Phoebe Buffay

Phoebe Buffay was a character played by Lisa Kudrow in the popular television sitcom Friends (1994-2004).

Warning: Plot details follow. Phoebe has a rather strange past, and an equally strange present existence. Her father left when she was young, her mother killed herself leaving Phoebe and her twin Ursula in the care of their stepfather who, for unknown reasons ended up in prison. Here Phoebe's past becomes hazy. By the age of 16 she was living on the streets, spending some time living in a Gremlin with a man called Rudy who talked to his hand, she had an Indian friend called 'Albino Bob', entered into a marriage of convenience with a gay ice-dancer who later "came out" as straight, wrote songs as part of a musical duo and at one point wrote a letter to Sesame Street, but was disappointed when they sent her back a key-ring, as she was homeless and therefore had no keys. Somewhere along this road she 'found' aromatherapy, which became her profession and moved in with Monica. She later moved into her grandmother's apartment, and inherited her yellow taxi after her death.

Phoebe's somewhat dubious musical skills were a popular source of entertainment. Her stunning array of songs include The Double-Double-Double-Jointed Boy, Sticky Shoes and most famously Smelly Cat, which became both a jingle for a kitty litter commercial and a serious commercial release.

Phoebe had somewhat peculiar relationships with the three boys. Chandler acted as something of a little brother, on several occasions he demands "Phoebs! Play with me!" The conversations between the two, which ranged from why Donald Duck wears a towel when getting out of the shower, to why there isn't a superhero called 'Gold-Man', were another highlight of the show. Whilst Phoebe and Joey had a similar relationship, it emerged that Phoebe had a secret crush on Joey., however this was rather playful and was never acted upon. Phoebe and Ross on the other hand had a rather different relationship. Ross' scientific beliefs and Phoebe's self devised beliefs led to conflict over the theories of evolution, gravity and whether or not Phoebe's dead mother had been reincarnated as a cat. However, the two always remained firm friends and it later emerged that they had almost slept together during Ross' divorce.

During the series Phoebe continued to uncover bits of her past including meeting her real mother, her half-brother Frank Buffay Jr (played by Giovanni Ribisi), and finally her real father (Frank Buffay Sr.). Along the way she also carried and gave birth to her brother's triplets, with whom she aimed to be "Fun Aunt Phoebe".

Towards the end of the series, Joey - somewhat inadvertently - introduced Phoebe to Mike Hannigan. The two were married in one of the final episodes, in the street outside of Central Perk after a blizard. Monica and Rachel were bridesmaids, Joey officiated the wedding (he had been ordained over the internet for Monica and Chandler's wedding), Chandler gave Phoebe away and Ross, for his sins, held Mike's childhood dog.