Actor Craig Robinson still remembers the moment Lisa Kudrow helped him shine during his small but memorable role on the hit sitcom Friends nearly two decades ago.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Robinson looked back on filming a scene with Kudrow during the show's final season in 2004. At the time, Robinson was still trying to build his acting career and had only appeared in a few television roles before landing the guest spot.

According to People, Robinson appeared in the episode "The One with Princess Consuela," where Kudrow's character, Phoebe Buffay, visits an office to legally change her name after marrying Mike Hannigan, played by Paul Rudd.

During the scene, Phoebe learns she can pick almost any name she wants and jokingly chooses Princess Consuela Bananahammock.

Even though Robinson only shared one scene with Kudrow, the actor said her kindness left a lasting impression on him. He explained that while the cast and crew were discussing ways to improve the scene, he quietly suggested a joke that most people did not hear.

"I had thrown out a line that she heard, but nobody else heard it," Robinson recalled. "She was like, 'We have a pitch!'"

Lisa Kudrow Helped Craig Robinson

Because Kudrow spoke up, Robinson was able to deliver the line during filming, and the actress reacted to it on camera. Looking back, Robinson said the moment meant a lot to him because he was still new to Hollywood and trying to prove himself.

"But that was because of her," he said. "I was just in there like, 'I'm a freaking friend! What are you talking about?'"

Robinson also shared a funny memory from his audition for the role. When he arrived early, he saw several white actors dressed like limo drivers waiting outside and thought he had come at the wrong time.

Instead, he ended up booking the part, which he described as a "sweet moment" during the early days of his career, EW reported.

The actor reunited with Kudrow years later in the 2017 movie Table 19, where the two played a married couple. Robinson said they became much closer after working together again.

Soon after his appearance on Friends, Robinson landed his breakout role as Darryl Philbin on The Office, helping turn him into one of television's most recognizable comedy stars.

Tags
Lisa kudrow, Craig Robinson