Lisa Kudrow was born on July 30, 1963, in Encino, California, to a family of Jewish descent from Belarus, Russia, and Hungary. Her mother, Nedra S. (Stern),was a travel agent, and her father, Lee N. Kudrow, was a physician.
Growing up in Tarzana, Lisa was an accomplished athlete, playing varsity-level tennis in high school and college, and even mastered some trick shots as a pool shark. She graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology, initially intending to pursue a career in research.
However, Lisa's passion for performing was ignited by comedian Jon Lovitz, and she began her career in show business by joining the improv theater group, The Groundlings, in Los Angeles. There, she became friends with Conan O'Brien and graduated with honors in 1989, becoming a full-fledged member of the group.
Lisa's breakthrough in television came with a recurring role as Ursula, the ditsy waitress, on Mad About You (1992),followed by her starring role as Phoebe, the lovable folk singer, on Friends (1994). Her performance earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a win in 1998. She has also been nominated for Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and American Comedy Awards.
Lisa transitioned to film with great success, starring in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) alongside Mira Sorvino, and earning the New York Film Critics Award for her role in The Opposite of Sex (1998).
In her personal life, Lisa married Michel Stern, an advertising executive, on May 27, 1995, and they had a son, Julian Murray, on May 7, 1998. The family resides in Los Angeles.
