A-Z of 'Friends' Minor Characters Quiz

Answer: Amanda

In 'The One With Ross's Tan' self-centred Amanda Buffamonteezi returned to New York to try and catch up with Monica and Phoebe. Despite various attempts to avoid her, they finally met up in Central Perk and she annoyed them with the constant use of British words, such as flat (apartment) and mobile (cell phone), when they knew full well that she was from Yonkers.

Answer: Yes

Originally Barry, played by actor Mitchell Whitfield, was referred to as Barry Finkle and then later as Doctor Barry Farber DDS. After being left at the alter by Rachel in episode 1, Barry re-appeared several times culminating in 'The One That Could Have Been' episodes. In these two episodes Rachel imagined what her life would have been like if she had married Barry.

Answer: Phoebe's Navy boyfriend, Ryan

Charlie Sheen was married to Denise Richards from June 2002 to November 2006. They had two children together, both girls, Sam born 2004 and Lola born 2006. Denise's 'Friends' episode was 'The One With Ross and Monica's Cousin' and Charlie's episode was 'The One With the Chicken Pox'.

Answer: Clunkers

Phoebe was looking after Clunkers over the Thanksgiving period for some friends who were out of town. Chandler tried to insist that he was allergic to dogs, but when Phoebe told him that Clunkers had been with them for two days, he had to admit that he was afraid of dogs. Chi Chi was Monica and Ross's childhood pet and LaPooh was Rachel's family dog. Mozzarella was a nickname given by Joey to a different dog belonging to another of Phoebe's friends.

Answer: Emily

Sandrine and Rain were both suggested by Rachel, but vetoed by Ross. He thought Sandrine sounded like an industrial solvent and Rain would be a girl who owned her own kiln and wore a dress made of wheat. Ruth was Ross's suggestion, vetoed by Rachel as an old woman's name. Later, however, she warmed to the name until she pointed out that they would have a 'little baby Ruth'.

After this both she and Ross went off the idea. Emily was the name of Ross's second wife and also one of the names Rachel's sister Amy mistook for Emma's real name, along with Ella and Emmitt.

Answer: The groom was Monica's ex

Monica was livid at not being invited to Frannie's wedding, because as young children they were close. Ross tried to console her by telling her that he and his guest were only invited to the evening reception and not the whole day. This incensed Monica even more, as Ross could bring a guest and she was totally excluded.

She forced Ross to abandon his date and take her instead. She soon discovered why she wasn't invited, because she and the groom, Stuart, were once intimate.

Answer: True

Gunther, played by James Michael Tyler, has appeared in 121 of the 238 episodes made. The next in line is Elliott Gould who has appeared in 20 episodes as Jack Geller. Gunther is remembered for his dry wit and his unrequited love affair with Rachel. At the end of the series he finally admitted his feelings to Rachel, but she couldn't return them in the same way.

Answer: Chandler

After he died, Mr Heckles, left all his worldly goods (a messy apartment) to 'the noisy girls in the apartment above mine'. In amongst the rubbish they found Heckles' high school yearbook. The friends discovered that he was once the class clown, like Chandler, he played clarinet in band, like Chandler and he broke up with girls for obscure reasons, eg. large nostrils, again like Chandler. Chandler realised that if he didn't make changes in his life that Heckles' lonely existence could be his future and he started making plans.

He did, however, keep the yearbook to remember the old guy.

Answer: Ida Green

In this episode Phoebe and Rachel had a night out, while Ross and Mike babysat. In the bar Rachel met a guy who she gave her phone number to. She discovered that he lived in the same apartment building as her grandmother, Ida Green. In describing her to the guy she mentioned her resemblance to a potato and the guy said 'spuds is your grandmother'.

It's a pity that we never got to meet her to make our own comparison.

Answer: Lauren Tom

In 'The One With Ross's New Girlfriend' we first saw Julie, who returned with Ross from a dig in China. This doomed relationship coincided with Rachel's realisation that she was in love with Ross and Julie ultimately lost out. She was last seen leaving Central Perk with Russ, a Ross look-a-like. Since appearing in 'Friends' she has done lots of film and TV work and also extensive voice work. Lauren Holly has appeared in films such as 'Sabrina' and 'Dumb and Dumber'; Lauren Tewes is best remembered for playing Julie McCoy in 'The Love Boat' and Lauren Graham played Lorelai Gilmore in 'The Gilmore Girls' and has had an on/off relationship with 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry.

Answer: It was the name on the badge Rachel stole in Barbados to get into the pharmacy conference

In 'The one in Barbados Part II' Joey and Rachel are thrown together, because Ross and Charlie are having to re-create Ross's lost speech. Joey spotted appetising food going into a pharmacy conference and decided he wanted to go with it and he and Rachel both stole name badges from a table.

Not being able to pronounce the name on the badge Joey chose for her she took instead, Kate Miller. Megan Bailey was the name of the girl who Monica fought with and Marjorie was Phoebe's friend who played the steel drums.

Answer: Lincoln High

In 'The One Where the Monkey Gets Away' Rachel was looking after Ross's monkey and it escaped from the apartment when her back was turned. Thinking she was helping, she telephoned animal control to help find him. Ross freaked out, because the monkey was an illegal pet.

The officer, Louisa recognised Rachel and Monica from school and they hoped she would help them, but apparently they used to ignore her and she figured she owed them nothing. However, when Louisa accidentally darted Phoebe in the bottom, instead of the monkey, Rachel blackmailed her into letting the Monkey stay with Ross.

Answer: Marcel

Marcel was a Capuchin monkey adopted by Ross. After getting into a few scrapes Ross was told that his monkey was maturing and needed to be with others of his own species. He donated him to San Diego Zoo, but on a visit to see him, Ross found out that Marcel had been 'stolen' and was now starring in adverts and movies.

They met up again in New York on the set of 'Outbreak 2 - The Virus Takes Manhattan' and spent some time together.

Answer: Jay Leno

Nora Bing was on the Jay Leno show to plug her latest book and announced that the next stop on her tour would be New York which would give her a chance to catch up with her son. This was the first Chandler knew about it, but accepted her dinner invitation for him and his friends. Nora and Ross ended the night kissing which was just another thing she did which messed with his head.

She turns up again for Monica and Chandler's wedding with Chandler's cross dressing father Charles (Helena Handbasket), played by Kathleen Turner.

Answer: He told him he was adopted

In 'The One Where Ross is Fine' Phoebe arranged for Chandler and Monica to visit her friends who had adopted a child, because they had decided to explore that option. On his way to the bathroom Chandler met Owen, dressed in his scout uniform and mentioned that his parents were telling him and Monica about how they adopted him.

He didn't know. Monica and Chandler made a speedy exit to Central Perk just in time for Chandler to tell Frank Jr's triplets that Phoebe gave birth to them; they didn't know either.

Answer: Bruce Willis

Although all four actors appeared in 'Friends' it was Bruce Willis who played Paul Stevens, Elizabeth's disapproving father, in three episodes of series six. Paul himself started a relationship with Rachel and all was well until Rachel made him tell her about his childhood.

He remembered how he was bullied and called 'chicken boy' by the other children and this made him cry like a little girl. Rachel called time on the relationship not long after that. Bruce also starred, on the big screen, in 'The Whole Nine Yards' and 'The Whole Ten Yards' alongside Matthew Perry.

Answer: World War I

English actor Gary Oldman played Oscar nominated actor Richard Crosby in the World War I movie 'Over There'. He had the habit of over emphasising his ts and ps showering Joey with saliva. One morning Joey put on sunglasses to shield his eyes and prompted Ross to say 'I believe Ray-Ban was the official sponsor or World War I'. Richard also turned up to rehearsals drunk the day Chandler and Monica got married and almost caused Joey to miss the ceremony.

Answer: Bunch

Susan Bunch, played by actress Jessica Hecht, appeared in 12 episodes of 'Friends' between 1994 and 2000. She and Ross had many encounters in trying to win the attentions of Carol and son Ben. She married Carol in a civil ceremony with Ross giving away Carol because her parents would not attend. Willick is Carol's surname and the other two are just made up.

Answer: Joey

Treeger wanted to impress Marge a lady janitor and needed a partner to practice ballroom dancing with. He blackmailed Joey into helping him by not reporting Monica for sub-letting her grandma's apartment. By the end of the episode Joey really enjoyed the experience, but declined an invitation to the ball. Treeger is played by actor Mike Hagerty, who played Billy Pratt in one of my favourite films, 'Overboard'.

Answer: Miss Pacman machine

Ugly Naked Guy lived in the apartment opposite Monica and Rachel and his activities were in full view of the girls' living room window. During his time in the apartment he bought a thigh-master, gravity boots and played the cello. When he eventually vacated the apartment the next tenant was Ross who used to perform little mimes for the entertainment of his sister and her roommate.

The Miss Pacman machine was Phoebe's wedding gift to Monica and Chandler.

Answer: Vikram

In 'The One With the Sharks' Phoebe realised that she hadn't had a long term relationship and breaking that fact to Mike might make him think that she isn't serious about them. Ross, thinking he was helping, created Vikram a kite making boyfriend for Phoebe. In the end Phoebe came clean, but Mike wasn't put off and the rest, as they say, is history.

Answer: Selma Blair

In 'The One With Christmas in Tulsa' Chandler was miles from home and having to spend the holidays away from Monica. His co-worker Wendy, also a married woman, thought is might be nice to spend some time together, but Chandler declined and quit his job and got home in time for Christmas. Selma is remembered for her role in 'Legally Blonde' alongside Reese Witherspoon, another 'Friends' guest star.

Answer: Write commercial jingles

Phoebe was mad when Leslie left their duo and when she saw her singing in Central Perk she refused to make up with her. Eventually, after a lot of pestering from Leslie, Phoebe gave in and they began to sing together again. When Phoebe sang 'Smelly Cat' for her, Leslie is convinced that it would make a great jingle for kitty litter. Phoebe refused, but Leslie took it to her old agency anyway. Phoebe ends the friendship again.

Answer: The One With the Ick Factor

Young Ethan told Monica that he was a senior in college and she told him that she was 22. However, after spending a night together, Monica confessed that she was 26 and Ethan owned up to being a senior in high school. Monica flipped, but Ethan wanted to continue the relationship. Monica, however, felt it was icky. Ethan was played by actor Stan Kirsch who, in addition to performing and directing, teaches acting to students.

Answer: Ralph Lauren

Mr Zelner, played by Steve Ireland, appeared in six episodes of 'Friends' between 2000 and 2004. He had, I guess, a unique relationship with Rachel. At her interview she inadvertently kissed him and at her callback she thought he was asking for a second kiss, but he was trying to tell her she had ink on her lip.

She accused him of sexual harassment. When she was expecting Emma, she told Joey a story that Mr Zelner was trying to buy her baby to get Joey to talk to her. Joey, however, confronted her boss and Rachel had to face the music.