Character: Phoebe Buffay
Friend Type: The off-beat one
Occupation: Song Writer, Masseuse and Philosopher
Phoebe was once Monica's roommate.
She's best described as an off-beat, eternally
optimistic folk-singer. She performs most of her
work at Central Perk - who could ever forget 'Smelly
Cat' or 'The Two of Them Kissed Last Night'.
Phoebe's family life has been far from simple.
She has a twin sister, Ursula, with whom she doesn't
get on very well. Her childhood was unsettled - her
father left when she was young, her step-father
ended up in prison and her mother killed herself in
the kitchen whilst Phoebe was building a snowman
in the garden.
Later in life, it comes out that she's married a gay
guy called Duncan to help him get a green card -
but he's not gay and wants a divorce so he could
marry the girl he loves!
Her taxi-driving Grandmother revealed to her that
the pictures of her real father were the pictures that
actually came in the frames and her 'real' real
father is a pharmacist who lives in upstate New
York. Phoebe eventually met up with her
half-brother, Frank Junior, who's hobby is melting
things.
Just when you think things couldn't get much
more complicated, Phoebe finds out that her
mother's best friend - called 'Phoebe' - is actually
her real mother!
And you thought your life was complicated!