Michel Stern: All about Lisa Kudrow’s Husband Who Captured Her Heart at First Sight

Lisa Kudrow’s husband, Michel Stern, was once a roommate’s boyfriend she crushed on. Their short initial acquaintance amounted to nothing until they bumped into each other at a party years later.

With her guitar, street smarts, and “Smelly Cat” hit, Phoebe Buffay from the iconic sitcom “Friends” became a beloved character. Through her portrayal of Buffay, Lisa Kudrow also found her way into hearts around the globe.

Kudrow has 89 acting credits to her name. These include her role as Mrs. Griffith in the 2010 film “Easy A,” the 2020 movie “Good People” and voicing Wanda Pierce in the animated series “Bojack Horseman.”

Michel Stern and Lisa Kudrow playing Bingo at The Roxy Theatre on March 7, 2012, in West Hollywood. | Source: Getty Images

Before she started acting, Kudrow was a medical researcher, taking a page out of her father Lee’s book, who was a doctor. Meanwhile, her mother, Nedra, worked as a travel agent.

While working as a medical practitioner, Kudrow began trying to make a name for herself in the acting world, eventually getting her big break when she landed her role in “Friends.” But, outside of her professional accomplishments, Kudrow has also created a beautiful life with her husband, Michel Stern.

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Lisa Kudrow and Michel Stern at the “Six Days & Seven Nights” Premiere in California. | Source: Getty Images

WHO IS MICHEL STERN, LISA KUDROW’S HUSBAND?

Sixty-four-year-old Michel Stern was born in the late 1900s in France, later emigrating to the United States to find work. He ended up working as a businessman and advertising executive.

In the 1980s, having moved to America, Stern began dating a French girl. Little did he know that his girlfriend was Lisa Kudrow’s roommate at the time.

Michel Stern and Lisa Kudrow at the Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, CA, on September 13, 1998. | Source: Getty Ima

HOW DID LISA AND MICHEL FIRST MEET?

Kudrow and Stern met through her French friend, and the actress admitted she did have romantic feelings for him back then. She recalled:

“They were dating when we first met. But I’m freakishly polite, so I saw him and went, ‘Well, he’s the perfect man, and it’s all ruined because now they’re together, and I can’t [make a play for him].'”

According to Kudrow, her roommate and future husband dated for two and a half months. However, she lost contact with him, only to bump into Stern at none other than his ex-girlfriend’s party. After this reconnection, the two eventually entered into a romantic relationship.

Lisa Kudrow and Michel Stern at the Vanity Fair and Maybelline New York toast of the Emmy-Nominated “VEEP” on August 22, 2014, in West Hollywood. | Source: Getty Images

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF LISA AND MICHEL’S LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE

Kudrow and Stern have been married for over two decades after exchanging vows on May 27, 1995, in Malibu, California. This wedding was just a year after the first “Friends” series was launched. They also had their 26th anniversary on the same day as the “Friends” reunion. Speaking about their decision to marry, Kudrow stated:

“When [Michel and I] decided to get married, we understood: We’re not promising to love each other forever because you can’t do that, but we are promising to work on whatever problems come up.”

The two have had many red carpet appearances together. However, Kudrow does not have a lot of photos with Stern on Instagram, appearing to feel it best to keep their relationship from the public eye.

Lisa Kudrow ad Miichel Stern at the 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on February 22, 2004, in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images

For Kudrow and Stern, it looks like a tremendous amount of independence is paramount for them to have a happy marriage. As Kudrow expressed:

“[Michel and I] respect each other’s independence, and I don’t mean that as a euphemism… Clear? But I don’t like to travel. So if he wants to go on a golf trip, he goes.”

She continued, saying she feels people make a mistake when they see themselves and their partner as an undivided whole instead of viewing one another as separate individuals. Kudrow stated that relationships are like being on a team; Everyone has the same goal, but each teammate will not be identical.

Lisa Kudrow and her spouse Michel Stern at the Los Angeles Film Festival Premiere of “Happy Endings” on June 26, 2005, in California. | Source: Getty Images

DO LISA KUDROW AND MICHEL STERN HAVE CHILDREN TOGETHER?

Kudrow and Stern have one son, who was born in 1998 and named Julian Murray Stern. The actress said that when she became a mom, she realized that nothing was as important as her son. While pregnant, she would continue to act on “Friends.” The writers managed to pen her pregnancy into the script. Kudrow recalled:

“The six of us [the main cast of “Friends”] would do a huddle backstage and just say, ‘All right, have a good show,’…and when I was pregnant, then they would say, ‘Have a great show, love you love you — love you, little Julian!'”

When he was born, she often took her son to the set with her. Looking back, the actress said that Julian thought her co-star Jennifer Aniston was his mother and would jump into “Rachel Greens” lap.

It is no surprise that Julian is opting for a career in producing and acting with all the time spent on set as a child. In an effort o achieve this goal, he studied at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, and in 2021 he graduated.

His mother was ecstatic, sharing an Instagram tribute for her son, which showed her hugging him in his graduation gown. In the post, she wrote that she was happy, proud, and tearful.

But, post-graduation, he had time to focus on many other passions and hobbies, such as spending quality time with friends, photography, and drawing.

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