Career Timeline of Jennifer Aniston: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Jennifer Aniston, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Jennifer Aniston is a highly successful American actress, best known for her iconic role as Rachel Green in the hit television sitcom Friends (1994-2004). Her performance earned her Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards. Aniston has maintained a prominent presence in Hollywood, consistently ranking among the world's highest-paid actresses as of 2023. Her career encompasses both television and film, establishing her as a major figure in the entertainment industry.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1978: Elmore Leonard's The Switch

Jennifer Aniston played the role of a stoic socialite who becomes the target of an ill-planned kidnapping plot in Life of Crime (2014), a film adaptation of Elmore Leonard's 1978 novel The Switch.

1986: Ferris Bueller's Day Off Adaptation

In 1990, Jennifer Aniston appeared in the television adaptation of the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

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1988: Uncredited Role in Mac and Me

In 1988, Jennifer Aniston began working as an actress at an early age with an uncredited role in the film Mac and Me.

1990: Television Roles in Molloy and Camp Cucamonga

In 1990, Jennifer Aniston had her first regular television role in the TV series Molloy and starred in the made-for-television film Camp Cucamonga.

1993: Starred in Leprechaun

In 1993, Jennifer Aniston starred in the horror film Leprechaun as a spoiled teenager followed by a vengeful leprechaun.

1993: First Major Film Role in Leprechaun

In 1993, Jennifer Aniston's first major film role came in the horror comedy Leprechaun.

1994: Jennifer Aniston began her role on Friends

In 1994, Jennifer Aniston rose to international fame for her role as Rachel Green on the television sitcom Friends.

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1994: Cast in Friends

In 1994, Jennifer Aniston was cast as Rachel Green in the sitcom Friends, set to debut on NBC's fall lineup.

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1995: Friends Debut

Jennifer Aniston was cast in Friends, a sitcom set to debut on NBC's 1994–1995 fall lineup.

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1996: Film Work in She's the One

In 1996, Jennifer Aniston returned to film work after a four-year hiatus, performing in the ensemble cast of the romantic comedy She's the One.

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1997: Starring Role in Picture Perfect

In 1997, Jennifer Aniston's first starring film vehicle was Picture Perfect, where she played a struggling young advertising executive.

1998: The Object of My Affection

In 1998, Jennifer Aniston appeared in the romantic comedy The Object of My Affection, playing a woman who falls for a gay man.

1999: Starred in Office Space

In 1999, Jennifer Aniston starred in the successful comedy film Office Space.

2001: Starred in Rock Star

In 2001, Jennifer Aniston appeared in the dramedy Rock Star.

2002: Release of "The Good Girl"

In 2002, "The Good Girl", starring Jennifer Aniston, was released and became one of her most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.

2003: Release of "Bruce Almighty"

In 2003, "Bruce Almighty", starring Jennifer Aniston, was released and became one of her most commercially successful films.

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2003: Golden Globe Award for Friends

In 2003, Jennifer Aniston won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy for her role in Friends.

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2004: Friends Ended

In 2004, Jennifer Aniston played Rachel Green until the show Friends ended, when Aniston took a 15-year hiatus from television save for occasional guest roles.

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2004: Starred in Along Came Polly

In 2004, Jennifer Aniston starred in the romantic comedy Along Came Polly as the old classmate of a tightly wound newlywed.

2005: Starred in Derailed and Rumor Has It

In 2005, Jennifer Aniston appeared in the thriller Derailed and the romantic comedy Rumor Has It.

2006: Directed Room 10

In 2006, Jennifer Aniston directed the short film Room 10, set in a hospital emergency room.

2006: Starred in The Break-Up and Friends with Money

In 2006, Jennifer Aniston starred in The Break-Up and the independent film Friends with Money.

2006: Starred in The Break-Up

In 2006, Jennifer Aniston starred in the romantic comedy The Break-Up, alongside Vince Vaughn, as one half of a couple having a complicated split.

2006: Starred in Friends with Money

In 2006, Jennifer Aniston took on the role of a single, cash-strapped woman working as a maid in the independent drama Friends with Money.

2006: Releases of "Friends with Money" and "The Break-Up"

In 2006, the films "Friends with Money" and "The Break-Up", both featuring Jennifer Aniston, were released, marking them as critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies in her career.

2007: Guest-Starred in Dirt and 30 Rock

In 2007, Jennifer Aniston guest-starred in an episode of Dirt and in an episode of 30 Rock, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

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2008: Co-founded Echo Films

In 2008, Jennifer Aniston co-founded the production company Echo Films.

2008: Starred in Marley & Me

In 2008, Jennifer Aniston starred in the comedy drama Marley & Me.

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2009: Starred in He's Just Not That Into You

In 2009, Jennifer Aniston starred in the romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You.

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2010: Starred in The Bounty Hunter and The Switch

In 2010, Jennifer Aniston appeared as the former wife of a bounty hunter in the romantic comedy action film The Bounty Hunter. She also starred in the romantic comedy The Switch.

2010: Guest Starred on Cougar Town

In 2010, Jennifer Aniston was also a guest star on the season two premiere of ABC's sitcom Cougar Town, playing a psychiatrist.

2011: Starred in Just Go with It and Horrible Bosses

In 2011, Jennifer Aniston starred in the romantic comedy Just Go with It and played a sexually aggressive dentist in Horrible Bosses.

2011: Releases of "Just Go with It" and "Horrible Bosses"

In 2011, the films "Just Go with It" and "Horrible Bosses", both featuring Jennifer Aniston, were released, marking them as commercially successful movies in her career.

2012: Starred in Wanderlust

In 2012, Jennifer Aniston appeared in the comedy Wanderlust with Paul Rudd, as a married couple who join a commune.

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2013: Starred in We're the Millers

In 2013, Jennifer Aniston starred as a struggling stripper who agrees to pose as a wife for a drug deal, with Jason Sudeikis, in We're the Millers.

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2014: Starred in Life of Crime and Horrible Bosses 2

In 2014, Jennifer Aniston played the role of a stoic socialite in Life of Crime and reprised her role for Horrible Bosses 2.

2014: Starred in Cake

In 2014, Jennifer Aniston starred as Claire Simmons in Cake, a woman who struggles with chronic pain; her performance received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.

2014: Leprechaun as Worst Role

In a 2014 retrospective, Entertainment Weekly identified Leprechaun as Jennifer Aniston's worst role, and Aniston herself has expressed embarrassment over it.