Randy Vasquez Claims His Early ‘Friends’ Exit Left Jennifer Aniston Worried

Randy Vasquez recently looked back on a short but unforgettable moment from the early days of Friends. He shared the story during a podcast interview, where he talked about being cast in season one and then fired almost right away. At the time, the show was brand new, and no one knew it would become one of the biggest sitcoms ever.

Vasquez explained that he was hired for the fourth episode and went through the table read like everyone else. Not long after that, he was told the role was being cut. He said he got the phone call while sitting in his dressing room on the Warner Bros. lot. That was when Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow walked in and saw what was happening.

According to Vasquez, both actresses looked shaken, but Aniston seemed especially upset. He said the situation scared the crap out of her because it made the uncertainty of the business very real. At that point, the cast was still unknown and trying to find stability. Seeing someone lose a job so quickly hit close to home.

Vasquez said the group reacted with real kindness. He wished them luck as he packed up his things, and they responded with genuine sympathy. There were no egos, just people trying to survive in a tough industry.

As he was leaving the lot, Vasquez had an unexpected moment with Matthew Perry. Perry stopped him and shared his own story about being flown to Florida for a movie, only to be fired as soon as he arrived. He told Vasquez to just hang in there. That short exchange stayed with him for years.

The role on Friends never happened, but Vasquez kept working. He went on to appear in shows like JAG, Acapulco H.E.A.T., and Love Boat: The Next Wave. His career kept moving, even if that early setback stung at the time. Friends, of course, went on to make television history. The six main cast members became global stars and stayed close throughout the show’s ten-season run.

Today, Vasquez is still active in the industry. He earned praise for his performance in The Little King of Norwalk, which premiered with the Latino Theater Company in late 2025. Looking back, he sees the Friends experience as just one chapter in a long career.

Do you think early casting decisions matter more than on-screen chemistry once a show starts filming? Share your thoughts in the comments.