Lisa Kudrow, best known for her iconic role as Phoebe Buffay on the NBC sitcom Friends, is taking a heartfelt look back at the three decades she’s spent alongside her husband, Michel Stern. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kudrow, now 62, didn’t hesitate to pinpoint the greatest stroke of luck in her life—and, surprisingly, it wasn’t landing the part that made her a household name. Instead, she credits meeting Stern, an advertising executive, before her rise to global fame as the moment that shaped her future.
“I feel like the luckiest thing that happened to me was that I met and fell in love with the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with before Friends, right before,” Kudrow shared, reflecting on the timing that would come to mean everything to her. The couple’s story began in the 1980s, when they first crossed paths while Stern was dating Kudrow’s roommate. Fate, as it turned out, had other plans, and their romance blossomed in the years that followed.
By 1995, just one year after Friends premiered in 1994, Kudrow and Stern had tied the knot. Their wedding marked the start of a new chapter, one that would see Kudrow navigating the whirlwind of sudden fame while building a family away from the spotlight. In 1998, they welcomed their only child, Julian, who is now 27 years old.
Julian’s arrival coincided with Kudrow’s soaring television career, and his presence was even felt on the set of Friends. Kudrow’s real-life pregnancy was woven into the show’s storyline, with her character Phoebe serving as a surrogate for her brother’s triplets. The cast, known for their tight-knit bond, created a ritual that included Julian in spirit. Kudrow fondly recalled to People magazine, “The six of us would do a huddle backstage and just say, ‘All right, have a good show, love you, love you, love you, love you.’ And when I was pregnant, then they would say, ‘Have a great show, love you, love you—love you, little Julian!’ It was so sweet.”
Now, decades later, Julian is forging his own path in the entertainment industry. Creativity, it seems, runs in the family. Julian is set to make his acting debut as an AI tech expert in the upcoming third season of HBO’s The Comeback, which is scheduled to premiere on March 22, 2026. Kudrow has long admired her son’s creative spark, telling The Hollywood Reporter that even as a child, he displayed an impressive imagination. “At 9, he was doing stop-motion projects and writing mind-blowing short stories,” she said, recalling a particularly dramatic Lego car crash scene that left her stunned.
Both Kudrow and Stern were deeply moved when they watched Julian perform in a high school production of The Laramie Project. “My husband and I were boo-hoo-hooing,” Kudrow told the outlet. “And I went, ‘Okay, he’s got something.’” The pride she feels for her son’s achievements is palpable, and his upcoming debut has become a new source of excitement for the family.
But what’s the secret to Kudrow and Stern’s enduring marriage, especially under the glare of Hollywood’s spotlight? Kudrow has never shied away from addressing the challenges of a long-term partnership. In a candid 2014 interview with Glamour, she offered a refreshingly honest take on marital commitment. “When we decided to get married, we understood: We’re not promising to love each other forever… but we are promising to work on whatever problems come up,” she said. “We’re committed to our marriage working.”
Kudrow emphasized that mutual respect and a willingness to address issues head-on have been crucial to their relationship’s longevity. She’s also championed the importance of maintaining independence within marriage. “I think people get in trouble when they assume they’re supposed to be one unit. … [Marriage] is like being on a team. Each teammate is different, but you have the same goal,” she explained. This perspective, she believes, has helped her and Stern weather the ups and downs that inevitably come with any long-term relationship.
Their story stands out in an industry where high-profile unions are often short-lived. Kudrow’s reflections suggest that the couple’s ability to balance individuality with shared purpose has been instrumental in keeping their bond strong for three decades. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kudrow sees her pre-fame relationship with Stern as a kind of anchor—something that kept her grounded even as her career soared to new heights.
The timing of their meeting, just before Kudrow’s life changed forever, is a detail she returns to again and again. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most significant events happen quietly, away from the cameras and red carpets. “I feel like the luckiest thing that happened to me was that I met and fell in love with the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with before Friends, right before,” she reiterated in her recent interview. The sentiment underscores how personal happiness and professional success are often intertwined in unexpected ways.
As for Julian’s budding career, Kudrow remains both supportive and in awe of his talent. With his role as an AI tech expert in The Comeback set to introduce him to a wider audience, the next chapter of the Kudrow-Stern family story is just beginning. It’s a full-circle moment for Lisa Kudrow, who once balanced new motherhood with the demands of television stardom, and now watches her son step into the limelight on his own terms.
Through all the changes, Kudrow’s approach to marriage and family has stayed remarkably consistent: prioritize respect, keep communication open, and never stop working on the relationship. “We’re committed to our marriage working,” she told Glamour—a simple yet powerful mantra that has carried her and Stern through thirty years together.
In a world where fame can complicate even the strongest bonds, Lisa Kudrow’s story is a testament to the enduring power of love, timing, and the willingness to grow together—one day, and one challenge, at a time.