

 
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Maggie Wheeler

Maggie Wheeler
The WB Television Network

Aside from the six main characters, Wheeler's nasally-annoying Janice might be the most memorable side character in Friends lore. She put Chandler through emotional hell but was hilarious in doing so. However, her role as Cynthia on Seinfeld should not be brushed aside. In that case, she was fixed up with George and ended up having sex with him while a potentially defective condom was in the mix. 

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for nearly 30 years. If he could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High and Grand Lakes University.

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