Here's My Ranking Of All The Celeb Cameos In "Friends" From Worst To Best

Here's the definitive ranking of all the celebrity cameos on Friends.

70. Kathleen Turner as Charles Bing/Helena Handbasket

NBC

No shade to Kathleen Turner's performance — she tried her best. But the entire idea of this character was problematic. The Friends writing team obviously took zero effort to understand how trans and drag culture overlap, and Charles/Helena's character was nothing more than a punchline.

69. Charlton Heston as himself

NBC

It's a bummer that Friends hired an actor with such a problematic and racist background. They could've brought on any seasoned actor — why him?

68. Jean-Claude Van Damme as himself

Warner Brothers / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Not only did JCVD give a charmless performance, and not only was his "character" a slimeball, but the Friends creators have gone on record to say that he was the worst guest star ever in the history of the show. He was late, demanding, and kissed Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox with tongue, even after they asked him to stop.

67. Billy Crystal as Tim and Robin Williams as Tomas

NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

This cameo was pointless, distracting, and a waste of time.

66. Anna Faris as Erica

NBC

Anna Faris is talented and hilarious, but Erica is a big, boring dud.

65. Elle Macpherson as Janine Lacroix

NBC

Elle Macpherson wasn't a very magnetic actor, and Janine had no redeeming qualities besides being hot.

64. Donny Osmond as himself

NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

No disrespect to Donny Osmond, but this was a very forgettable cameo.

63. Helen Hunt as Jamie Buchman

NBC

Back in the '90s, every network made its TV shows do crossovers. But while Friends is a show that's endured, nobody remembers or cares about Mad About You, even if it's the show that created Ursula.

62. Lea Thompson as Caroline Duffy

NBC

Again with the '90s crossover cameos. Again with the nobody cares.

61. Jane Lynch as Ellen the Realtor

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Jane Lynch is a comedic icon. Why waste her on this tiny role?

60. Jay Leno as himself

NBC

This cameo was also very forgettable.

59. Jill Goodacre as herself

NBC

Here's the thing about guest stars who aren't actors: they can't act.

58. Ralph Lauren as himself

NBC

At least they didn't give this non-actor much dialogue. There's actually nothing really wrong with this cameo, but it lasted mere seconds and Ralph had nothing to do.

57. Gabrielle Union as Kristin Lang

NBC

All the respect in the world to the iconic Gabrielle Union. But the Friends team did her dirty. They finally cast a Black woman in a potential love interest role, and then they gave her nothing to do but react to Ross and Joey's shenanigans.

56. Sarah Ferguson as herself

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

There's nothing wrong with this cameo, but it only lasted a few seconds, so Original Fergie didn't have time to make much of an impression.

55. Brad Pitt as Will Colbert

NBC

Of course this stunt casting was bound to happen, as Brad was married to Jennifer Aniston at the time. But his entire role was a misstep, just another opportunity for the show to make fat jokes. And he pretty much phoned in his performance.

54. John Stamos as Zack

NBC

This is another cameo that was inoffensive, but forgettable.

53. Bruce Willis as Paul Stevens

NBC

The overprotective dad is such a boring old trope.

52. Noah Wyle and George Clooney as Drs. Rosen and Mitchell

NBC

What a waste of George Clooney.

51. Winona Ryder as Melissa

NBC

I love Winona, but she was horribly miscast here.

50. Chris Isaak as Rob

Warner Brothers / Courtesy: Everett Collection

His role was pretty boring until they let him sing!

49. Aisha Tyler as Charlie Weaver

NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Once again, the Friends team cast a charming Black actress as a love interest, only to have her be nothing more than the third corner in a Joey/Ross love triangle. And they didn't let her live up to her comedic potential.

48. Dan Castellaneta as the Zookeeper

NBC

Who better to play a creepy, weird zookeeper than the voice of Homer Simpson?

47. Denise Richards as Cousin Cassie

NBC

Yes, everyone acted gross around Cassie (and don't get me started on Ross) but her hair choreography is unmatched.

46. Harry Shearer as Dr. Baldharar

NBC

Sure, his character is disgusting and runs an animal fighting ring, but he was funny!

45. Jennifer Grey as Mindy

NBC

Jennifer Grey was a fine Mindy! But for some reason, she didn't return and Mindy was recast for Season 2.

44. Rebecca Romijn as Cheryl

NBC

Rebecca was actually kind of charming and funny as the Dirty Girl.

43. Jason Alexander as Earl

NBC

Nobody can portray comedic pain like Jason Alexander.

42. Susan Sarandon as Cecelia Monroe

NBC

Susan Sarandon and her giant hair did a good job as a soap opera diva.

41. Dakota Fanning as Mackenzie

NBC

She was almost too precocious, but not quite.

40. Charlie Sheen as Ryan

NBC

Believe it or not, Charlie Sheen used to be charming and kind of cute!

39. David Arquette as Malcolm

NBC

Sure, this was another instance of stunt casting a cast member's spouse, but David was perfect for the role as kind of sweet, but creepy, Malcolm.

38. Debi Mazar as "Evil Bitch"

NBC

She was only on screen for a few seconds, but she made quite the impression!

37. Leah Remini as Lydia

NBC

Hear me out: Lydia would've been a perfect romantic interest for Joey.

36. Bob Balaban as Frank Buffay Sr.

NBC

Bob Balaban's bumbling, uncomfortable portrayal of Phoebe's deadbeat dad was dead on.

35. Dermot Mulroney as Gavin Mitchell

NBC

The coworker love/hate relationship is a romantic comedy trope as old as time, but damn if Gavin wasn't funny and charming.

34. Fred Willard as Mr. Lipson

NBC

Fred Willard can do no wrong.

33. Jeff Goldblum as Leonard Hayes

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Jeff Goldblum at his Jeff Goldblum-iest.

32. Jon Favreau as Pete Becker

NBC

Team Pete! He was funny, smart, and successful.

31. Kristin Davis as Erin

NBC

I agree with Rachel — Erin was awesome.

30. Michael McKean as Mr. Rastatter

NBC

Another comedic legend.

29. Sean Penn as Eric

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

It was fun to see Sean Penn in a role where he actually got to be funny. And that solar system costume gets an A+.

28. Selma Blair as Wendy

NBC

Selma was funny and sexy in this role and every time I see this episode I want to get a pixie cut.

27. Steve Zahn as Duncan

NBC

Another example of perfect casting.

26. Chrissie Hynde as Stephanie

NBC

Bow down to rock and roll royalty.

25. Gary Oldman as Richard Crosby

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Okay, so the spitting was gross. But Gary Oldman was hilarious when he had to play drunk.

24. Marlo Thomas as Sandra Green

NBC

Iconic, perfect casting!

23. Morgan Fairchild as Nora Tyler-Bing

NBC

I want to go to a Mexican restaurant with her and do tequila shots!

22. Soleil Moon-Frye as Katie

NBC

She was peppy and perfect.

21. Christine Taylor as Bonnie

NBC / Via tvline.com

She's rocking that bald head, TBH.

20. Freddie Prinze, Jr. as Sandy

WB / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Ross didn't deserve a nanny as great as Sandy anyway. Humph.

19. Alec Baldwin as Parker

NBC

It's always really fun to see Alec Baldwin play against type, and he nailed it here.

18. Greg Kinnear as Dr. Benjamin Hobart

NBC

Benjamin Hobart was infuriating, but you can't deny that he was funny.

17. Danny DeVito as Roy the Stripper

NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Danny DeVito is a national treasure.

16. Hank Azaria as David the Scientist Guy

NBC

David was adorable and sweet, and would've been a great match for Phoebe if Mike hadn't been around.

15. Jon Lovitz as Steve

NBC

I dare you to not think of Steve every time you hear the word "tartlet."

14. Teri Garr as Phoebe Abbott

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Could this casting BE any more perfect?

13. Isabella Rossellini as herself

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

She came in, eviscerated Ross, and left. Perfection.

12. Reese Witherspoon as Jill Green

NBC

Nobody could play a spoiled brat like young Ms. Witherspoon.

11. Julia Roberts as Susie Moss

NBC

Susie Moss is an inspiration to all of us who were made fun of in grade school.

10. Brooke Shields as Erika

NBC

The part where she licks Joey's hand gets me every time.

9. Giovanni Ribisi as Frank Buffay, Jr.

NBC

Ribisi just embodies Frank Jr. so naturally, it's astounding!

8. Christina Applegate as Amy Green

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Perfection.

7. Ben Stiller as Tommy

NBC

He makes me laugh, every time.

6. Adam Goldberg as Eddie

NBC

Adam Goldberg's performance is flawless. The nervous energy, the giggle, the descent into delusion, it's all amazing.

5. Jennifer Saunders as Andrea Waltham

NBC

Bow down to Jennifer Saunders, now and forever.

4. Jennifer Coolidge as Amanda Buffamonteezi

NBC

Bow down to Jennifer Coolidge, now and forever.

3. Hugh Laurie as Gentleman on Plane

NBC

Gentleman on Plane is all of us.

And the way he puts his headphones on is the greatest thing ever.

2. Tom Selleck as Dr. Richard Burke

Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Younger people may not know what a big deal it was to get Tom Selleck on Friends. He was one of the biggest heartthrobs of the '80s. He was so great as Richard: charming, funny, and sexy.

1. Paul Rudd as Mike Hannigan

NBC

There was no way Paul Rudd wasn't going to be #1 on this list. I mean, come on, he's Paul Rudd.