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Every Major "Friends" Character, Ranked From Worst to Best

There's a definitive hierarchy when it comes to the friends of "Friends," and here it is.

Cast of Friends
PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy Stock Photo

Friends is way up there on the list of the best—and most rewatched—sitcoms of all time. It's harder to find someone who hasn't seen all of it at least once than to find someone who has. But not every character on the show about six good-looking, single 2o-somethings is on par with the rest. There's a definitive hierarchy, and we have it right here, from worst to best. Keep on reading to see the major characters of Friends ranked from the very worst to the very best. And if you wish you could enjoy the '90s all over again, check out 24 Celeb Red Carpet Photos From 1990 You Have to See to Believe.


34 | Ross Geller

David Schwimmer as Ross Geller in FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: David Schwimmer

Ross was dismissive of his ex-wife's lesbian relationship, couldn't handle the idea of a male nanny for his child, and was the worst kind of jealous boyfriend. Rachel deserved better, TBH.

And for more throwback television, here are 20 Beloved TV Shows You Won't Believe Are 20 Years Old.

33 | Paolo

Cosimo Fusco as Paolo on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Cosimo Fusco

Rachel's Italian boyfriend was fun to have around for a little while, but never forget that he exposed himself to Phoebe during a massage. Major loss of points.

32 | Elizabeth Stevens

Alexandra Holden as Elizabeth on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Alexandra Holden

Elizabeth seemed nice enough, but she falls towards the bottom of this list by virtue of how she ended up in the lives of our friends. She was a student Ross dated when he was a college professor, which is yet another reason why he has the spot he does on this list.

And for shows from the past that weren't nearly as popular as Friends, here are 20 '90s TV Shows You've Completely Forgotten About.

31 | Mark Robinson

Steven Eckholdt as Mark Robinson on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Steven Eckholdt

Mark was mainly used as a way to drive a wedge between Rachel and Ross (see: Ross's extreme jealousy issues), though it did come out that he was playing the long game with her by helping her out with her career. Gross.

30 | Barry Farber

Mitchell Whitfield as Barry Farber on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Mitchell Whitfield

As it turned out, Rachel dodged a bullet when she ran away from her wedding to Dr. Barry Farber, the "evil orthodontist." He was sleeping with Mindy, her best friend at the time, though Rachel did return the favor by rekindling things with him when he and Mindy were officially together.

29 | Emily Waltham

Helen Baxendale as Emily Waltham on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Helen Baxendale

Ross's British almost-wife had some strong moments early in her arc on Friends, but the debacle that was their wedding ("I, Ross, take thee, Rachel") turned her into one of the show's more humorless characters. But really, who could blame her?

28 | Janine Lecroix

Elle McPherson as Janine Lecroix on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Elle Macpherson

Janine confessed that she hated her roommate/boyfriend Joey's friends, which explains why she never really fit in with the group.

And for the most quotable big screen moments of the Friends era, here are 30 Movie Quotes Every '90s Kid Knows by Heart.

27 | Marcel

Marcel FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Katie

As adorable as he was, Ross's pet monkey was written off the show when the human Friends cast members complained about the animal actor's behavior, i.e. vomiting worms on set. You know, classic diva-like stuff.

26 | Kathy

Paget Brewster as Kathy on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Paget Brewster

Joey and Chandler's friendship was tested again when Chandler fell in love with Joey's actress girlfriend, Kathy. But it didn't end well for them either.

And for more critically acclaimed hits, here are 23 Emmy-Winning TV Shows You Can Stream Right Now.

25 | Tag Jones

Eddie Cahill as Tag Jones on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Eddie Cahill

Rachel's young assistant-turned-boyfriend was not exactly Ms. Green's best decision. He was sweet but not very mature, though he did give excellent gifts.

24 | Erica 

Anna Faris as Erica on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Anna Faris

The flighty biological mother of Chandler and Monica's children was wiser than she seemed.

And for more series you've been missing since they went off the air, here are 15 Classic TV Shows You Didn't Know You Could Stream Right Now.

23 | Eddie Menuek

Adam Goldberg as Eddie Menuek on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Adam Goldberg

Friends wouldn't have been a show about New York if it didn't include the quintessential "nightmare roommate" experience. And boy, did Eddie the Sleeper Creeper deliver.

22 | Julie

Lauren Tom as Julie on FriendsWarner Bros. Television Distribution

Played by: Lauren Tom

Julie, a fellow paleontologist Ross started seeing during his trip to China, was way more understanding of all the Ross and Rachel drama happening around her than she needed to be. We hope she found true love.

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21 | Ben Geller

Cole Sprouse as Ben Geller on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Cole Sprouse

Ben was the ideal sitcom kid, in that he wasn't always around. He's also the reason we got the Holiday Armadillo and Rachel and Ross's prank war, two of Friends' most iconic moments.

20 | Pete Becker

Jon Favreau as Pete Becker on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: John Favreau

Monica's sweet, puppy dog of a billionaire boyfriend could have been the one—if he hadn't been so determined to become the Ultimate Fighting Champion, that is.

19 | Mr. Heckles

Larry Hankin as Mr. Heckles on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Larry Rankin

Every sitcom needs a weird neighbor. And with his bathrobe, his compulsive lying, and his broom banging, Mr. Heckles was one of the best. May he rest in peace.

18 | Charlie Wheeler

Aisha Tyler as Charlie Wheeler on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Aisha Tyler

A point on another Friends love triangle, the brilliant and accomplished Charlie was so obviously a better match for Ross than Joey. But really, she deserved better than both of them.

17 | Judy Geller

Christina Pickles as Judy Geller on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Christina Pickles

Ross and Monica's mother was relentlessly critical of her daughter's choices, leaving fans wondering just how much deeper her jabs could go.

16 | Gunther

James Michael Tyler as Gunther on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: James Michael Tyler

As reliable as a cup of Central Perk coffee (not served by Rachel), Gunther was also an excellent Bryce on All My Children.

15 | Carol Willick

Jane Sibbett as Carol Willick on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Jane Sibbett

Ross's ex-wife put up with a lot while trying to co-parent with him, and she did it with grace and humor.

14 | David

Hank Azaria as David on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Hank Azaria

For a while, it seemed like David, the sweet scientist who moved to Minsk, was going to be the one that got away for Phoebe.

13 | The Chick and the Duck

Chick and Duck FriendsWarner Bros. Television Distribution

Played by: Unknown

Whether they were racing for Nutter Butters or getting stuck in the VCR, the chick and the duck were way more fun and more manageable than Marcel.

12 | Frank Buffay, Jr.

Giovanni Ribisi as Frank Buffay Jr on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Giovanni Ribisi

Phoebe and her little brother seemed like wildly different people (one of them may have been a pyromanic), but they forged a really tight sibling bond, which only got more intense when Phoebe carried triplets for Frank and his wife.

11 | Jack Geller

Elliott Gould as Jack Geller on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Elliott Gould

Monica and Ross's dad was the king of non-sequiturs and even a brief crush object for Phoebe.

10 | Estelle Leonard

June Gable as Estelle Leonard on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: June Gable

Joey's agent smoked like a chimney and seemed to be stuck permanently in the '70s, but she believed in him, and that's all that matters.

9 | Richard Burke

Tom Selleck as Richard Burke on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Tom Selleck

It caused some controversy in her family when Monica started dating her father's friend Richard, but what else was she supposed to do? It's Tom Selleck!

8 | Mike Hannigan

Paul Rudd as Mike Hannigan on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Paul Rudd

Mike Hannigan was Phoebe's endgame, and rightfully so. No one can rock the air piano like him.

7 | Susan Bunch

Jessica Hecht as Susan Bunch on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Jessica Hecht

Carol's wife, Susan, always had a sarcastic remark ready, delivered in a killer deadpan.

6 | Janice Litman-Goralnik

Maggie Wheeler on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Maggie Wheeler

As the girlfriend who just kept coming back, Janice also got the show's best catchphrase. Everybody, say it with us: "Oh...my..."

5 | Phoebe Buffay

Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Lisa Kudrow

A free spirit of the first order, Phoebe was definitely the most unpredictable friend. And her coffee shop songs, as bizarre as they were, were pretty darn catchy too.

4 | Monica Geller

Courtney Cox as Monica Geller on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Courteney Cox

Monica could be a control freak, but her enthusiasm was infectious. And her unexpected relationship with Chandler put new life into the show.

3 | Joey Tribbiani

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Matt LeBlanc

Joey may have seemed dim, but he knew what was most important in life: having fun, following your dreams, and ordering two pizzas every Friday night.

2 | Chandler Bing

Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Matthew Perry

Chandler's neuroses are still shockingly relatable. Who really knows what they're really doing at their office job anyway? And who doesn't worry about dying along? We all have a little bit of Miss Chanandler Bong in us.

1 | Rachel Green

Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green on FriendsWarner Bros.

Played by: Jennifer Aniston

Friends started when Rachel Green ran into Central Perk in her wedding dress, and over the years, she became an independent person, a businesswoman, and a mom. And she did it all while serving the best '90s and '00s fashion. And the hair. You can't forget the hair. And for more on "The Rachels" of their time, check out The "It" Hairstyle the Year You Were Born.