Many actors over the years have graced the sets of Friends with their special appearances and cameos. While some of them, like Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis, were already big names, others found fame after their time on the show. Stars like Reese Witherspoon were over the moon to be part of Friends, even if it was for a brief stint. However, there were also actors who turned down the show. 

One such actor, who featured in three episodes of the NBC sitcom, chose to pass on a fourth, and he has no regrets about the decision. 

Rachel Green dumped this Friends character on the show

The ninth season of Friends took Ross Geller and Rachel Green on an emotional rollercoaster as they navigated the complexity of their equation while juggling the challenges of co-parenting. Amidst the chaos, a colleague from Ralph Lauren turned out to be a source of comfort for Green. Gavin Mitchell, played by Dermot Mulroney, dated Green on the show until they broke it off because of Ross Geller. However, not many know that Mulroney was supposed to stick around on the show for a bit longer. 

In an interview with Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover on Access Daily three years ago, the star opened up about why he turned down the opportunity to extend beyond his initial 3-episode run. He attributed it to “bad judgment” and “rescheduling issues” but made it clear that he has no regrets. Mulroney also went on to share how there was a demand from the audience to see more of him on the show. 

In an interview with another cameo actor from Friends, he shared how fans’ love for his character on the show caught him off guard. 

Fans started recognizing Dermot Mulroney as Gavin Mitchell

Five years ago, Dermot Mulroney sat down for an interview with WIRED answering the most searched questions about himself. Joining him was Julia Roberts,  a fellow Friends guest star who played Chandler Bing’s date in Season Two. During the interview, Mulroney talked about how fans would call out his character’s name on the streets which took him aback. Julia Roberts commented on the name, Gavin, saying that it is not the kind of a name that should be so popular. Mulroney cheekily responded to Roberts in return. 

The 60-year-old actor said while “Gavin” is not even a real name, Google knows it. Meanwhile, “Mulroney” is a real name, but Google does not know it. While Mulroney chose not to extend his time on the show, he certainly left his mark with some of the most memorable episodes, which even his co-star, Courtney Cox agrees with, as per Mulroney’s 2023 interview for Scream VI. Despite the brevity of his appearance, Gavin Mitchelle will forever be a recognizable face of the show. 

What do you think about  Dermot Mulroney’s cameo on Friends? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!