Paul Rudd Explains why he Felt “Strange” about Being Included In Friends Finale

Paul Rudd Strange Friends Finale

During a recent interview on the Heart Breakfast show with JK and Kelly Brook, Hollywood star Paul Rudd shared his reflections on his time as Mike Hannigan on the popular sitcom ‘Friends.’ 

The Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania actor admitted feeling out of place in the show’s final episode, saying, “It was really fun, and they were great! The whole thing was a bit surreal, I must say, to be a part of that, because I came on really at the end.

Rudd joined the cast of ‘Friends’ in Season 9, regularly playing the role of Mike Hannigan. He appeared in 17 episodes over the show’s last two seasons, eventually marrying Lisa Kudrow’s character Phoebe Buffay in Season 10. 

Paul Rudd Explains why he Felt “Strange” about Being Included In Friends Finale

Despite feeling like he shouldn’t have been there in the show’s final episode, Rudd recalls the emotional atmosphere on set, with the cast members crying and feeling a sense of finality.

“I never knew that I was going to be in as many episodes as I was. But it also felt strange. I was in that last episode, and I just thought, ‘I shouldn’t be here. I’m getting a front-row seat to things I’m not supposed to see.’ They were all crying, it was all emotional, and I was just like, ‘woah!'”

Despite feeling out of place, Rudd recognizes the impact ‘Friends’ has had on the world, stating, “There’s something comforting about it, isn’t there?” The show concluded in 2004 after 236 episodes spread across 10 seasons on NBC, and in 2021, a ‘Friends’ reunion special was streamed on HBO Max, where Paul Rudd recalled his time with the show’s main cast, including Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer.

Paul Rudd filming the Friends cast’s final bows with his camcorder