Although HBO Max's Friends reunion has been delayed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the six members of the iconic cast have informally reunited many times over the years! Several of the actors have remained close off screen in the years since Friends went off the air, and seeing them together always brings on waves of nostalgia for longtime fans. The real-life pals have hung out off screen, and they've even popped up from time to time on each other's later projects in fun guest spots. While we wait for more news about when the official Friends reunion will finally happen, take a look at some of the other casual "reunions" between the cast!
For an episode of his comedy Go On in 2013, Perry reunited with his Friends flame Courteney Cox. While their onscreen date couldn't have gone worse, their behind-the-scenes reunion was much sweeter.
As part of a skit for Jennifer Aniston's appearance on Ellen, she filmed a "surprise" reunion with Perry, Cox, and Lisa Kudrow, featuring Cox and Kudrow (and a surprise guest) trying to "sneak" out of Perry's house after a rendezvous.
During a 2014 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel got Cox, Kudrow, and Aniston to participate in an impromptu "episode" of Friends, featuring a hilariously accurate replica set and a hilariously terrible fake script by Kimmel himself.
Over the course of Cox's sitcom Cougar Town, she managed to bring back not one, but three of her former costars. Kudrow appeared first, as Dr. Amy Evans, a dermatologist who dates Jules's (Cox's) ex. The next season, Aniston popped up as Glenn, Jules's therapist. Finally, Perry came on board to play Sam, a brief love interest for Jules.
Matt LeBlanc's showbiz meta-comedy Episodes included plenty of nods to his time on Friends, but it really escalated during a fourth season episode, in which Schwimmer appeared to play a fictionalized version of himself.
Cox made her feature directorial debut with this 2015 film, and her pal Aniston was right there to support her at the premiere!
Kudrow presented Perry with the 2015 Phoenix Rising Award, honoring his work with the organization, which works with young people to overcome addiction.
For this 2016 special honoring Burrows — a legendary TV director who worked on Friends, among many others — the entire cast had a rare reunion (minus Perry, who was in London working on a play at the time).
The real-life BFFs were each other's dates to the American Film Institute's 2018 Lifetime Achievement tribute to George Clooney.
Aniston finally joined Instagram in October 2019, and she literally broke Instagram with her first picture: this sweet and grainy selfie of the full Friends group!
The trio of Friends ladies all attended the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's 4th Annual Patron of the Artists event in late 2019, where Aniston was receiving the Artists Inspiration Award.
Aniston shared this cute girls' night picture with Cox and Kudrow, proving that Friends really are forever!