Almost everyone who's studied English has tuned into the series "Friends" for practice, but few know that one of its actresses is a descendant of Belarusian Jews. Her great-grandmother fell victim to the horrors of the Hitler regime during World War II.
We're referring to Phoebe Buffay in the series, or Lisa Kudrow in real life. Lisa, an American actress from California with a medical background, originally aimed to follow in her father's footsteps as a doctor. However, a suggestion from her friend, budding Hollywood actor Jon Lovitz, led her to explore her potential on stage, showcasing her unique appearance, wit, and ambition. This prompted Lisa to pursue training in a theatre studio.
Lisa Kudrow shared the story of her ancestry in the late 2000s during the filming of the TV show "Who Do You Think You Are." She even embarked on a journey to Minsk, Iwye, and Vileyka for the filming.
Reflecting on her childhood, Lisa remembered her grandmother's tales of her mother's tragic fate during the occupation by Nazi troops.
Born on July 30, 1963, in Encino, California, Lisa grew up in a Jewish household of Eastern European heritage. Despite the proximity of her family's past to the horrors of the past, Lisa initially avoided confronting the realities of Europe nearly 70 years ago.
Lisa Kudrow's paternal grandmother, Grunya Farberman, immigrated to the United States in 1921, alongside her grandfather from Mogilev, Belarus. Initially facing unemployment, Lisa's grandfather later became associated with the Sicilian Mafia in New York, contributing his expertise in drafting codes and dispute resolution methods. Surviving an attempted assassination ordered by another mafia member, Salvatore Maranzano, was nothing short of miraculous.
While Lisa's grandmother settled in America in the 1920s, her mother, Mera Mardukhovich, remained in Iwye with brothers, sisters and their children.
During the filming of the program delving into Lisa Kudrow's ancestry, journalists uncovered the grim reality of Iwye 's occupation by the Nazis in 1941. The entire family lineage of Maria Mardukhovich faced annihilation, with documented evidence found in Molodechno's archives. Despite this tragedy, Lisa's paternal cousin continues to reside in Poland.
Iwye found traces of those events. A detachment of 200 Gestapo officers and 30 policemen arrived in Iwye, and a huge pit was dug in the center of the town. The Jews were ordered to undress and stand at the edge of the pit. They were shot from machine guns. When the pit was filled with bodies, they poured gasoline there and threw an incendiary grenade. The bodies burned for three days.
Visiting the site, Lisa Kudrow was overwhelmed with emotion, unable to contain her tears. “Finding out the details was even more scary because I imagined myself in the shoes of these people,” says Lisa.
For her, the program "Who Do You Think You Are" was more than just a show; it uncovered the heartbreaking realities of her family's past.
In 2012, Lisa Kudrow was monored with an Emmy Award for her involvement in "Who Do You Think You Are," recognizing the program's profound impact in unveiling the truths of her family's history.
The actress does not intend to stop at the story of her great-grandmother and promised to visit Mogilev to learn the story of her great-grandfather-gangster.
In total, Lisa Kudrow has 14 Emmy awards, Golden Raspberry Award, Golden Globe and others.
Author: Dmitry Kurapatsky
Photo from: Lan Bui — Streamy Awards Photo 375 / Wikimedia Commons
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