Tate Donovan was Jennifer Aniston’s ‘perfect boyfriend’: rewind romance

Never mind Ross Geller; in a few episodes Friendsit seemed “Josh-o-a-ah!” might actually be for Rachel. In real life, however, Jennifer Aniston and Tate Donovanwho played her adorably oblivious curly-haired love interest during the sitcom’s fourth season, have already split up. Let’s take a look back at Aniston’s relationship with the actor, now 61, who really looked like he might be the one a few years ago Brad Pitt was on stage.

How it started

In 1995 Friends was quickly becoming the biggest TV show on the planet — but when Donovan was introduced to Aniston, now 55, through mutual friends, he had no idea who she was. “I’ve never seen Friends!” – he admitted in an interview People.

Once upon a time, Donovan was a working actor before becoming a household name himself OC it began in 2003 – when he thought he was having an affair with Jennifer Actwell Aniston, he did not want to start another high-profile affair after a four-year relationship with Sandra Bullock. “Literally on our second date, there were video cameras everywhere and I said, ‘I’m getting out of here,'” he said.

After a few weeks, he changed his mind – she was, after all, Jennifer Actwell Aniston – and the pair started dating normally.

“On our first date, all we did was talk about our relationship,” Donovan said TV guide in 1997, and Aniston added, “We were like a mirror to each other.” There was one big difference, as Aniston said in the same interview: “I’m a girl from New York and he’s a boy from the Jersey suburbs.”

How long did it last

The couple were together for over two years and even moved in together, and even gave each other Irish rings for their first anniversary in 1996.

Their biggest liability? Dog! On their first Valentine’s Day together, Aniston got back to her Friends dressing room, expecting to find her boyfriend – but was met with an even cuter sight instead. “I opened the door and there was this little puppy with a ribbon sticking his head out!” Aniston said People. The 9-week-old shepherd was named Enzo, and Aniston, who has always loved dogs, was thrilled.

However, contrary to rumours, the couple was never engaged.

How it ended

This is where things get awkward. In 1998, Donovan was cast as Joshua Friends — just as his real-life relationship with Aniston hit the rocks.

“I had dated Jen for years and knew the cast,” he said The Independent in September 2024. “Every Friday night it was just like a ritual – I would go there and watch the tape and it was always such a thrill. Then Jen and I broke up, but we didn’t really tell anyone.’

Unfortunately for Donovan, that included the producers coming up with a great storyline for the couple. “I mentioned to the producers that it’s always fun when Jen, who is this wonderful woman, is madly in love with someone and the guy just doesn’t see it,” he said. “It shocked me. I saw this when we first started dating – she did an episode where Rachel was on a date with a guy and the guy just didn’t like her and she fell for him. It works because she’s not like that at all in real life, but she can act so well. So the producers came to me and said, “Hey, we want you to do a five-episode arc where you guys are dating and you don’t really like it.” And I said, “Oh, so you’re going to do it.” We had just broken up and for some strange reason I thought maybe working together would ease the break up. Maybe they would become friends sooner. I just wanted to have a good night’s sleep – we both did.”

Unsurprisingly, working together when they had literally just broken up was painful for all concerned. “It was very difficult,” he said. “Everyone was so supportive, but it was hard. It’s like walking into class when you’re in high school and you broke up with the girl you sat next to and…yeah, it’s hard. But it makes you a professional – it’s the same, which is good, we got over it. Nobody knows; the audience won’t know; the audience will think just the opposite. When I look back on it, I say: “Wow, good for you, man. It was pretty good.”

On the subject: Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry touching quotes about each other

Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry weren’t just friends on screen. Aniston and Perry played Rachel Green and Chandler Bing, respectively, on the NBC sitcom for a decade. Aniston and Perry remained close after the show until his tragic death in October 2023. Perry died of drowning at the age of 54. “We are all very devastated (…)

Donovan said one cast member at the time was a great source of emotional support, the late Matthew Perry. “He was such a champion of mine,” Donovan recalled. “He was so sweet. He was the only one who called me when Jen and I broke up. And we’ve bumped into each other over the years and he’s always been so incredibly supportive. It meant so much to me because I was really heartbroken and you don’t know how good you have it and you’re just trying to survive in the moment.”

Donovan also talked about the experience in interview with Us Weekly in 2018 “It was only six episodes,” he said. “I mean, just because we broke up. We were like, “Hey, can we just keep doing this?” Because it is really painful and difficult. People who know we’ve dated think we met on Friends. But we actually dated for two years before that and it was over by the time we were on Friends together.

In the end, the painful experience gave Donovan a lot of confidence in his career. “If you can survive a difficult breakup and still do your job, then you’re a professional,” he said. “It was good. It ended up being a great experience of how people can treat you really well and you’re still doing your job even though you’re kind of dying inside.”

In an interview with Rolling StoneAniston has denied rumors that her huge success was a factor in their split – possibly caused by their 1997 breakup. TV guide chat, in which Donovan noted that she was “a lot richer” than him. “That’s not really why we broke up,” she said. “My breakup with Tate had nothing to do with ego struggles, wanting children, not wanting to be married, none of that. None of this was accurate.’

What they said about each other

Aniston has been pretty private about her relationships in recent years — but in her twenties, she was much more open about her feelings. “He is so genuine, so honest, so funny, so kind and caring,” she said People in 1997, around the time the couple was looking for a house together. “He’s all those things rolled into one perfect guy.”

In the same interview, the couple even hinted that they have marriage plans. “I definitely want to get married; she definitely wants to get married, Donovan said. “There’s no offers or anything yet, but we’re definitely thinking about it.” Aniston was a little more coy, saying, “You have to take your time to get to know someone.”

U TV guide in the same year, the pair were equally cute together. “She is the most unbelievably great… actress!” Donovan said. “I wanted to say ‘something that ever happened to me,’ but I was just trying to make it relevant.” And when Aniston said she didn’t want to discuss their relationship, he quipped: “I think I’m more shamelessly in love with her!”

However, Aniston confirmed that she is very happy with Donovan. “I like nice guys,” she said. “Tate is a good guy. I was so lucky. In high school I dated a guy who was mysterious and weird, but it would be nice if he was with me. I thought I could change him. And if you can be the only woman who can do that, how awesome are you? But that never happened.”

She added: “I’m definitely happy, I have to say. Yes, now I am the happiest.”

What are they saying now

In his interview in 2024 The IndependentDonovan said he can now — finally — watch those previously painful episodes of Friends. “The other day I was flipping through the channels in the hotel and I saw, ‘Oh my God, there’s Joshua,'” he said. “I watched a little bit of it and thought it was really good and funny – for years it was too painful for me to watch those scenes.”

And in a fun way 2020 pcs The interview magazinein which Aniston was grilled Sandra Bullockthe pair opened up about how they actually became friends through their shared ex. “Introduced by our ex-boyfriend!” – said Bullock. “I say ‘our’ because you and I were both partakers of that one man.” Aniston confirmed: “Yes, we did. That’s a nice way to say it. We both ate Tate.’ Ballack noted that the actor seemed to have a type: “Talented. Funny. Affectionate. Introspective. Generous.” Aniston added that the two superstar actresses were also lovers of architecture and interior design.

On the subject: Dating history of “Friends” actors over the years

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and other actors have had their fair share of high-profile romances since the sitcom catapulted their careers. In 1995, a year after the premiere of the NBC series, actress Aniston began dating Tate Donovan. Three years later, the couple called it quits, and while they were apart, they had a romantic (…)

So Aniston found a great friend through Donovan, but his main memory of the relationship is how insanely famous Aniston was at the time, especially when they traveled together. “The English in general are just obsessed with Friends,” he said The Independent in 2024 “It impresses me. Jen and I dated for two years – when we went to England together it was like being with the Beatle. We had to say we had a reservation at one restaurant and then go to another.’

Key Findings About Relationships

More than five years her senior (he was 35 when they split, she was 29) and open about his dreams of getting married, it’s possible Donovan was more ready to settle down than Aniston. So is he the one who ran away or the one in front of him? Because the same year they broke up – 1998 – Aniston started dating Pete, and we all know how that ended.

Donovan, meanwhile, took some time to find love again, this time following his instincts to avoid a new A-list relationship. Married a writer Corinne Kingsbury in 2005, but they divorced three years later. Then he got married Corey Scheuerman in 2015, and the couple is still together for ten years and has a family.

During FriendsRachel and Joshua weren’t supposed to be either — but it’s 2018 us In an interview, Donovan said he’s sure his alter ego is enjoying life. “Joshua is happily married and has an 18-year-old child who is about to start college,” he said. “He is doing well. He is doing well.”