Courteney Cox Then & Now: Photos Of Iconic ‘FRIENDS’ Star Through The Years

By:

Elissa Anderson

May 25, 2021 11:31AM EDT

Courteney Cox is an iconic TV/Film actress, best known for her roles in ‘Cougar Town’, ‘Scream’, and, of course, ‘Friends’! Relive all the incredible moments of her career and see how her look has changed over 3 decades in Hollywood!

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Courteney Cox Through The Years

Courteney Cox Through The Years — Courteney Cox became a household name in the 90’s with a little show called ‘FRIENDS’. You may have heard of it? Well, in truth, Courteney has actually grown up in front of the screen, both silver and small, appearing in everything from TV sitcoms to horror movies and even a music video or two. Her face is instantly recognizable around the world and to this day, the glowing beauty is still delighting audiences with her charm and talents.

If you’re a fan, it’s worth a look back at Courteney’s life in La La Land to see just how far she’s come: from her start in TV on ‘Family Ties’ and ‘Dancing in The Dark’ with Bruce Springsteen, to her most recent work doing documentaries with Facebook Watch. And no, we won’t skip over the Monica Gellar or Gale Weathers years. They’re our favorite too!

So, scroll through the gallery to relive the highs of Cox’s career and your favorite moments with your favorite friend!

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Courteney Cox In The 80s

Courteney Cox In The 80s — So young! Back in the 1980s, Courteney Cox landed a coveted role on the hit sitcom ‘Family Ties’ — the girlfriend of hearthrob Michael J. Fox’s character Alex P. Keaton. It was the start of an increidble career of a bright, new star!

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Courteney Cox On “Family Ties”

Courteney Cox On “Family Ties” — Lauren Miller, Courteney Cox was a wild new love interest for Alex P. Keaton, played by Michael J. Fox. As her populatrity grew, so did Courteney’s hair — it was the 80’s afterall! Big hair was in!

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Courteney Cox at The ‘FAR AND AWAY’ Premiere

Courteney Cox at The ‘FAR AND AWAY’ Premiere — By 1992, Courteney Cox had some buzz behind her and she was starting to line up the roles that would help define her career. By the next year, she’d star alongside huge comedic names like Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carey. But the best was yet to come!

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Courteney Cox As Monica Gellar

Courteney Cox As Monica Gellar — Season1 of FRIENDS kicked off in 1994 and Courteney Cox’s career took off like a rocket! As Monica Gellar, Courteney was the reliable, albeit neurotic one of the friend group. As a chef, she kept everyone well fed and as the favorite of her grandmother, she was able to keep a ridiculously incredible apartment in NYC than no 20-something could ever truly afford.

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Courtney Cox Arrives at the 54th annual Golden Globes

Courtney Cox Arrives at the 54th annual Golden Globes — Instantly after it premiered, audiences and critics praised ‘Friends’ for it’s comedy and it’s perfect cast. Here, Courtney Cox stepped out for the 54th annual Golden Globes. ‘FRIENDS’ was nomianted for best comedy series. It lost to ‘3rd Rock From The Sun’ — but it was only the beginning.

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Courteney Cox As Gale Weathers

Courteney Cox As Gale Weathers — If you don’t know Courteney Cox as Monica Gellar, then it’s no question that you know her as Gale Weathers, the street smart, strong AF gossip journalist from the ‘Scream’ franchise alongside Neve Campbell and future husband, David Arquette. Here she is in the sequel, ‘Scream 2’, which released in 1997.

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Courteney Cox At THe First Annual Project ALS

Courteney Cox At THe First Annual Project ALS — By 1999, Courteney Cox was on every major red carpet in town. She helped define the style of the time with her outfit choices, like this silky, little black dress she work to the First Annual Project ALS event on February 11, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA.

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Courteney Cox With Husband David Arquette

Courteney Cox With Husband David Arquette — Courteney Cox met David Arquette when they made the first ‘Scream’ movie in 1996. The couple married a few years later, between seasons five and six of ‘Friends’. Here, the pair lovingly held hands at the Warner Bros. premiere of 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND held at the Mann Chinese Theater.

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Courteney Cox At the 2003 Golden Globe Awards

Courteney Cox At the 2003 Golden Globe Awards — With ‘FRIENDS’ nominated again for Best Comedy, Courteney Cox was on hand to not only support the show, but to support her real life best friend, Jennifer Aniston, who won the Globe for her role alongside Court on ‘Friends’, Rachel Green.

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Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette

Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette — After they were married, Courteney Cox took David Arquette’s last name and became Courteney Cox Arquette. When ‘FRIENDS’ returned for the sixth season, as a spoof, the opening credits featured everyone with the name ‘Arquette’ tacked on to their last names. Clearly, Courteny’s pals were happy for her and David!

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Courteney Cox Arquette At ‘Barnyard’ Film Premiere

Courteney Cox Arquette At ‘Barnyard’ Film Premiere — Courteney Cox Arquette, at the time, threw herself into a plethora different projects after ‘Friends’ wrapped in 2004. Now a mom, she lent her voice to the animanted film ‘Barnyard’ and happily joined the cast at the film premiere in Los Angeles, on July 30, 2006.

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Courteney Cox At The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards,

Courteney Cox At The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, — Courteney Cox arrived at The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards looking glamorous as ever. In 2007, she was merely a presenter, but she had also launched her first series post-‘Friends’ that year called ‘Dirt’ on FX.

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Courteney Cox In ‘Cougar Town’

Courteney Cox In ‘Cougar Town’ — While her series ‘Dirt’ didn’t land with audiences, Courteney Cox’s next project would become a runaway smash! ABC released ‘Cougar Town’ in 2009 and the show ran for six, incredible series. Courteney even earned a Golden Globes nomination for it!

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Courteney Cox In 2010

Courteney Cox In 2010 — With her new show thriving, Courteney Cox was back on top (though honestly, when was she not?) She continued to be the talk of the town every time she hit a red carpet, wearing beautiful ensembles like this one to the 2010 Crystal & Lucy Awards in June of that year.

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Courteney Cox Keeping in Casual

Courteney Cox Keeping in Casual — Courteney Cox is just as stunning off the red carpet as she is on it. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2012, she was spotted attending Brett Ratner ‘sMemorial Day Party in Los Angeles in white jeans and blank tank. Solid look!

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Courteney Cox in 2013

Courteney Cox in 2013 — Courteney Cox once again redefined the meaning of a little black dress by taking things up to a 12 with this incredible ensemble. Stepping out for a Summer Redstone Charitable Foundation event in Los Angeles on March 3rd, the star pair a long sleeved dress with high slit with stilletto heels.

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Courteney Cox & Johnny McDaid

Courteney Cox & Johnny McDaid — In 2010, Courteney Cox and David Arquette called it quits, in a rather amicable way as far as Hollywood romances go. Three years later, Courteney met Johnny McDaid through mutual friend Ed Sheeran — or so the story goes.

Here, the loved up pair enjoyed a date night at the premiere of “Hand of God” held at the Ace Hotel, in Los Angeles on August 19, 2015, just over a year after getting engaged.

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Courteney Cox Wearing High Slit Gown

Courteney Cox Wearing High Slit Gown — Courteney Cox arrives at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s “Innovators for a Healthy Planet” gala in Beverly Hills, CA on March 13, 2017 looking as radiant as ever. Back togeher with Johnny after a bried split, the rumors would start again about them getting married and starting a family together.

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Courteney Cox and Daughter Coco

Courteney Cox and Daughter Coco — Her first job is being a mom! Courteney Cox heled her daughter Coco Riley Arquette close as the pair enjoyed a mother-daughter day at the 16th annual Los Angeles County Walk to Defeat ALS on November 4, 2018. Doing good while being together — nothing better!

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Courteney Cox Suits Up

Courteney Cox Suits Up — Courteney Cox looks lovely wearing Saint Laurent to the Hollywood for Science Gala, in Los Angeles February 21, 2019.

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Courteney Cox Today

Courteney Cox Today — Today, Courteney Cox is still working non-stop, while also raising a teenage daughter and juggling a long distance relationship Johnny McDaid. But if anyone can do it all, it’s her!

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