While Jennifer Aniston boasts of a career full to the brim with blockbuster flicks today, her early days were marked by the one and only, Friends. In the 90s sitcom, she found what would become her breakthrough role. With a delightful blend of fashionista flair and her endearing naivety, her character of Rachel Green quickly became a fan favorite. Well, as Friends continued to run for a decade after its release, it left an imprint on viewers that lingers in the hearts of fans to this day. 

While Rachel became iconic, the same cannot be said about Aniston’s role that she held directly before Friends. 

The one where Jennifer Aniston played a comedy role  

Before Friends came out in 1994, Aniston had starred in another comedy-themed television series titled Ferris Bueller. Well, this show was created as a spin-off for the megahit 80s flick: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Opposite Charlie Schlatter as Ferris, the Murder Mystery actress played the lead’s sister: Jeannie Bueller. It followed the story of the young Buellers as they wade their way through their teenage years. 

Eventually, Ferris Bueler was canceled within a year after its release after completing one season. For one, it could not manage to live up to the audience’s expectations which were set pretty high considering the original movie’s off-the-charts success. As Jeannie, the 54-year-old had a rather short run compared to her decade-long affiliation with Friends. However, one aspect of her Ferris Bueller part bled into Friends. 

Despite getting canceled, her role in Ferris Bueller is connected to Rachel in Friends in a mind-blowing way.

The connection between Friends and Ferris Bueller

Before Jennifer Aniston assumed the role of Jeannie Bueller in the spin-off television series, Jennifer Grey had portrayed the character in 1986 through Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Later, Grey would also become the actress to portray the Friends character, Mindy, who was once Rachel Green’s best friend! She was also the maid-of-honor at the wedding that Rachel abandoned in the pilot. 

In the same way, Aniston, who almost lost out on her Friends role, had taken over the role from Grey in Ferris Bueller, similarly, Grey’s character in Friends took over Rachel’s abandoned marriage. Well, Mindy went on to not only lend Rachel’s fiance, Barry, a shoulder to cry on when she left him at the altar but also ended up marrying him herself. This synchronicity surely adds a layer of intrigue to their characters.  

Did you know that Jennifer Aniston played Jeannie Bueller before she took on her Rachel part? Tell us your answer in the comments.