Lisa Kudrow reveals son called Jennifer Aniston 'mummy' as a toddler
Synopsis
Lisa Kudrow has revealed that her son Julian, now 28, used to point at Jennifer Aniston on TV and say 'mummy' — a detail that surfaced during their Variety Actors on Actors chat and captures just how deeply the two actresses' lives have been intertwined since their Friends days.
Key Takeaways
Lisa Kudrow revealed her son Julian used to call Jennifer Aniston 'mummy' when he first began to speak.
The disclosure was made during Variety 's Actors on Actors series, where the two Friends co-stars reflected on their shared history.
Julian, now 28 , stars in the third series of Kudrow's show The Comeback , filmed on the same stage as Friends .
Aniston described Julian as 'one of the most joyful human beings' she spends time with.
Aniston made a rare reference to ex-husband Brad Pitt , who guest-starred on Friends as Will Colbert .
Friends aired from 22 September 1994 to 6 May 2004 across ten seasons .
Lisa Kudrow has revealed that her son Julian used to point at Jennifer Aniston on television and call her 'mummy' when he first began to speak. The disclosure came during a candid conversation as part of Variety's Actors on Actors series, in which the two Friends veterans reflected on their shared history and enduring bond.
The Moment That Started It All
Kudrow, who played the beloved Phoebe Buffay on Friends, recalled the charming anecdote about her now 28-year-old son: 'When he could first speak, he'd look at the TV, point to Jennifer and say, Mummy! So he had a connection to you.' Aniston, clearly moved, responded: 'That was weird. He knew, somehow, that that would make me feel good.'
The exchange underscored the depth of the friendship the two actresses built over a decade of filming together on the same Los Angeles soundstage.
Julian on Set — and on Screen
The conversation also touched on how Julian grew up surrounded by the warmth of the Friends set, which was filmed on the same stage now used for Kudrow's current TV show, The Comeback. Aniston noted: 'It's like he grew up hearing laughter all the time.' Julian, who now stars in the third series of The Comeback, appears to have absorbed that environment — Aniston described him as 'one of the most joyful human beings' she gets to spend time with. 'I would choose him as a person I would like to spend time with as a friend, not just because he's your son,' she added.
A Rare Mention of Brad Pitt
In a notable aside, Aniston made a rare reference to her former husband Brad Pitt, who appeared on Friends as a guest star, playing Ross's school friend Will Colbert — a character who harboured a deep dislike for Aniston's own character, Rachel Green. The reference was brief but drew attention given how infrequently Aniston speaks publicly about Pitt.
About Friends
Friends was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and aired from 22 September 1994 to 6 May 2004, spanning ten seasons. The ensemble cast featured Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer as six friends navigating life in Manhattan, New York City. The show went on to become one of the most-watched and highest-grossing television series of all time, spawning the spin-off Joey and the widely viewed Friends: The Reunion special.
With Julian now stepping into the spotlight alongside his mother, the Friends legacy continues to weave through the Kudrow family in unexpected ways.
Point of View
But what it really illustrates is how thoroughly the Friends cast became each other's extended family — not just on screen but in lived experience. Julian Kudrow growing up on that soundstage, and now appearing in his mother's follow-up series, is a quiet reminder that the show's emotional residue has outlasted the cultural conversation around it. Aniston's rare Brad Pitt aside, however brief, will inevitably overshadow the warmer story here — a pattern that says as much about celebrity media as it does about either actor.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Lisa Kudrow's son call Jennifer Aniston 'mummy'?
As a toddler, Julian Kudrow would see Jennifer Aniston on television and point at her saying 'mummy,' apparently forming an early emotional connection to the actress. Kudrow shared the story during Variety's Actors on Actors series, suggesting it reflected the deep bond between the two Friends co-stars.
Who is Julian Kudrow?
Julian Kudrow is the 28-year-old son of actress Lisa Kudrow. He now stars in the third series of his mother's TV show The Comeback, which is filmed on the same Los Angeles soundstage where Friends was shot.
What did Jennifer Aniston say about Julian Kudrow?
Aniston described Julian as 'one of the most joyful human beings' she gets to spend time with, adding that she would choose him as a friend independent of his being Kudrow's son.
Did Brad Pitt appear on Friends?
Yes. Brad Pitt guest-starred on Friends as Will Colbert, a school friend of Ross who harboured a strong dislike for Aniston's character Rachel Green. Aniston made a rare public reference to the appearance during her Variety conversation with Kudrow.
When did Friends air and who created it?
Friends was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and ran for ten seasons from 22 September 1994 to 6 May 2004. The show starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer.
