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# How to Make Friends as an Adult

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by 

[Samantha Lee, Drake Baer / Business Insider](https://time.com/author/business-insider/)


## Samantha Lee, Drake Baer / Business Insider


Oct 23, 2015 4:19 PM UTC

by 

[Samantha Lee, Drake Baer / Business Insider](https://time.com/author/business-insider/)


## Samantha Lee, Drake Baer / Business Insider


Oct 23, 2015 4:19 PM UTC

Making friends in school was easy.

But once you’re all grown up, it gets way harder — especially if you’ve just moved to a new city.

Thankfully, social science has figured out a few of the ways that adult friendships form.

![how-to-make-friends-infographic](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltddc4c7f9c8b4b71d/6988698b3c1639796245a5e2/how-to-make-friends-infographic.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

_This_ [_article_](http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-friends-when-youre-a-grown-up-2015-6) _originally appeared on_ [_Business Insider_](http://www.businessinsider.com)

_More from Business Insider:_

* [5 ways to change your body language to make people like you](http://www.businessinsider.com/body-language-tricks-become-likable-2015-5)
* [10 ways introverts can make friends at work](http://www.businessinsider.com/how-introverts-can-make-friends-at-work-2015-8)
* [Psychologist shares the secret to making friends at work](http://www.businessinsider.com/the-secret-to-making-friends-at-work-2015-4)
* [The psychology of ‘friends with benefits’](http://www.businessinsider.com/psychology-of-friends-with-benefits-2015-3)
* [These 10 Types Of Friends Are Costing You Money](http://www.businessinsider.com/these-types-of-friends-are-costing-you-money-2015-1)

### 31 Famous Friends Cameos

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt80e7cafacb164156/69877003428a9e4238cc637a/friends-cameos-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Brad Pitt – While he was still married to Jennifer Anniston, Brad Pitt played Ross' old high school friend who hated Rachel NBC/Getty Images

![George Clooney &amp; Noah Wyle Guest On 'Friends'](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1c188951dbea4604/698770042dce01c1699dc946/friends-cameos-02.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

George Clooney – Spoofing his E.R. fame, Clooney plays a dreamy doctor who takes care of Rachel's sprained ankle NBC/Getty Images


![Friends - Season 2](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc8e41d9fba44c094/69877004cd68485cb8098be0/friends-cameos-03.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Adam Goldberg – After Joey moved out, Adam Goldberg played Eddie, Chandler's creepy roommate NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdf948beb016691e/6987700455a85936cca84e5a/friends-cameos-04.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Aisha Tyler – The Archer star played Charlie, a paleontologist who first dates Joey and then Ross NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0ca7abb49e7f6734/69877005cd1bba4b4f6f44b8/friends-cameos-05.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Alec Baldwin – Alec Baldwin guest-starred as Pheobe's way-too-enthusiastic date NBC/Getty Images


![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt06f405dbd60ce5cf/69877005e20a877b3da84264/friends-cameos-06.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Anna Faris – Anna Faris had a season-long role as Erica, whose twins Chandler and Monica adopt NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc372426905a83233/6987700535ba6f6044c061bb/friends-cameos-07.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Ben Stiller – Ben Stiller appeared as Rachel's date who angrily yells at everyone NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb405dd02ba6b54b6/6987700655a8596505a84e5e/friends-cameos-08.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Billy Crystal – Crystal plays one of two crazy strangers (with Robin Williams) whose conversation the friends overhear at Central Perk NBC/Getty Images


![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6a7ef0aa8b842f76/69877006524fc0f84fdeb893/friends-cameos-09.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Robin Williams – Williams plays that other crazy guy in Central Perk NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt38ab11537f01a4fc/6987700606f2c10b5633301b/friends-cameos-10.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Brooke Shields – Joey ends up regretting going on a date with his crazy stalker played by Brooke Shields NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcfc899018fc4d756/69877007cd1bbac9bf6f44bc/friends-cameos-11.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Bruce Willis – Things get complicated when Rachel starts dating Paul Stevens (Bruce Willis), the father of a student Ross is dating NBC/Getty Images


![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaebea8c584b90860/69877007f887dc64c4e8927d/friends-cameos-12.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Christine Taylor – Rachel convinces Christine Taylor's Bonnie to shave her head so that Ross will break up with her NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdda4d2a389cfd8c2/698770078e0601821045959d/friends-cameos-13.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Christina Applegate – Along with Reese Witherspoon, Christina Applegate played one of Rachel's spoiled sisters NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf014172bb1316580/698770085f570f638eb14567/friends-cameos-14.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Dermont Mulroney – Gavin, played by Dermot Mulroney, fills in for Rachel while she's on maternity leave and later becomes a love interest NBC/Getty Images


![Friends - Season 2](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt53016f9bd63dd921/69877008e53aba6e324d6aaa/friends-cameos-15.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Charlie Sheen – When Charlie Sheen's Navy man visits Phoebe for an erotic weekend, they both come down with chicken pox NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0174f6b3f60163b/6987700806f2c1c3eb33301f/friends-cameos-16.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Charlton Heston – Charlton Heston plays himself and gives Joey some acting advice NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt758523eb8b947cb7/69877009f887dceb85e89282/friends-cameos-17.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Dakota Fanning – Dakota Fanning offers Joey some advice on how to handle Chandler and Monica moving out of Manhattan NBC/Getty Images


![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt869e5b84207c9ff8/698770090b72e366f66dcc10/friends-cameos-18.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Danny DeVito – Danny DeVito plays a stripper at Phoebe's bachelorette party NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt817d4d3f7fcd9fc2/69877009428a9e5da6cc6380/friends-cameos-19.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Freddie Prinze Jr. - Freddie Prinze Jr. is perfect as a sensitive male nanny who takes care of Ross and Rachel's daughter NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6eb505f34616830b/6987700a55a859653ea84e63/friends-cameos-20.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Helen Hunt – In a confusing crossover, Hunt (a Mad About You star) mistakes Phoebe for her twin sister Ursula (a real character played by Lisa Kudrow in both Friends and Mad About You) NBC/Getty Images


![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd748ba0f5848710d/6987700ae20a87b884a8426a/friends-cameos-21.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Hugh Laurie – The stranger sitting next to Rachel on her flight to England (Hugh Laurie) mocks her plan to break up Ross' wedding NBC/Getty Images

![Friends - Season 1](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt40898c2f0975a371/6987700a8e06013e5b4595a8/friends-cameos-22.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Jay Leno – Leno plays himself interviewing Chandler's mom, an erotic novelist, on The Tonight Show NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt252ab7533ad67678/6987700b35ba6f6e78c061cb/friends-cameos-23.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Jon Favreau – Jon Favreau spent almost a whole season as Monica's super-rich boyfriend who wants to become an Ultimate Fighting Champion NBC/Getty Images


![Friends - Season 1](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb6fb1938c5bcbaaa/6987700b06f2c180ce333024/friends-cameos-24.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Jon Lovitz – Jon Lovitz guest-starred as a restauranteur in season one and a blind date for Rachel in season 9 NBC/Getty Images

![Actor Matthew Perry and actress Julia Roberts](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ba3db3817484431/6987700b35ba6f1374c061d0/friends-cameos-25.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Julia Roberts – Julia Roberts plays "Susie Underpants," a girl whose skirt Chandler pulled down on stage in elementary school NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfe40e45a594dc551/6987700ccd1bba44ac6f44c2/friends-cameos-26.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Kristin Davis – The Sex and the City star is befriended by Rachel and Phoebe after she starts dating Joey NBC/Getty Images


![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte01a329bf26095ec/6987700cf887dca1b4e8928c/friends-cameos-27.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Reese Witherspoon – Reese Witherspoon guest-stars as Rachel's younger sister who goes on a date with Ross NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6e743b2c8145c92e/6987700c3c16391d06450c47/friends-cameos-28.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Sean Penn – Phoebe must tell her twin sister Ursula's fiancée, played by Sean Penn, that Ursula has been lying to him about her past NBC/Getty Images

![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3e7dbe9ae6acb11a/6987700d0b72e341436dcc18/friends-cameos-29.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Susan Sarandon – In a plot line on Days of Our Lives, Joey gets Susan Sarandon's character's brain NBC/Getty Images


![Friends](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt92a6f031cce7a723/6987700d428a9ef046cc6389/friends-cameos-30.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Tate Donovan – Real–life couple Jennifer Anniston and Tate Donovan played a couple on the show, too NBC/Getty Images

![Friends - Season 2](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd54150e725e11554/6987700d524fc02f2bdeb8a3/friends-cameos-31.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Tom Selleck – Tom Selleck's mustachioed Dr. Richard Burke dates Monica on-and-off for several seasons NBC/Getty Images

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