Courteney Cox Biography

Name:Courteney Bass Cox

Date of Birth:June 15, 1964

Place of Birth:Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

Courteney Bass Cox  is an American actress best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream, and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination. Cox has also starred in Dirt produced by Coquette Productions, a production company created by herself and husband David Arquette.

Early Life

Courteney Cox was raised in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Mountain Brook, the daughter of businessman Richard Lewis Cox (January 28, 1931 – September 3, 2001)and his wife Courteney (Bass, later Copeland).Courteney  Cox has two older sisters, Virginia and Dottie, and an older brother, Richard, Jr. Courteney  Cox parents divorced in 1974 and her mother then married businessman Hunter Copeland (uncle to music promoter and business manager Ian Copeland). After graduating from Mountain Brook High School, Cox left for Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C., but did not complete her architecture course, opting instead to pursue a career in modeling and acting.

Career

Early career Cox appeared in the 1984 music video for Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" as a girl pulled onstage to dance with Springsteen. Cox was the first person to use the word "period" on U.S. television to refer to menstruation in a 1985 advertising campaign for Tampax brand tampons.Courteney  Cox early film roles include Masters of the Universe (1987) and Cocoon: The Return (1988). Courteney  Cox early television work includes a starring role in the short-lived television series Misfits of Science (1985), and later a recurring role (1987–89) on the TV series Family Ties as Lauren Miller, the girlfriend of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox). Courteney  Cox had a supporting role as Jewel, the hard-as-nails assistant to James Belushi's character, in the 1990 fantasy film Mr. Destiny. In 1994, shortly before the debut of the sitcom, Friends, Cox appeared with Jim Carrey in the film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and on Seinfeld in "The Wife" episode as Jerry's girlfriend named Meryl. In 1995, she was cast in Toad the Wet Sprocket's music video "Good Intentions". The song is also on the Friends Soundtrack.

Friends 

Cox in September 1995Later in 1994 Cox was asked to audition for the part of Rachel Green on a new sitcom, Friends; she was cast as Monica Geller instead. At first the most famous cast member of the new show, Cox joined fellow castmates Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay), Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani), Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) and David Schwimmer (Ross Geller) for what would become her most famous role, lasting for 10 seasons until 2004. According to the Guinness Book of World Records (2005), Cox (along with her female costars) became the highest paid TV actress of all time with her $1 million-per-episode paycheck for the final two seasons of Friends.

Between seasons five and six, Cox married David Arquette, and changed her name to Courteney Cox Arquette. An in-joke reference to this is made in the beginning credits of the episode "The One After Vegas", where the rest of the cast and executive producers have "Arquette" added to their names. The dedication "For Courteney and David, who did get married"—a reference to Monica and Chandler's decision not to marry in the episode—appears during the fade out to the tag scene.

Film Career

During her time on Friends, Cox appeared in the high-profile Hollywood films Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and Scream 3 (2000), as the determined and driven reporter Gale Weathers. Courteney  Cox met her husband, David Arquette, who played her on-screen love interest Dwight "Dewey" Riley, while filming the first Scream film. Both Cox and her husband David reprised their respective roles from the Scream trilogy in 2011's Scream 4. The movie was released in theaters April 15, 2011.

Courteney  Cox other films include The Runner, 3000 Miles to Graceland and The Shrink Is In. In late 2003, Cox and Arquette produced one season of the reality television series Mix It Up. The lifestyle show, which aired on the We cable channel, struggled with low ratings and was not renewed for a second season.

Later workAfter her Friends role, Cox was producer Marc Cherry's first choice to be offered a starring role as Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives. However, Cox was unavailable due to her pregnancy and the role went to Teri Hatcher. A couple of years later, Cox signed a deal with ABC Studios (formerly Touchstone Television) to star in her own series. Since Friends, Cox has primarily concentrated on her family but has starred in the independent film November (2005) which had a limited theatrical release, costarred with Tim Allen in the critically derided Zoom, and cameoed in the big budget remake of The Longest Yard as the girlfriend of Adam Sandler's character. Courteney  Cox supplied her voice for the animated film Barnyard. A Friends reunion film was rumored to be in production; following the success of Sex and the City: The Movie, but this has been denied by Warner Bros. and others.

In 2007, Cox starred as Lucy Spiller, a cynical tabloid editor, in Dirt, a television drama for FX. Cox and her husband David Arquette were the executive producers of the series.According to Cox, the series was canceled after the second season in 2008. In July 2008, Entertainment Weekly announced that Cox had signed on to star in a three-episode arc for the television series Scrubs.[In her third episode, she told Dr. Cox that Cox was "a ridiculous name", in reference to her own.

In 2009, Cox began her roles as the star of the single-camera comedy series on ABC called Cougar Town, playing a newly single 40-year-old mother on the hunt for new experiences.The show's third season was to premiere in November 2011 but has moved to an uncomfirmed date in 2012.

Personal Life

Cox's significant previous boyfriends include her step-cousin, the rock promoter Ian Copeland and a long-term relationship with actor Michael Keaton from 1989 to 1995. Cox also dated singer Adam Duritz of Counting Crows and appeared in their music video for the song "A Long December" in 1997.

Cox married actor David Arquette on June 12, 1999.On June 13, 2004, she gave birth to a daughter, Coco Riley Arquette. Jennifer Aniston is Coco's godmother.On October 11, 2010, it was announced that Cox and Arquette had separated, though they still maintain a close friendship and business relationship.

Filmography

1987 Down Twisted Tarah

1987 Masters of the Universe Julia "Julie" Winston

1988 Cocoon: The Return Sara

1990 Mr. Destiny Jewel Jagger

1991 Blue Desert Lisa Roberts

1992 Shaking the Tree Kathleen

1993 Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them, TheThe Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them C "Carrie" Davenport

1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Melissa Robinson

1996 Scream Gale Weathers

1997 Commandments Rachel Luce

1997 Scream 2 Gale Weathers

1999 Runner, TheThe Runner Karina

1999 Alien Love Triangle Alice Connor Short film

2000 Scream 3 Gale Weathers

2001 3000 Miles to Graceland Cybil Waingrow

2001 Shrink Is In, TheThe Shrink Is In Samantha Crumb

2001 Get Well Soon Lily "Lillian"

2004 November Sophie Jacobs

2005 Longest Yard, TheThe Longest Yard Lena Uncredited role

2006 Barnyard: The Original Party Animals Daisy the Cow Voice role

2006 Zoom Marsha Holloway

2006 Tripper, TheThe Tripper Cynthia Also film producer

2008 Monday Before Thanksgiving, TheThe Monday Before Thanksgiving Cece Short film

2008 Bedtime Stories Wendy

2011 Scream 4 Gale Weathers Riley

Television 

1984 As the World Turns Bunny

1985 Code Name: Foxfire Flight Attendant Uncredited role

NBC TV movie

1985–1986 Misfits of Science Gloria Dinallo 16 episodes

1986 Love Boat, TheThe Love Boat  Episode: Dare Devil/Picture Me As a Spy/Sleeper

1986 Sylvan in Paradise Lucy Apple NBC TV pilot

1986 Murder, She Wrote Carol Bannister Episode: Death Stalks the Big Top

1987 If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium Hana Wyshocki NBC TV movie

1987–1989 Family Ties Lauren Miller 21 episodes

1988 I'll Be Home for Christmas Nora Bundy NBC TV movie

1989 Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer Jacquie Kimberly TV movie

1989 Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again Marie-Frederique "Freddy" de Lancel CBS miniseries

1990 Curiosity Kills Gwen NBC TV movie

1991 Morton & Hayes Princess Lucy "Lucille" Episode: Oafs Overboard

1992 Battling for Baby Katherine CBS TV movie

1992 Dream On Alisha Episode: Come and Knock on Our Door

1993 Trouble with Larry, TheThe Trouble with Larry Gabriella Easden

1994 Seinfeld Meryl Episode: The Wife

1994–2004 Friends Monica Geller 236 episodes

1995 Sketch Artist II: Hands that See Emmy Showtime TV movie

1995 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Courteney Cox/Dave Matthews Band"

1999 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Emerald Salt Pork Voice role

Episode: The Three Little Pigs

2007–2008 Dirt Lucille "Lucy" Spiller 20 episodes

2009 Scrubs Taylor Maddox 3 episodes

2009 Web Therapy Serena Duvall 3 episodes

2009–present Cougar Town Jules Cobb Main Role

2011 Private Practice Patient Episode: "Step One"

Awards and nominationsYear Award Category Title of work Result

1995 Golden Apple Award Female Discovery of the Year  Won

1995 People's Choice Award Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Series Friends Nominated

1996 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Won

1997 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Television Actress Friends Nominated

1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress – Horror Scream 2 Nominated

1998 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Scream 2 Nominated

1999 American Comedy Award Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Friends Nominated

1999 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

2000 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Television Friends Friends Nominated

2000 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

2000 Teen Choice Award Film – Choice Chemistry Scream 3 Won

2000 TV Guide Awards Editor's Choice Friends Won

2001 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

2001 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress – Horror Scream 3 Nominated

2002 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress, Comedy Friends Nominated

2002 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress, Comedy Friends Nominated

2003 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

2004 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Friends Nominated

2005 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Hissy Fit The Longest Yard Nominated

2006 TV Land Award Most Wonderful Wedding - with Matthew Perry Friends Nominated

2007 TV Land Award Break Up That Was So Bad It Was Good Family Ties Nominated

2009 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical Cougar Town Nominated

2009 People's Choice Awards Favorite New Comedy Series Cougar Town Nominated

2010 Streamy Award Best Guest Star In A Web Series Web Therapy Nominated

2010 People's Choice Awards Favourite TV Comedy Actress Cougar Town Nominated

2010 Glamour Magazine's Women of the Year Awards US TV Actress Cougar Town Won

2010 TV Guide Awards Courteney Cox To Be Honored By Women In Film Foundation  Nominated

2010 Golden Derby TV Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Cougar Town Won

2010 People's Choice Awards Favourite TV Comedy Actress Cougar Town Nominated

2010 Women's Image Network Award Actress Comedy Series Cougar Town Nominated

2010 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards Lucy Award  Recipient

2011 People's Choice Awards Favorite Television Comedy Actress Cougar Town Pending