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 and Steve Zahn Faces Red Carpet for Premiere of Management.jpg|thumb|left|Aniston, with [[Steve Zahn], at the premiere of
Management]], in which she starred.
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.
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."
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.
[www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib2336cb7507211a2e4389b8078d6194b] 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 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
[
]]]
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 Award
Won 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
|
| Counter Clockwise
| Ellen Langer
| Pre-production
|
| The Goree Girls
| TBA
| Pre-Production
|
| Chemistry
| Paige Abbott
| In Development
|
| 2011
| Pumas
| Helena Reeves
| In Development
|
| Holler
| Karla Brooks
| In Development
|
Won a Primetime Emmy Award (2002)
Won a Screen Actors Guild (1996)
Won a Logie Award (2004)
Won 3 Teen Choice Awards (2002-2004)
| colspan=4 style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Guest appearances |
| style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Year |
| style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Title |
| style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Role |
| style="background: #CCCCCC;" | 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)
|
Director credits
| style="background:#b0c4de;" | Year |
| style="background:#b0c4de;" | Title |
| style="background:#b0c4de;" | Notes |
| 2006 | Room 10 | Short Film
|
Won a
CineVegas International Film Festival
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 | award-nom
|
| screen actors guild awards | Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series | award-won
|
| 1999 | American comedy awards | Funniest supporting female performer in a TV series | award-nom
|
| Screen actors guild awards | Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series | award-nom
|
| 2000 | Emmy awards | Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series | award-nom
|
| Satellite awards | Best performance by an actress in a series, comedy or musical | award-nom
|
| Screen actors guild awards | Outstanding performance by an ensemble | award-nom
|
| 2001 | American comedy awards | Funniest supporting female performer in a TV series | award-nom
|
| Emmy awards | Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series | award-nom
|
| Screen actors guild awards | Outstanding performance by an ensemble | award-nom
|
| 2002 | Emmy awards | Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series | award-won
|
| Golden globe awards | Best performance by an actress in a supporting role | award-nom
|
| Screen actors guild awards | Outstanding performance by an ensemble | award-nom
|
| Outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series | award-nom
|
| 2003 | Emmy awards | Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series | award-nom
|
| Golden globe awards | Best performance by an actress in a television series musical or comedy | award-won
|
| Satellite awards | Best performance by an actress in a series, comedy or musical | award-nom
|
| Screen actors guild awards | Outstanding performance by an ensemble | award-nom
|
| Outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series | award-nom
|
| Independent spirit award | Best Female lead | The Good Girl | award-nom
|
| Satellite awards | Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical | award-nom
|
| Online Film critics society | Best Actress | award-nom
|
| 2004 | Emmy awards | Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series | Friends | award-nom
|
| Screen actors guild awards | Outstanding performance by an ensemble | award-nom
|
| 2009 | Emmy awards | Outstanding Guest actress in a comedy series | 30 Rock | award-nom
|
