Today, we celebrate the incredibly talented Maggie Wheeler as she marks her 63rd birthday!
In a recent interview, Wheeler revealed that the high-pitched, nasal voice that fans around the world have come to love was entirely her own idea. During a time when she was struggling to find steady work in Hollywood, Wheeler had experienced her share of challenges, including being fired from her regular role on Ellen. However, when she heard that the Friends crew was searching for a fast-talking New York girl, she decided to seize the opportunity. Feeling liberated with nothing to lose, Maggie showed up at the audition ready to let her imagination run wild.
What happened next was nothing short of iconic. As she began to speak in the now-familiar high-pitched voice, she could see the show’s creators—Marta Kauffman, Kevin Bright, and David Crane—watching her intently with poker faces. In that moment, Maggie feared she had blown yet another chance. To her surprise, she received a callback and soon became the beloved recurring character, Janice, known for her catchphrase, “Oh. My. God!”
Wheeler’s journey on Friends was not without its challenges, though. Known for her tendency to break character, she worried that her antics might cost her the role she had fought so hard to secure. In a humorous anecdote, she described her first scene with the hilarious Matthew Perry, who was downing multiple fake espressos. Wheeler felt like a “little schoolgirl,” worried about getting in trouble for laughing during the scene. To cope, she devised the iconic Janice laugh as a way to cover up her chuckles whenever Perry made her laugh.
This ingenious solution not only allowed her to stay in character but also contributed to making comedy history. After successfully using her exaggerated laugh in that first scene, Wheeler was signed on as a permanent cast member, which she fondly remembers as “ten years of glorious, amazing work.”
Maggie Wheeler’s contribution to Friends and her embodiment of Janice is a testament to her creativity and determination. As she celebrates her 63rd birthday today, fans can’t help but reflect on the joy she has brought to audiences around the world. Here’s to Maggie Wheeler—may she continue to inspire and entertain us with her unique voice and infectious laughter for years to come!
