The year may be 2022, but we’re still watching reruns of “Friends.”
And though it often seems like the actors are frozen in time as the episodes remain as relevant as ever, the truth is that 28 years have passed since the sitcom first premiered.
Naturally, that means many of the child actors who appeared on the series are now adults!
We’re taking a walk down memory lane to see where the kids that played Ben, Emma, and more are now:
Ben Geller - Cole Sprouse
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Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) and his ex-wife Carol shared a son named Ben, who was played by a few different actors before eventually landing on Cole Sprouse from 2000-2002. The now 29-year-old continued on with his acting career appearing alongside his twin brother, Dylan Sprouse, on Disney Channel’s “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” He took a break from acting to attend college before making a triumphant return as Jughead Jones on The CW’s “Riverdale” and the emotional film “Five Feet Apart.”
Emma Geller Green - Cali and Noelle Sheldon
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Ross and Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) daughter, Emma, was played by twins Cali and Noelle Sheldon. They appeared on the sitcom from 2003-2004. While they didn’t pursue acting full-time, the 19-year-old’s recently nabbed a role in Jordan Peele’s thriller “Us.”
Mackenzie - Dakota Fanning
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The actress made an appearance on the sitcom’s 10th season in 2004 as Mackenzie, the little girl living in Monica and Chandler’s future home. Fanning already had a handful of acting credits under her name when she guest starred on the show, and since then, the now 28-year-old had a successful career with films such as “War of the World,” “Twilight,” “Ocean's Eight,” and “Once Upon a Time.. in Hollywood.”
Sarah - Mae Whitman
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The sitcom wasn’t Whitman’s first time in front of a camera, nor was it her last. The child star played Sarah, a Girl Scout whose leg was broken by Ross in the 1996 episode. The current 33-year-old has since become a household name thanks to success on shows like “Good Girls,” “Arrested Development,” “Parenthood,” and “The Owl House.”
Charla - Kyla Pratt
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Pratt appeared alongside Whitman on the 1996 episode. She was a member of the same troop and had it out for Ross for breaking Sarah’s leg. Pratt’s career has been impressive with roles on “Smart Guy,” “Moesha,” “Dr. Doolittle,” and most notably, as the voice of as Penny Proud on Disney’s “The Proud Family.”
Little Boy - Tahj Mowry
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Speaking of “Smart Guy,” Mowry didn’t even get a name when he appeared on the second season in 1996 as a kid in the coffee shop. The kid actor, who also appeared in “Full House,” “Sister, Sister” (alongside twins sister's Tia and Tamera Mowry), and the Freefrom sitcom “Baby Daddy.”
Lelani - Emily Osment
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Emily Osment’s role may have been minor as she appeared as trick-or-treater Lelani Mayolanofavich in season seven, but it was the start of something big as she later landed the role of Miley Cyrus’s best friend in Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” and Gabi Diamond on “Young and Hungry,” in addition to several other film and TV roles.
Owen - Daryl Sabara
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When Sabara appeared in a 2003 episode as Owen, a kid who found out he was adopted on accident thanks to Matthew Perry’s character Chandler, he was already established thanks to his role in the “Spy Kids” franchise. He went on to have a lengthy acting career in projects like “Weeds” and “Halloween.” He is also married to pop star Meghan Trainor.
Phoebe's triplets
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Lisa Kudrow's character Phoebe carried triplets for her brother, Frank Junior and his partner Alice. The older versions of the triplets were played by Dante Pastula as Frank, Sierra Marcoux as Chandler, and Allisyn Ashley Arm as Leslie. The latter is the only one who is still pursuing an acting career with titles like Disney Channel’s “Sonny With a Chance” opposite Demi Lovato, “So Random,” and “A.P. Bio.” attached to her name.
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