Thanks to “Friends” (NBC, 1994-2004) and the unforgettably, whiny, nasal voice she adopted for the show, Maggie Wheeler earned a place in the American consciousness as a broadside parody of Long Island Jewish America. After 10 years of supporting work as Janice, the character effectively defined Wheeler as an actor, although she had a long list of impressive credits before, during and after “Friends.”

Maggie Wheeler was born Maggie Jakobson on Aug. 7, 1961 in New York City, NY. Though never a lead actress, Wheeler had little trouble finding work as a voice actor and later as an