Jennifer Aniston Biography

Name

Jennifer Aniston

Date of Birth

February 11, 1969

Birth Place

Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Relationships

John Mayer, ex-boyfriend (2008 to 2009; on and off) Paul Sculfor (2007) Vince Vaughn, ex-boyfriend (2005 to 2006) Brad Pitt, ex-husband (1998 to 2005) Tate Donovan, ex-boyfriend (1995 to 1998) Adam Duritz, ex-boyfriend (1995) Charlie Schlatter, ex-boyfriend (1990 to 1991)

mid 1970s

The Bionic Baby

Days of Our Lives's John Aniston (he plays villain Victor Kiriakis) and his wife Nancy enroll their 6-year-old daughter Jennifer in Manhattan's Rudolf Steiner School, which encourages students to refrain from watching TV and movies. When Aniston's half brother, John Melick, babysits, she sneaks in episodes of The Bionic Woman. "She'd make that ba-na-na-na-na sound effect around the house, running around directing herself in scenes from the show," Melick tells PEOPLE in 1997. "I guess she was destined for television."

1993

January 08

Not So Lucky Break

After skipping college to wait tables and pursue acting in New York and Hollywood, Aniston appears in the horror flick Leprechaun. But there it's no pot of gold: The film pulls in just $8.5 million. However, her luck soon changes when she reads for a new sitcom called Friends. She lands the part of Rachel Green just three hours after her audition.

1995

December 25

Hair-Do

Aniston's layered haircut dubbed "The Rachel," after her Friends character, launches a national trend. "It's bizarre," 26-year-old Aniston tells PEOPLE in December. "I keep thinking, 'Wait – it's just me!' "

1996

February

Mommy Dearest

Aniston's mother, Nancy, gives an interview about her famous daughter, commenting on Friends and "The Rachel." Aniston later admits she and her mother haven't been close since Nancy granted that interview and penned a book about their relationship in 1999.

August

Romance in the Air

Aniston shares the screen with Edward Burns and Cameron Diaz in She's the One. It will be the first in a string of romantic comedies for the actress, including Picture Perfect and The Object of My Affection with Paul Rudd. But it isn't until 1999's cult classic Office Space that Aniston brings her real comedic chops.

2000

July 29

Jen & Brad: "I Do"

In a top-secret Malibu ceremony, Aniston marries Brad Pitt. In front of their 200 guests, Aniston promises to make her husband's "favorite banana milkshake." The wedding costs an estimated $1 million which includes 50,000 flowers, four bands, Dom Perignon and fireworks. The newlyweds go on to purchase a $13.5 million five-bedroom Beverly Hills estate.

2002

January

Good Times

Aniston receives glowing reviews at Sundance for her un-Rachel-like role in the indie hit The Good Girl, costarring Jake Gyllenhaal.

September 22

Aniston Wins an Emmy

In its ninth season, Friends wins the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy and Aniston takes home the Best Lead Actress statuette for the first time. Aniston's long wait for an Emmy was prolonged by stammering presenter Bob Newhart. "It felt like a year," she tells PEOPLE. "I thought maybe it was going to be somebody else."

2004

January 23

End of an Era

After ten years on one of America's most unforgettable sitcoms, Aniston and her costars tape the final episode of Friends. Major waterworks and as Aniston calls it, "inevitable pain" ensue.

May 10

All-Time Most Beautiful

After making multiple appearances in PEOPLE's Most Beautiful issue since 1998, Aniston appears on the cover. The stunning 35-year-old talks about life after Friends, her big plans for the future (including having a baby) and the rumors surrounding her husband and his Mr. and Mrs. Smith costar Angelina Jolie. "We try to laugh, of course," Aniston says. "You protect each other. But it's Hollywood, baby."

2005

January 07

Another Ending

After spending the New Year's weekend in the Caribbean with friends Courteney Cox Arquette and husband David Arquette, Aniston and Pitt announce that they are separating. They deny the split was a result of published reports linking Pitt to Jolie. Aniston files for divorce in March.

June

Rebounding with Vaughn

Reports emerge that Aniston and Vince Vaughn are dating while they film The Break-Up in Chicago. Although the costars deny a romance, Aniston and Vaughn return to the Windy City in October to shoot new scenes for the movie and are spotted kissing and being extremely affectionate.

September

For the Record

Aniston's highly anticipated interview in Vanity Fair hits newsstands. She tells the magazine that family planning had nothing to do with her split with Pitt ("That really pissed me off") and also takes a stab at Pitt's platinum hairdo ("Billy Idol called – he wants his look back"). By January, their divorce becomes official, Pitt adopts Jolie's children, and Jolie is pregnant with their first child together. Aniston tells Vogue, "Don't feel sorry for me!"

2006

April 17

No Wedding Bells

Aniston calls into The Oprah Winfrey Show after news outlets CNN and The Today Show falsely report that Aniston is marrying Vaughn. "It's just unbelievable," Aniston tells Oprah, who was tied into the wedding hub as reportedly throwing the $8 million bash. Back in September 2005, Aniston had dismissed the original rumors of romance with Vaughn on Oprah's show.

June 02

Box-Office Draw

Aniston and Vaughn's comedy The Break-Up makes $39.1 million its opening weekend. The real-life couple break up in December after more than a year together.

2007

May 07

A Beautiful Pitchwoman

Aniston makes her fifth appearance on PEOPLE's Most Beautiful list, crediting yoga for keeping her toned and emotionally balanced. The fitness-buff, who is often photographed carrying smartwater, invests and appears in ads for the brand.

2008

Spring

Jen & John's Hot Romance

While shooting the movie Marley & Me with Owen Wilson in Miami, Aniston, 39, is linked to John Mayer, 30. Paparazzi even snap photos of them embracing on a Miami beach. In August, their romance fizzles, but they briefly reunite before calling it quits after attending the Academy Awards together in 2009.

2009

January

Baring All & Beating Pitt

Sporting only a patriotic tie, Aniston bares all on the cover of GQ. On the subject of Angelina Jolie–who the actress called 'uncool' in the December issue of Vogue–she jokes, "The funny thing is, people don't realize we all go away to The Hamptons on the weekends." With the No. 1 flick Marley & Me, Aniston bests Pitt's drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button that opened on the same day.

2010

August

The Laugh Factory

After starring with Gerard Butler in The Bounty Hunter, Aniston keeps the laughs coming – this time with Jason Bateman in The Switch. The film, about a woman who has a baby via artificial insemination, draws criticism from Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly, igniting Aniston to reply: "For those who've not yet found their Bill O'Reilly, I'm just glad science has provided a few other options."