Many factors have attributed to the characters that have given the show its staying power.
The main gang of six is one of the most iconic central casts of all time. Even if there are those characters who are unlikeable and even hated by some fans, they make the show what it is alongside some special recurring side characters who have become beloved in their own right.
Updated on May 30th, 2021 by Rhys McGinley: For a decade between 1994 and 2004 Friends not only produced some unbelievable stories and episodes but some of TV's most iconic and beloved characters. The main six speak for themselves in of quality and impact, but ing them throughout the ten seasons is a catalog of excellent side and recurring characters who left the mark not only on the show but on the audiences, well ed this many years later. The series gave fans so many great characters that it is impossible to talk about just ten.
Carol Willick & Susan Bunch
Undoubtedly the most significant piece of representation in Friends comes in the form of Carol and Susan, Ross' ex-wife and her wife, who build a family and raise Ben along with Ross.
At the start, the two were very unlikable at points, like having Bunch in Ben's name but not Gellar. But they proved themselves as one of the best, healthiest, and most progressive relationships in the show, and a pair of fantastic mothers to Ben.
Estelle Leonard
Joey's agent did not appear in many episodes of Friends, but Estelle Leonard always managed to provide a laugh for audiences during her stint, as well as an emotional end.
Loyal to Joey, with Joey loyal to her also, Estelle helped Joey get jobs on Days Of Our Lives, Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E, and in movies. Of course, she was lackluster in many departments, but she was a funny character whose death was surprisingly affecting.
Frank Jr.
There are a lot of great family in Friends, but when it comes to siblings (excluding Monica and Ross, of course) there are none better than Frank Buffay Jr.
Eccentric, weird even, with energy and care up the wazoo, Frank Jr. was a great inclusion to Phoebe's life, matching her weirdness in a different way, and providing fans with one of the best stories in the show, Phoebe's pregnancy.
The Chick & The Duck
Playing on the idea that Chandler and Joey were like a married couple, the Chick and the Duck was a fantastic inclusion to the early seasons of Friends.
The pair of animals helped the dynamic of Friends' best duo's in their early years, and provided so many funny moments until they drifted off the show and ed away. This entry also includes Duck Jr. and Chick Jr. a great gift from Joey, and Marcel, a fun character in Ross's life for a short time.
Gunther
In of side characters, there are few more iconic than the manager of Central Perk, Gunther, who, outside of the main six, appeared in most episodes of Friends.
Was his crush on Rachel a bit strange at points? Yes. But was he a hilarious character consistently throughout the show? Absolutely. Gunther helped make Central Perk one of the most iconic settings in sitcom history.
Janice Litman-Goralnik
There are a good few iconic quotes and catchphrases sprinkled throughout Friends, but few have quite the level of recognizability and often hilarity of Janice's "Oh my God!"
Janice is the first true love interest audiences meet in Friends except for Ross's ex-wife and Barry. She continues to pop up for all ten seasons of the show, ittedly with higher quality cameos coming when Chandler is not with Monica. Nevertheless, she is always a fun sight and a great inclusion to the show.
Richard Burke
Speaking of love interests, it is pretty surprising that Richard Burke only appears in ten episodes of Friends, yet still makes such a colossal impact on the show, both in of the characters, namely Monica, and the fans.
Suave, classy, mature, and Monica's greatest love except for Chandler, Richard is a great character with some great moments in his limited time, even getting multiple mentions when he is no longer a part of the show.
Jack & Judy Geller
Ross and Monica's parents are also a great part of the show, with Jack and Judy being the most prominent parental figures in the show, with only rare appearances from the rest of the gang's.
Judy Geller can be awful to Monica, but that actually helps her character because it makes Monica better and can be very relatable for many people. On the other hand, Jack is simply hilarious nearly every time he makes an appearance and even gets some surprisingly emotional moments, like when he comforts Monica after her breakup with Richard.
Mike Hannigan
In the later seasons, the iconic Paul Rudd slotted perfectly into Friends and became a huge surprise hit as one of the best love interests of the entire show, falling head over heels for Phoebe after a rocky start, both of which were a result of Joey's forgetfulness.
Mike made sure that as the show came to an end that Phoebe got a satisfying conclusion. Rather than getting pushed to the side with no real direction like Joey, Phoebe managed to get married, with the promise of children in the future. Mike made that happen and had so many great moments in his short time on the show on top of that.
Phoebe Buffay
Moving onto Phoebe, it may be harsh to put her bottom of the main six, especially considering that half the time, Ross is unbearable. However, in of television characters, Phoebe contributes the least to the show.
She is amazing a lot of the time, with a slew of iconic moments and quotes, funny stories, and, of course, the surrogacy arc. But, at the same time, Phoebe is also the odd one out of the group, and if there were any member of the main gang that could be classed as non-essential, it is her. On top of that, she has very little growth throughout the show and never really gets her past fully fleshed out.
