Jennifer Joanna Aniston (born February 11, 1969)
is an American actress. She became famous in the 1990s for her role
as
Rachel Green in the US sitcom
Friends, a role for which she won
an
Emmy Award, a
Golden Globe Award, and a
Screen Actors Guild Award.
She has
starred in many Hollywood
films. While most of her film roles have
been in comedies such as
Bruce
Almighty,
Office
Space,
Rumor Has It,
and the
romantic comedies
Along Came Polly and
The Break-Up, she has also
appeared in films from other genres, such as the comedy-horror
Leprechaun, the crime
thriller
Derailed and the musical
drama movie,
Rock Star.
Early life
Jennifer
Aniston was born in Sherman
Oaks
, California
, and grew up in New York City. She is the
daughter of actor
John Aniston and
actress
Nancy Dow.
Aniston's father is a
Greek American, born Yannis
Anastassakis on the island of Crete
, Greece,
while her mother is of Italian-Scottish descent and was born in New
York City. Aniston has two half-brothers, John Melick
(older) and Alex Aniston (younger). Aniston's
godfather was the actor
Telly Savalas†, her father's best friend. She
lived in Greece for one year as a child with her family, and they
later relocated to New York City. Her father has appeared in the
soap operas Days of our Lives,
Love of Life and
Search for Tomorrow.
Aniston attended the
New York Rudolf Steiner School and
graduated from Manhattan
's Fiorello H.
LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and
Performing Arts
. She worked in
Off
Broadway productions such as
For Dear Life and
Dancing on Checker's Grave. She supported herself with
several part-time jobs, including working as a
telemarketer and bike messenger.
In 1989, she moved to
Los Angeles,
California
.
Career
Aniston
moved to Hollywood
and was cast in her first television role in 1990,
starring as a regular on the short-lived series Molloy and in the TV movie Camp Cucamonga. She also
co-starred in
Ferris
Bueller, a television adaptation of the 1986 hit movie
Ferris Bueller's Day
Off. The series, however, was quickly canceled. Aniston
then appeared in two more failed television comedy shows,
The Edge and
Muddling Through, and guest-starred on
Quantum Leap,
Herman's Head, and
Burke's Law. After the string of canceled
shows, along with her appearance in the critically derided 1992
horror film,
Leprechaun, Aniston considered
giving up acting. Aniston's plans changed, however, after
auditioning for
Friends, a sitcom
that was set to debut on
NBC's 1994–1995 fall
line-up. The producers of the show originally wanted Aniston to
audition for the role of
Monica
Geller, but Courteney Cox was considered to be better suited to
the role. Thus, Aniston was cast as Rachel Green. She played the
character of Rachel from 1994 until the show ended in 2004.
The program was successful and Aniston, along with her co-stars,
gained wide renown among television viewers. Her hairstyle at the
time, which became known as the "
Rachel", was widely copied. Aniston received a salary of
one million dollars per episode for the last two seasons of
Friends, as well as five
Emmy
nominations (two for Supporting Actress, three for Lead Actress),
including a win for
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. According to the
Guinness World Book of Records (2005), Aniston (along with
her female costars) became the highest paid TV actress of all time
with her $1 million-per-episode paycheck for the tenth season of
Friends.
Jennifer Aniston has appeared in various commercials and music
videos. In 1996, she was in Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers music
video, "Walls." Aniston was in Melissa Etheridge's 2001 music
video, "I Want To Be In Love." Jennifer Aniston was cast in a
Heineken commercial which was later banned due to branding issues.
Aniston has been in commercials for L'Oreal Hair Products. In 1994,
Microsoft invited Aniston, along with
Friends co-star
Matthew
Perry, to shoot a 30-minute promotional advertisement for their
new operating system,
Windows 95. She
gained critical acclaim for her performances in
The Object of My Affection
(1998), a comedy drama about a girl who falls for a gay man, and in
the low-budget 2002 film,
The Good
Girl, directed by
Miguel
Arteta, playing an unglamorous cashier in a small town. The
latter film opened in relatively few theaters—under 700 in
total—taking $14M in the U.S. box office. In late 2005, Aniston
appeared in two major studio films,
Derailed and
Rumor
Has It.
In addition to her career as a television actress, Aniston has
enjoyed a successful film career. Her biggest box office success to
date was her appearance in 2003's
Bruce Almighty, in which she played the
girlfriend of title character
Jim Carrey.
Aniston then starred in the 2004 film,
Along Came Polly opposite
Ben Stiller. In 2006, Aniston appeared in the
low-budget drama,
Friends with
Money, which was first shown at the
Sundance Film Festival, received a
limited release. Aniston's next film,
The Break-Up, which was released on June
2, grossed approximately $39.17 million during its opening weekend,
despite lukewarm reviews.
In 2007, Aniston guest starred in an episode of
Courteney Cox Arquette's series
Dirt. Aniston played Arquette's snobby
rival Tina Harrod. In addition to acting, Aniston has also directed
a hospital emergency room-set
short
film named
Room 10, starring
Robin Wright Penn and
Kris Kristofferson; Aniston has noted
that she was inspired to direct by actress
Gwyneth Paltrow, who directed a short film
in 2006.
Forbes listed Aniston as the 10th
richest woman in the
entertainment industry for the year
2007. She is behind such powerhouses as
Oprah Winfrey,
J.
K. Rowling,
Madonna,
Mariah Carey,
Celine
Dion and
Jennifer Lopez and is
ahead of
Britney Spears,
Christina Aguilera and the
Olsen twins. Aniston's net worth is
approximately $110 million. Aniston was also included in the annual
Star Salary Top 10 of trade magazine
The Hollywood Reporter for 2006.
According to Forbes in October 2007, Aniston was the top-selling
celebrity face of the entertainment industry. In 2008, Aniston
landed the seventeenth spot on
Forbes Celebrity 100 list
based on "earnings and fame."
Forbes listed Aniston's
earnings as $27 million.
Aniston appeared in the third episode of Season 3 of NBC's
30 Rock playing
Liz Lemon's old college roommate who stalks
Jack Donaghy.
Aniston appears nude in a series of photographs that are published
on the cover and inside pages of the January 2009 issue of
GQ. She tells the magazine
that she feels more comfortable today than she did in her twenties
or early thirties. "I'm healthier. I'm more at peace in my mind and
with my body," Aniston says. She also appears nude in
The Break Up.
On December 25, 2008,
Marley
& Me, in which Aniston starred alongside Owen Wilson,
was released. It set a record for the largest Christmas Day box
office ever with $14.75 million in ticket sales.It earned a total
of $51.7 million over the four-day weekend and placed #1 at the box
office, a position it maintained for two weeks. The total worldwide
gross was $242,717,113.
Her next film in wide release,
He's Just Not That into
You, opened in February 2009. The movie made $27.5
million, ranking #1 at the box office in its opening weekend. While
the film received mixed reviews, Aniston along with
Jennifer Connelly, and
Ben Affleck are often praised by critics as
being the stand-outs in the film.
As of 2009, Aniston's movies have grossed $900,618,847 in the
United States and over $1,508,048,564 worldwide.
On July 16, 2009, Aniston received an Emmy nomination in the
category of
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on
30 Rock.
Personal life

Aniston at the 2008 Toronto
International Film Festival
Aniston dated her
Ferris Bueller TV costar
Charlie Schlatter in 1990. She began a
relationship with Daniel MacDonald in 1991, which continued until
1994 shortly before she was cast in
Friends.She briefly
dated musician
Adam Duritz in 1995. From
1995 to 1998, she was romantically involved with actor
Tate Donovan and the couple were reportedly
engaged.
In 1998,
she began dating actor Brad Pitt and
married him on July 29, 2000, in a lavish Malibu
wedding. For a few years, their marriage was
considered the rare Hollywood success. However, the couple
announced their separation on January 6, 2005. Pitt became involved
with actress
Angelina Jolie, though
Pitt has denied cheating on Aniston with her. Pitt and Aniston were
seen together publicly after announcing their separation, even at a
dinner party for Aniston's birthday, and friends of the couple had
declared they were reconciling. Aniston, however, filed for divorce
on March 25, 2005. It was finalized on October 2, 2005. Media
reports speculated that the split was due to Aniston's refusal to
have children with him. Aniston denied that this was the cause of
their split in an August, 2005
Vanity Fair interview, stating,
"...I've always wanted to have children, and I would never again
give up that experience for a career."
Aniston revealed that her divorce prompted her to reach out to her
mother, Nancy, from whom she was estranged for nearly a decade.
They initially became estranged when Nancy talked about her
daughter on a television show and later wrote a book entitled,
From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir (1999).
Aniston has also stated she was devastated by the death of her
longtime therapist, whose work helped make her separation from Pitt
easier. Aniston said her relationship with Pitt, which she does not
regret, was "seven very intense years together" and that "it was a
beautiful, complicated relationship."
Following her divorce, Aniston began a relationship with actor
Vince Vaughn, with whom she costarred
in
The Break Up. Relationship
troubles were reported in September 2006, followed by a confirmed
split in December of that year. She briefly dated model Paul
Sculfor for a few months in 2007. In February 2008, she began
dating singer
John Mayer. The couple had
broken up in August, but resumed the relationship in October,
before splitting again in March 2009.
Aniston has had two
septoplasties to
correct her
deviated septum—one
which was incorrectly done in 1994 and the second in January 2007.
Septoplasty is a surgical operation that helps alleviate a common
condition that can lead to breathing difficulty and trouble
sleeping. She is the godmother of Coco Riley Arquette, the daughter
of her good friends, actors
Courteney Cox Arquette and
David Arquette. Aniston is also very close
with her formers co-stars in
Friends,
Lisa Kudrow and
Matthew
Perry.
Philanthropy
Aniston is a supporter of many charity foundations.
She is a supporter of
Friends of
El Faro, a grassroots non-profit organization that helps
raise money for Casa Hogar Sion—an orphanage in Tijuana
, Mexico and
has appeared in many TV commercials for St. Jude's
Children's Research Hospital
, which she supports. She made a guest
appearance on Oprah's Big Give show to support the cause and
donated money to help. Aniston hosted September 2008's Stand Up to
Cancer show.
In the "It Can't Wait" campaign to free
Burma
, Aniston directed and starred in a video. On
April 14, 2007, Aniston received
GLAAD's
Vanguard Award for her contributions to increased visibility and
understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community.
Filmography
Actress
Film |
Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
1993 |
Leprechaun |
Tory Reding |
First feature film |
1996 |
She's the One |
Renee Fitzpatrick |
|
Dream for an
Insomniac |
Allison |
|
1997 |
'Til There Was
You |
Debbie |
|
Picture
Perfect |
Kate Mosely |
|
1998 |
The Thin Pink
Line |
Clove |
|
Waiting for Woody |
Herself |
Short film |
The Object of My
Affection |
Nina Borowski |
|
1999 |
Office Space |
Joanna |
|
The Iron Giant |
Annie Hughes |
Voice Only |
2001 |
Rock Star |
Emily Poule |
|
2002 |
The Good Girl |
Justine Last |
Won a Teen Choice
Award
Nominated for an Independent
Spirit Award
Nominated for an OFCS Award
Nominated for a Golden Satellite
Award
Nominated for a Teen Choice
Award |
2003 |
Bruce Almighty |
Grace Connelly |
Nominated for an MTV Movie Award
shared with Jim Carrey
Nominated for a Teen Choice
Award |
Abby Singer |
Herself |
Cameo |
2004 |
Along Came Polly |
Polly Prince |
Nominated for an MTV Movie Award
shared with Ben Stiller |
2005 |
Derailed |
Lucinda Harris |
|
Rumor Has It... |
Sarah Huttinger |
|
2006 |
Friends with Money |
Olivia |
|
The Break-Up |
Brooke Meyers |
Won a Teen Choice
AwardWon a People's Choice Award |
2008 |
Marley &
Me |
Jenny Grogan |
Christmas Day box-office record with $14.75
million
Nominated for a Kid's Choice
Award
Won a Teen Choice
Award |
2009 |
He's Just Not
That into You |
Beth Murphy |
Nominated for a Teen Choice
Award |
Management |
Sue Claussen |
Love Happens |
Eloise Chandler |
2010 |
The Baster |
Kassie Larson |
Post-production |
The Bounty
Hunter |
Cassidy Daley |
Post-production |
|
Television |
Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
1990 |
Molloy |
Courtney |
Main role (6 episodes) |
1990 |
Camp Cucamonga |
Ava Schector |
Television movie |
1990– 1991 |
Ferris
Bueller |
Jeannie Bueller |
Main role |
1992–1993 |
The Edge |
Various characters |
Main role |
1994 |
Muddling Through |
Madeline Drego Cooper |
Main role |
1994–2004 |
Friends |
Rachel Green |
Won a Golden Globe
(2003)
Won a Primetime
Emmy Award (2002)
Won a Screen Actors
Guild (1996)
Won a Logie Award
(2004)
Won 3 Teen Choice
Awards (2002-2004) |
|
Guest appearances |
Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
1992 |
Quantum
Leap |
Kiki Wilson |
"Nowhere to Run" (Season 5, Episode 4) |
1992—1993 |
Herman's Head |
Suzie Brooks |
- "Twisted Sister" (Season 1, Episode 25)
- "Jay Is for Jealousy" (Season 3, Episode 8)
|
1994 |
Burke's Law |
Linda Campbell |
"Who Killed the Beauty Queen?" (Season 1, Episode 4) |
1998 |
Partners |
CPA Suzanne |
"Follow the Clams?" (Season 1, Episode 17) |
1998 |
Disney's
Hercules |
Galatea (Voice) |
"Dream Date" (Season 1, Episode 27) |
1999 |
South Park |
Mrs. Stevens - Choir Teacher (Voice) |
"Rainforest
Schmainforest" (Season 3, Episode 1) |
2003 |
Freedom: A History of Us |
Jessie Benton |
"Wake Up America " (Season 1, Episode 4) |
King of the Hill |
Pepperoni Sue/Stephanie (Voice) |
"Queasy Rider" (Season 7, Episode 13) |
2007 |
Dirt |
Tina Harrod |
"Ita Missa Est " (Season 1, Episode 13) |
2008 |
30 Rock |
Claire Harper |
"The One With the Cast of Night Court" (Season 3, Episode 3);
Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award |
Director credits
Producer credits
Awards
Jennifer Aniston has won multiple awards during her career, for
both television and movie productions.Here is a complete list of
awards that she has achieved in her life.
Year |
Award |
Category |
Work |
Result |
1996 |
american comedy awards |
funniest supporting female performer in a TV series |
Friends |
|
screen actors guild awards |
Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series |
|
1999 |
American comedy awards |
Funniest supporting female performer in a TV series |
|
Screen actors guild awards |
Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series |
|
2000 |
Emmy awards |
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series |
|
Satellite awards |
Best performance by an actress in a series, comedy or
musical |
|
Screen actors guild awards |
Outstanding performance by an ensemble |
|
2001 |
American comedy awards |
Funniest supporting female performer in a TV series |
|
Emmy awards |
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series |
|
Screen actors guild awards |
Outstanding performance by an ensemble |
|
2002 |
Emmy awards |
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series |
|
Golden globe awards |
Best performance by an actress in a supporting role |
|
Screen actors guild awards |
Outstanding performance by an ensemble |
|
Outstanding performance by a female actor in a
comedy series |
|
2003 |
Emmy awards |
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series |
|
Golden globe awards |
Best performance by an actress in a television series musical
or comedy |
|
Satellite awards |
Best performance by an actress in a series, comedy or
musical |
|
Screen actors guild awards |
Outstanding performance by an ensemble |
|
Outstanding performance by a female actor in a
comedy series |
|
Independent spirit award |
Best Female lead |
The Good
Girl |
|
Satellite awards |
Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, comedy or
musical |
|
Online Film critics society |
Best Actress |
|
2004 |
Emmy awards |
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series |
Friends |
|
Screen actors guild awards |
Outstanding performance by an ensemble |
|
2009 |
Emmy awards |
Outstanding Guest actress in a comedy series |
30 Rock |
|
References
External links