Courteney Cox Pens Heartfelt Birthday Tribute To Lisa Kudrow

Instagram/@courteneycoxofficial

There are no words to describe the beauty of that birthday shoutout by Cox to Kudrow. These friendship goals just make you call your own best friend. The post went on for a lengthy tribute to their friendship-almost transcending the recording of Friends.

Advertisement

The picture itself is some form of reflex action-fixing smiles and laughter in the air for all time. Blonde and shining in a sweater, Cox looks to the camera, while Kudrow, with a face of affectionate delight, looks at her-an image that screams decades of secret jokes.

The caption: A few sentences of love. “I have looked up to this person since the day I met her,” she wrote. “She’s bold, she’s smart, she’s articulate, she cares deeply and loves even deeper. There’s never a time that I don’t feel better for having seen her.” She signed off with, “Happy birthday my Loot! I love you ♥️.” (Side note: “Loot”? That’s gotta be a Friends era nickname we missed.)

That post quickly became a mini Friends reunion in the comments section. Fellow cast member Jane Pratt wrote, “Perfect tribute to this smarty-pants! I love you both!” Meanwhile, fans were showering the post with birthday wishes in multiple languages-from Spanish (“FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS LISA!”) to Italian (“Anche noi l’amiamo”). Another fan honored Kudrow through her most probably known reference in pop-culture: “Thank you for bringing us ‘Smelly Cat’ 🐱.”

The most outstanding one is this from a Slovak fan account: “Happy birthday from old Slovak die-hard fans ❤️.” Honestly, the fact that Friends was a global phenomenon that has continued to create friends and connect people again after decades deserves a salute.

Cox, who played delightfully weird Phoebe Buffay, is a fan favorite mostly for her character’s eccentric charm but also for the actress herself, her sharp wit, and genuine authenticity. Cox’s tribute merely underlines what fans have felt from time immemorial: That magic of Kudrow is not acting-it’s very much real-hers is an authentic gift in life where she can make everyone around her feel worthy of being seen; whether that’s in front of a camera or the glare of real life.

And you will never forgive yourself for forgetting that nostalgic bomb she casually dropped. That last picture in the carousel? Probably a behind-the-scenes moment from the Friends days because nothing would hurt more than the throwback of these two in Central Perk glory.

Advertisement

So, to Lisa Kudrow: jug-gle-guitar, psychic, and medicine of laughter-the kind of laughter that feels like a warm hug. And to Courteney Cox for letting us know some friendships truly last a lifetime. Excuse us as we head toward the 47th re-watch of Friends. Time to sing Smelly Cat.