25 famous actors you didn’t know appeared on Friends

22. Gabrielle Union

Kristen Lang – “The One With The Cheap Wedding Dress” – S7E17

In 2001, a young woman named Kristen moved into the neighborhood, right across the street from Central Perk. Ross spots Kristen unloading her car and ends up asking her to dinner after helping her carry some boxes. Later that day, Joey has an identical encounter with Kristen, played by Gabrielle Union.

After realizing that both Ross and Joey have a date with the same woman, Chandler cleverly brings them to this realization and the competition begins. Promising to spend no more than $100, the two friends challenge each other to a date-off. Joey ruins Ross’ date with Kristen by pretending to accidentally run into Kristen and “her date” while picking up some take-out. Ross and Joey’s efforts to pretend they don’t know each other quickly unravel as they attempt to out-embarrass one another. Kristen bolts “probably around gonorrhea” and we never see Gabrielle Union as Kristen again.

Fortunately, Union had other acting gigs waiting for her. She went on to star in several movies and other television shows before ending up on Being Mary Jane. Since 2013, she’s been the star of the hit BET series, playing talk show host Mary Jane Paul. You may also remember her from this little cheerleading movie called Bring It On.