Jennifer Aniston biography, net worth, father, dating history, boyfriend, height 2025

Jennifer Aniston Biography

Jennifer Aniston, the American actress who became a household name starring in the hit 1990s sitcom "Friends." While her role as the spoiled and headstrong Rachel Green launched her to stardom, she's proven herself far beyond that iconic character – Aniston's filmography showcases an impressive range of compelling projects.

Even as she approaches her sixties, her incredible physique rivals women half her age, and her radiant face, defying time itself, continues to captivate audiences everywhere. This timeless appeal allows her to effortlessly secure roles as youthful beauties and alluring characters.

Childhood

Jennifer was born in Sherman Oaks, California, on February 11, 1969, to actor John Aniston (originally Yannis Anastassakis from Crete). The family already included an older son, John Melick. Later, they welcomed another son, Alex.

When Jennifer was 9 years old, her parents divorced. She stayed with her mother but often visited her father in Los Angeles. At the time, John was starring in the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," playing a major role as an established Hollywood actor.

Following in her father's footsteps, Jennifer started pursuing acting at just 11 years old. At this young age, the future Hollywood star started performing in the Rudolf Steiner School's drama club.

Jennifer Aniston received her professional acting education at the New York School of Acting. Fresh out of school, Jennifer made her Broadway debut in productions "For Dear Life" and "Dancing on Checker's Grave." To pay the bills, she juggled two jobs: working as a courier and a telemarketer.

Jennifer Aniston before and after rhinoplasty

Early Roles

Jennifer Aniston first appeared on television screens in the late 1980s. Unlike many aspiring actresses, Aniston didn't have to endure Hollywood's brutal initiation process. After appearing on Howard Stern's radio show and landing a role in the short-lived comedy series "Molloy," she made her feature film debut in "Camp Cucamonga" (1990), followed by a starring role in the horror movie "Leprechaun." This horror film became a major success for the newly established Trimark Pictures, and Jennifer gained her first taste of fame.

Friends

In 1994, NBC launched a new comedy show about six young New Yorkers navigating life's unexpected, hilarious, and heartbreaking moments. By the time they shot the pilot episode, the creators had a clear vision for their main characters. Interestingly, the initial choice for the role of Rachel was Courteney Cox, and for Monica, it was Aniston.

But while working on that first episode, both actresses felt they should switch roles. And so were born the iconic characters we know and love: wealthy "princess" Rachel Green, finding her way in the adult world, and Monica Geller, the former "ugly duckling" turned driven chef.

After 'Friends', Jennifer Aniston became an icon for an entire generation

At that time, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer were virtually unknown. The producers initially banked on Courteney Cox's star power, but after those first few episodes aired, they didn't need to. NBC viewers couldn't stop talking about every new episode. Suddenly, the "Jennifer Aniston haircut" was everywhere – that sleek, silky straight style. Interestingly, this hairstyle was a happy accident. While prepping for a shoot, a stylist accidentally cut a strand of her hair and had to quickly fix the mistake, unknowingly launching a trend that millions of girls would follow.

Rachel Being Rachel - Friends

The role of Rachel earned Jennifer Aniston five Emmy nominations in the "Best Actress in a Comedy Series" category, with one win.

Jennifer Aniston Reveals How She Got Her Iconic Role on 'Friends'

The show ran for ten incredible seasons. Over the years, these characters lived through countless romances, breakups, career changes, fights, and make-ups. But all good things must come to an end, and for "Friends," that moment arrived in 2004. "It hurt a lot. It felt like a porcelain vase thrown against a brick wall," Aniston told journalists. Still, each of the six main actors earned a million dollars per episode in that final season, which definitely helped ease the pain.

Further Roles

During the 10-year run of "Friends," Jennifer Aniston also took on other roles. She became a favorite among romantic comedy filmmakers: "Picture Perfect" (1997), "Office Space" (1999), and "The Good Girl" (2002). Her performance in "The Good Girl" was highly acclaimed at the Sundance Film Festival.

In 2003, "Bruce Almighty" starring Jim Carrey hit theaters. Carrey's character literally receives divine powers, while Jennifer Aniston plays the love of his life.

«Bruce Almighty» Interview

The following year brought the pairing of Jennifer Aniston and Ben Stiller in the romantic comedy "Along Came Polly." Stiller played a neurotic office worker, while Aniston embodied a free-spirited beauty with a wild side.

2005 brought the release of "Rumor Has It," where both Mark Ruffalo and Kevin Costner vied for Aniston's character's affection. That same year, she starred in the thriller "Derailed" alongside Clive Owen and Vincent Cassel. It marked her first thriller role and her first collaboration with Owen. Despite venturing into new territory, Aniston delivered a brilliant performance.

Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Jennifer Aniston

In 2006, Aniston made her directorial debut with the short film "Room 10," starring Robin Wright Penn and Kris Kristofferson. She cited Gwyneth Paltrow's directorial work as inspiration.

Room 10

2008 brought the heartwarming drama "Marley & Me," where Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson played a married couple. Even approaching 40, Aniston convincingly portrayed a young woman.

Aniston's next project was the ensemble romantic comedy "He's Just Not That Into You." Boasting an all-star cast including Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, and Bradley Cooper, the film earned nearly $30 million in its opening weekend, claiming the top spot at the box office.

The 2010 romantic comedy "Just Go With It" hit theaters. Jennifer Aniston played the secretary to a successful playboy plastic surgeon (Adam Sandler) who convinces her to pose as his crude ex-wife to win over his latest romantic target.

The summer of 2011 brought "Horrible Bosses," where Aniston played a sexually aggressive dentist. That fall saw the release of David Wain's "Wanderlust." The film follows a couple who ditch city life for the countryside. "We're the Millers" was another standout, featuring Aniston as the fake wife of a small-time drug dealer.

Jennifer Aniston Striptease (We're the Millers)

Aniston often found herself carrying mediocre comedies like "The Bounty Hunter" (2010) and "She's Funny That Way" (2013), with directors frequently typecasting her as the "naive fool." But she also tackled meatier roles like Claire Bennett in the drama "Cake." Aniston's disfigured character grapples with life's meaning while contemplating suicide. Though the film didn't make waves, critics praised Aniston's performance: "She was incredible! We're used to her comedic roles, but here she showed real courage and was absolutely brilliant," "For me, Jennifer Aniston's talent shone in a new light after this film."

Jennifer Aniston without makeup in 'Cake'

2016's "Mother's Day" featured Aniston alongside Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, and Jason Sudeikis in a story exploring what truly makes women happy. She also teamed up with Jack Huston for the drama "The Yellow Birds," following two young American soldiers caught in the chaos of the Iraq War.

2018 brought news of a new TV series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. "The Morning Show" premiered on November 1, 2019. Aniston plays a TV host whose co-anchor gets axed over sexual harassment allegations. Unable to handle the morning show solo, she's paired with an ambitious, fearless reporter.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon in 'The Morning Show'

2019 also saw the release of "Murder Mystery," a detective comedy reuniting Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler.

Jennifer Aniston Reacts to TikTok Trends

Jennifer Aniston's Personal Life

From the moment she hit it big, Jennifer Aniston captivated millions. But her love life proved challenging. Early in her career, Aniston dated musician Adam Duritz before finding love with actor Tate Donovan.

Her most talked-about relationship was with Brad Pitt. The couple married in the summer of 2000 in Malibu. They were dubbed Hollywood's most beautiful couple. But after five years, they called it quits. Angelina Jolie, whom Pitt met on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," played a part in the couple's breakup. Following their divorce, critics blamed Aniston, claiming Pitt left her because she didn't want kids while Jolie was ready to start a family.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston separated in 2005

The split hit Aniston hard, though they stayed friends. She turned to yoga to help her heal. Post-divorce, Aniston dated actors Vince Vaughn and John Mayer. In 2010, tabloids went wild over her romance with "Bounty Hunter" co-star Gerard Butler.

Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler had a brief relationship

When things ended with Butler, Aniston fired back at her critics:

This whole «Poor lonely Jen» thing, this idea that I'm so unlucky in love? I actually feel I've been unbelievably lucky in love. Just because at this stage my life doesn't have the traditional framework to it — the husband and the two kids and the house in Connecticut — it's mine. It's my experience.

While filming "Wanderlust," Jennifer Aniston fell hard for Justin Theroux ("Mulholland Drive," "The Leftovers"). What started as on-set chemistry with the 42-year-old actor and screenwriter quickly became something real. Soon after, Theroux left his partner of 14 years to move in with Aniston.

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux went public in May 2011, mostly because dodging the relentless paparazzi became impossible. For her man, Jennifer took a year off work to focus entirely on their relationship. The couple bought a $21 million love nest, and in 2012, Theroux popped the question.

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's Beverly Hills Home

But they didn't actually tie the knot until summer 2015. They kept their wedding plans ultra-secret, inviting friends under the guise of celebrating Justin's birthday. Guests were shocked to discover they were actually at a wedding! The event took place on August 5, 2015, in the actors' Los Angeles mansion. Courteney Cox was Jennifer's bridesmaid. About 70 guests attended, including Tobey Maguire, Orlando Bloom, Rachel McAdams, Lisa Kudrow, and Emily Blunt. After the party, the couple headed to Bora Bora for their honeymoon.

Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux Marriage Uncovered

In February 2018, the couple announced their split. According to Jennifer, they just grew apart.

In early 2021, sources close to the actress told media outlets that Jennifer Aniston was dating Jason Sudeikis. Then, in March 2022, InTouch magazine claimed the actress had rekindled her romance with Brad Pitt, with the pair living together in Paris while Jennifer filmed a "Murder Mystery" sequel Both reports, however, remained unconfirmed.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston Still Have Chemistry

Jennifer Aniston Now

In 2021, Jennifer Aniston reunited with her "Friends" castmates for a special episode, 17 years after the series finale aired. "Friends: The Reunion" is a documentary-style special where the cast looks back and shares behind-the-scenes stories from filming the beloved series.

According to Aniston, the reunion proved more emotional than expected. After filming, she experienced not just nostalgia and joy from seeing old friends, but also melancholy – after 17 years, everyone had evolved into different people with new life experiences, and naturally, they'd all changed physically too.

Meanwhile, the actress kept busy starring in new seasons of "The Morning Show" while working on the "Murder Mystery" sequel – "Murder Mystery 2" hit Netflix in spring 2023.

Wanda Schultz

Already that time when I was watching Friends, I laid eyes on Jennifer because she was changing her images often and always was bright in this TV series. She is almost the only one from Friends who could achieve a lot in cinematography.

2021-04-04 15:15:14
Brandy Moore

I want to be like Aniston when I`m 50 lmao :) She is cool as an actress and as a woman she is not worse than Madonna.

2021-03-30 16:44:30
Mary Kennedy

I`m always marvel at how Aniston play different roles: comedies or dramas, she can convey a mood 100%!

2021-03-19 19:29:47
Cody Nathan Bailey

We should emulate Jennifer. In this age stays in a good forms like a model not every girl can keep her body like Jen! And she won the heart of Brad Pitt :)

2021-03-14 19:02:53
Alejandro Zachary Green

This beautiful lady stole my heart many years ago and she still charming even at 40+

2021-01-24 11:55:57

Photos: Jennifer Aniston