Courteney Cox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Courteney Cox
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Cox in 2009
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Courteney Bass Cox
June 15, 1964 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
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| Other names | Courteney Cox Arquette |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Organization | Coquette Productions |
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| Partner(s) | Michael Keaton (1989–1995) Johnny McDaid (2013–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Courteney Bass Cox (born June 15, 1964) is an American actress, producer, and director. She became famous around the world for playing Monica Geller in the popular TV show Friends (1994–2004). She is also well-known for her role as Gale Weathers in the Scream horror movie series.
For her work, Cox has won a Screen Actors Guild Award and has been nominated for other major awards. She also has a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Some of her other well-known roles were in the TV shows Family Ties (1987–1989), Cougar Town (2009–2015), and Shining Vale (2022–2023). She has also appeared in many movies, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) and Bedtime Stories (2008).
With her former husband, David Arquette, she started a production company called Coquette Productions. She has also directed movies and produced a game show.
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Early Life and Family
Courteney Bass Cox was born and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Her father, Richard Lewis Cox, was a businessman, and her mother was Courteney Copeland. She has two older sisters and one older brother. Her parents separated in 1974.
After high school, Cox went to college in Washington, D.C. to study architecture. However, she left to follow her dream of becoming a model and actress.
While researching her family history for the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?, Cox made an amazing discovery. She found out she is a descendant of famous historical figures like William the Conqueror and King Edward I of England.
Career Journey
First Steps in Acting
One of Cox's first big moments was in 1984. She was picked to be in Bruce Springsteen's music video for the song "Dancing in the Dark". In the video, Springsteen pulls her up on stage to dance with him.
Her early TV work included a main role in the science fiction show Misfits of Science (1985). She also had a recurring role in the comedy series Family Ties from 1987 to 1989. She played the girlfriend of Michael J. Fox's character.
1990s: Becoming a Star
In 1994, Cox's career took off. She starred with Jim Carrey in the hit comedy movie Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. That same year, she was cast in the TV show that would make her a household name: Friends.
She was first asked to try out for the part of Rachel Green. Instead, she was cast as the lovable and organized Monica Geller. The show, which also starred Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, was a huge success. It ran for ten seasons and is still one of the most popular sitcoms ever.
For the last two seasons of Friends, Cox and her female co-stars became the highest-paid TV actresses of all time.
During her time on Friends, Cox also starred as the determined reporter Gale Weathers in the horror movie Scream (1996). The movie was a big hit, and she returned for the sequels Scream 2 (1997) and Scream 3 (2000). She met her future husband, David Arquette, on the set of the first Scream film.
2000s: Success After Friends
After Friends ended in 2004, Cox continued to work in movies and television. She starred in the TV drama series Dirt from 2007 to 2008, where she played a tabloid editor.
In 2009, she began starring in the comedy series Cougar Town. She played Jules Cobb, a single mom navigating life in her 40s. The show was very successful and ran for six seasons until 2015. Her role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.
She also appeared in movies like the animated film Barnyard (2006) and the comedy Bedtime Stories (2008) with Adam Sandler.
2010s: Directing and Producing
In the 2010s, Cox expanded her career by directing. She directed a TV movie called TalhotBlond in 2012. In 2014, she directed her first feature film, Just Before I Go.
She returned to her famous role as Gale Weathers in Scream 4 in 2011. She also produced the game show Celebrity Name Game from 2014 to 2017.
In 2019, she created a documentary series for Facebook Watch called 9 Months with Courteney Cox. The show followed different people on their journey through pregnancy.
2020s: New Projects and Reunions
In 2021, Cox joined her Friends castmates for a special television event, Friends: The Reunion. It was a huge moment for fans around the world. The special was released on HBO Max and earned Cox an Emmy nomination as a producer.
She once again played Gale Weathers in the fifth Scream movie (2022) and the sixth film, Scream VI (2023). Both movies were very successful.
Starting in 2022, she starred in the horror-comedy series Shining Vale. In 2023, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
Personal Life
Cox was in a relationship with actor Michael Keaton from 1989 to 1995.
On June 12, 1999, she married actor David Arquette, her co-star from the Scream movies. They have a daughter, who was born in 2004. Cox's Friends co-star, Jennifer Aniston, is her daughter's godmother. Cox and Arquette separated in 2010 but remain good friends. Their divorce was finalized in 2013.
Since 2013, Cox has been in a relationship with Johnny McDaid, a member of the band Snow Patrol. They were engaged in 2014. Although they later called off the engagement, they are still a couple.
Cox enjoys practicing Budokan karate. In 2020, she mentioned that she was re-watching Friends because she didn't remember many of the episodes.
Awards and Honors
- 1995: Named Female Discovery of the Year by the Golden Apple Awards.
- 2010: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women's Image Network.
- 2010: Honored with the Lucy Award by Women in Film.
- 2023: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Courteney Cox para niños
