- - Jane Sibbett Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Carol and Susan's “Friends” Wedding: 'Love Will Always Remain'

Angela AndaloroJanuary 21, 2026 at 10:40 PM

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Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Mike Smith/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Jessica Hect and Jane Sibbett as Susan and Carol in 1996 (left) and in 2019 -

Jane Sibbett appeared on Friends in the recurring role of Carol Willick, Ross' first wife and mother of his son, Ben

Sibbett made history when she and Jessica Hecht portrayed Carol and Susan, one of the earliest lesbian couples on network television

Carol and Susan's wedding was the first lesbian wedding to be portrayed on network television

Jane Sibbett is celebrating a special moment in Friends history.

On Jan. 19, the actress turned energy healer, 63, celebrated the 30th anniversary of her character, Carol Willick, marrying partner Susan Bunch on the beloved series.

Audiences were introduced to Carol as Ross’ first wife, who leaves him upon the realization that she is in love with another woman. Carol and Susan (portrayed by Jessica Hecht) were the first lesbian couple to be shown getting married on network television, in the season two episode, "The One with the Lesbian Wedding."

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"It’s our 30-year anniversary! I love Jessica Hecht, and I am still so grateful that this testament to love in all forms touched the hearts of so many people around the world," she wrote alongside a photo of Carol and Susan from their wedding day.

"When all the craziness subsides, the love will always remain," she concluded.

Speaking with PEOPLE in June 2025, Sibbett opened up about what it took to bring that moment to TV and defend it after it aired.

"I was doing the rounds on talk shows and having to go toe to toe with people who were thumping their bibles at me," Sibbett told PEOPLE exclusively.

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Jessica Hecht as Susan Bunch-Willick, Jane Sibbett as Carol Willick-Bunch in "The One with the Lesbian Wedding"

"I was defending for context because I was raised in that world. I wasn't raised in a judgmental world. I was raised in knowing why you believe what you believe. So I was ready to go. I was ready to go to battle for what I love."

Hecht also caught up with PEOPLE in July 2025, sharing that she’s not only “grateful” to have been part of Friends, but also “I'm also grateful that I wasn't a lead character in many ways, because the responsibility of that is more than most people could manage.”

She praised the main cast — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, the late Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — for managing that pressure “gracefully.”

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