Jennifer Aniston Biography

Date of Birth
11 February 1969, Sherman Oaks, California, USA

Nickname
Jen
Jenny

Height
5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Biography

Born in Sherman Oaks, California, Jennifer Aniston spent a year of her childhood living in Greece with her family. Her family then relocated to New York City where her parents, John Aniston and Nancy Dow, divorced when she was 9. Jennifer was raised by her mother and her father landed a role, as "Victor Kiriakis", on the daytime soap "Days of Our Lives" (1965). Jennifer had her first taste of acting at age 11 when she joined the Rudolf Steiner School's drama club. It was also at the Rudolf Steiner School that she developed her passion for art. She began her professional training as a drama student at New York's High School of the Performing Arts. In 1987, after graduation, she appeared in such Off-Broadway productions as "For Dear Life" and "Dancing on Checker's Grave". In 1989, she landed her first television role, as a series regular on "Molloy" (1990). She also appeared in "The Edge" (1992), "Ferris Bueller" (1990), and had a recurring part on "Herman's Head" (1991). By 1993, she was floundering. Then, in 1994, a pilot called "Friends Like These" came along. Originally asked to audition for the role of "Monica", Aniston refused and auditioned for the role of "Rachel Green", the suburban princess turned coffee peddler. With the success of the series "Friends" (1994), Jennifer has become famous and sought-after as she turns her fame into movie roles during the series hiatus.
IMDb Mini Biography By: cb@lim.nl

Spouse
Brad Pitt (29 July 2000 - 2 October 2005) (divorced)

Trivia

Married boyfriend of 2-1/2 years, Brad Pitt, on 7/29/00 in Malibu, CA.

While hosting "Saturday Night Live" (1975) in 1999, she did a skit satirizing boyfriend Brad Pitt's stalker, aspiring actress Athena Marie Rolando. Pitt was promoting Fight Club (1999) at the time.

Daughter of actors John Aniston and Nancy Dow.

Raised in Greece and New York City.

The late Telly Savalas was her godfather.

She and husband Brad Pitt purchased a 14,000-sq.-ft. house in Beverly Hills, CA.

Listed in "People Weekly"s "Most Intriguing People" list. (December 25, 1995 issue)

Chosen in 1999 as one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People in the World.

Became estranged from her mother, who made unflattering statements about her in a tabloid. As a result, she refused to invite her mother to her wedding.

Sued "Celebrity Skin" magazine on 8/7/00 for publishing photos taken of her while sunbathing topless in her own backyard.

When she was 11, a painting she had done was displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Officially changed her name to Jennifer Pitt on 10;25/00. She will still be using her maiden name (Aniston) professionally.

Attended Fiorello La Guardia School of Music, Art & Performing Arts, New York City. Also known as the "Fame" School.

She and Brad Pitt stated in July of 2001 that Pitt was misquoted in a German magazine article which said that he and Jennifer were expecting their first child late in 2001. The magazine will be printing a retraction.

Named one of E!'s "Top 20 Entertainers of 2001."

Suffered minor injuries in auto accident in Los Angeles on 1/15/02.

In 2002 she offered to be Matthew Perry's personal trainer in a bid to help him lose weight.

Was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" by People Magazine in 2002.

She and husband Brad Pitt reached a settlement with Damiani International Jewelers on 1/11/02. The pair claimed the company agreed to never reproduce their wedding rings, but it manufactured and sold "Brad and Jennifer" rings in 18-karat white or yellow gold for about $1,000 apiece. Under the settlement, Pitt will design jewelry for Damiani that Aniston will model in ads, and Damiani will stop selling the "Brad and Jennifer" copies.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lew ruled on 6/24/02 that her lawsuit against two magazine publishers for printing topless photos of her will proceed without a jury because her lawyers failed to demand a jury when the lawsuit was filed in 2000 and that he would render a verdict himself. Aniston sued Man's World Publications Inc. and Crescent Publishing Group, claiming that paparazzi scaled an eight-foot wall to photograph her as she sunbathed in the backyard of her home in February of 1999. The pictures appeared later that year in the magazines Celebrity Skin, High Society, Celebrity Sleuth, the Italian magazine Eva Tremila, the English newspaper Daily Sport and the French publication Voici.

Won award: International star of stars - The Scorpio Multimedia Cable TV Awards 2002.

Long-time friend of actress Andrea Bendewald. They both attended Manhattan's High School for the Performing Arts. Bendewald was maid of honor at Aniston's wedding to Brad Pitt on July 29, 2000. And Aniston was matron of honor at Bendewald's wedding to actor Mitch Rouse on August 19, 2001.

Measurements: 34C-23-35 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

Her half-brother, John T. Melick, worked as 2nd Assistant Director for the award winning Thirteen (2003), starring Holly Hunter.

Photographer Francois Navarre agreed on 11/20/03 to pay her $550,000 in damages for taking pictures of her as she sunbathed topless in her back yard.

Although she is half Greek, she does not like Greek food. She is also not fond of Chinese, Indian or spicy foods.

She and Brad Pitt are campaigning in the United States to save "EastEnders" (1985) from being axed over there.

Was a schoolmate of Chastity Bono.

Voted as #11 on the "Top 100 Sexiest Women 2004" in FHM [DK].

Often plays a waitress - her characters in "Friends" (1994), Office Space (1999), The Iron Giant (1999) and Along Came Polly (2004) were all waitresses.

At one point in 2003, was filming "Friends" (1994), Bruce Almighty (2003), and Along Came Polly (2004) simultaneously.

Shares a birthday with singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow, actor Burt Reynolds, singer Kelly Rowland, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, and Alaska Governor/Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Has a fear of flying.

Announced on 1/7/05 that she and husband Brad Pitt were separating after 4-1/2 years of marriage. Filed for divorce on 3/25/05, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized on 10/2/05.

Stepdaughter of Sherry Rooney.

Had worked as a telemarketer and waitress before making it as an actor.

Her middle name, Joanna, was her father John Aniston's mother's name.

Has said that her favorite food is Mexican, and that (when they were still together), she and Brad Pitt would get Mexican food and margaritas three times a week.

Was known as a class clown in high school.

Godmother of Courteney Cox and David Arquette's daughter, Coco Riley Arquette.

She and "Friends" (1994) co-star Lisa Kudrow both auditioned to be regular cast members of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) prior to their success on "Friends" (1994).

In 2003 she was ranked #1 on Forbes' 2003 "Celebrity 100 List" According to the magazine, she made $35 million in 2003.

Invented "The Rachel", a famous hairstyle in the '90s, which was copied by a lot of women and drew much attention to her.

Has a younger half-brother, Alexander Aniston [b. 1989].

2005 - appeared in Heineken TV commercial frequently aired before UEFA Champions League (in Europe). The Turtles song "Happy Together" is also used in this commercial.

Was named "Woman of the Year" by GQ magazine in 2005

Named #88 on the Maxim magazine "Hot 100 of 2005" list.

Behind the scenes of "Friends" (1994), Aniston was very close friends with co-star Matthew Perry.

Named #41 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement.

Met ex-husband Brad Pitt on a blind date.

Was #1 on American publication People's annual Best Dressed List in 2006.

Best friend of Courteney Cox.

Was originally slated to play Mariane in A Mighty Heart (2007).

Good friend of Andrea Buchanan. They both directed the short film, Room 10 (2006).

Named #45 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.

Has two dogs, Norman (a corgi-terrier mix) and Dolly (a white German shepherd).

Said that yoga helped her to recover from her split with Brad Pitt.

Her niece was born in 1998.

Sister-in-law of Shannon Melick.

Her birth name is Jennifer Aniston, not Jennifer Anastasakis. Her father John Aniston had changed the spelling of his last name to Aniston from Anastasakis before his marriage to Nancy Dow, and the last name that appears on Jennifer's birth certificate is Aniston.

Nationally famous Finnish songwriter Anssi Kela has written a song called "Jennifer Aniston". The tragic story is about a paper mill that was moved to China resulting in many people left unemployed. Jennifer Aniston appears in the "singer's" recurring dream. The song was released in the album "Rakkaus" on Murhaa 10/19/2005.

Granddaughter of Yaya Joanna Aniston, Gordon McLean Dow and Louise Grieco Dow.

Niece of Mary Aniston, Joan Dow, Jean Dow, Linda Dow, Martha Dow and Sally Dow.

One of 115 people invited to join AMPAS in 2007.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $14 million.

Good friends with actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Orlando Bloom.

Noted that she was inspired to direct Room 10 (2006) by actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who directed a short film in 2006.

Her French dubbing voice Dorothée Jemma is also the French dubbing voice of Melanie Griffith and Sheryl Lee.

Her Czech dubbing voice is actress Miriam Chytilová.

Broke up with boyfriend John Mayer. They had been in an on-and-off relationship since May 2008. [March 2009]

She started to train in Karate encouraged by her best friend Courtney Cox Arquette, who holds a brown belt in the sport.

Personal Quotes

When somebody follows you 20 blocks to the pharmacy, where they watch you buy toilet paper, you know your life has changed.

It's impossible to satisfy everyone, and I suggest we all stop trying.

[on her marriage to Brad Pitt, after two years] Everybody always asks if we're happy. Give me a break. We're married two years. In Hollywood years, that's forever.

[on the constant rumors surrounding her split from Brad Pitt] There is always going to be the tough and the nasty. You just tune out to that.

[on the irony of the title of her movie, The Break-Up (2006)] Well, you know. I figured just seize the moment.

I always say, "Don't make plans, make options."

If we can say, "I loved, and I received a lot of love," then great. That's enough.

I've learned that you can get through things that hurt. Nothing will kill you. Nothing. People are unbelievable. we have such resilience.

Salary
Marley & Me (2008) $8,000,000
The Break-Up (2006) $8,000,000
Rumor Has It... (2005) $8,000,000
Along Came Polly (2004) $5,000,000
Rock Star (2001) $3,000,000
Picture Perfect (1997) $2,000,000