Aisha Tyler reflected on her experience as the first Black recurring cast member of the ’90s comedy series “Friends,” as the show marks its 30th anniversary. Tyler joined the cast in 2003 during the ninth season,

Actor Aisha Tyler has reflected on her role as the first Black recurring cast member in the hit Nineties sitcom Friends, as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Tyler joined in the ninth season in 2003, playing Ross’s (David Schwimmer) palaeontology professor girlfriend Charlie, who first dates his best friend Joey (Matt LeBlanc).

Friends actress Aisha Tyler has confessed that the series she joined reflected industry attitudes that ‘only white stories sold’. One of the most consistently popular sitcoms of its day, Friends, which ran between 1994 and 2004, still has a huge dedicated following to this day.