Lisa graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York with a B.S. degree in biology. She hopes to steer into a research career so she returned to Los Angeles and started working with her father a headache specialist known all over the world. Lisa would still be a researcher today if she was not told to perform by one of her brother's friends Jon Lovitz.

Lisa started studying with Cynthia Szigeti, an improvisation teacher in Los Angeles. In class she met and became friends with the then-unknown Conan O'Brien. Her dream of being a performer came true in 1989 when she was accepted as a member of the famous improvisation group The Groundlings.

Her recurring role as the ditsy waitress Ursula on the hit show "Mad About You" led to her role on "Friends." Ursula and Phoebe are twins (so they'd like us to believe). Her other small-screen credits include a recurring role on "Bob" and guest-starring roles on "Cheers," "Coach," "Newhart," "Flying Blind" and "Hope & Gloria."

Lisa has also been a success on the big-screen. She starred opposite Mira Sorvino in the hit comedy "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion." She had a small part in "Mother," with Albert Brooks. Lisa stars in upcoming movie "Clockwatchers" with Toni Collete and during last summer's break from the show, she starred with Christina Ricci, Lyle Lovett and Martin Donovan in "The Opposite of Sex." Her role in this helped her get great reviews and nominated her for many awards including a New York Film Critics Award.

Lisa's new movie "Analyze This", with Billy Crystal and Robert DeNiro,is getting great reviews.

Lisa lives with her husband, Michael Stern, in Los Angeles. They just had an addition to their family - a baby boy. As a native Californian she was raised in Tarzana but born in Encino. Her birthday is July 30th.

PHOEBE FRIENDS

Phoebe is the ditsy friend. She's often receiving strange looks and shrugs by the others. Phoebe left home very early in life after her mother committed suicide. She then moved to the city when her male roommate committed suicide as well. Phoebe came together when she became involed in aroma-therapy. She then started working as a masseuse.

Phoebe was Monica's roommate for a while but Monica got on her nerves, so she moved to her grandmother's house.

Phoebe sings a lot at Central Perk - usually about death and sometimes uses her spirituality to read the thoughts of people. A few seasons ago she was inhabited by the spirit of an old woman who died on her massage table. She also has a friend who was reincarnated as a pencil.

Phoebe does have a twin sister but they don't get along. Her sister, Ursula, works as a waitress at a restaurant - she is also very ditzy.

Phoebe's birthday is on February 16th.