Why Friends star left Hollywood after making history with first lesbian wedding on network television

Friends alum Jane Sibbett is best known for portraying David Schwimmer’s onscreen ex-wife Carol Willick in 15 episodes of the NBC sitcom spanning 1994-2001.

But the 62-year-old grandmother-of-two left her native California for Hawaii a decade ago in favor of a surprising new career as an energy healer.

Jane received no formal training as her ‘dancing hands’ technique was inspired by healer Abdy Electriciteh after she hosted informal ‘goddess circles’ for women back in Topanga.

‘I wouldn’t call it Reiki,’ Sibbett explained to People on Wednesday.

‘[My hands] just started dancing because I was never trained in Reiki, so I wouldn’t even know what that is. I believe in it, I trust it [but] it’s just not what I do. This wasn’t trained. This just came in fully fleshed, immediately.’

The Jane’s Dancing Hands founder continued: ‘I started to feel the way that source energy or God energy was moving through me. Then somebody said, “Hey, you were so good at that. I know somebody else who needs your help,” and so I went to one person, and then I did the next person, and I did the next.’ 

Friends alum Jane Sibbett is best known for portraying David Schwimmer’s onscreen ex-wife Carol Willick in 15 episodes of the NBC sitcom spanning 1994-2001

But the 62-year-old retired actress left her native California for Hawaii a decade ago in favor of a surprising new career as an energy healer (pictured April 22)

Back in 1994, Jane was nearly cast as Rachel Green in Friends but she got pregnant with her second child, so she eventually replaced Anita Barone as the sixth grade teacher who divorces Ross Geller before the birth of their son Ben.

‘I have not [watched the entire series]. I confess,’ Sibbett told the New York Post last September.

‘Obviously, when I was shooting the show, I watched what we were doing, but generally I didn’t watch because I was so busy raising my children…I’m that girl who just doesn’t watch what she’s already done. It’s really terrible.’

The former Wild Aloha Studios co-founder received equal parts praise and hate for portraying a woman who comes out as a lesbian and weds her mistress Susan Bunch (Jessica Hecht).

The faux nuptials made history as the first lesbian wedding on network television, which deeply upset Jane’s conservative Christian father.

‘Given the fact that people have been watching Friends now for 30 years — isn’t that incredible — I think [the lesbian storyline] would be wholly embraced,’ Jane told the Post.

‘Obviously, we know that the diversity wasn’t existent and it should have been and there would be definitely some expansion. But we are clearly hungry for a show that is uplifting and funny and reflects our friend groups, how they become our family.’

Sibbett memorably portrayed gold digger Clarice Kensington in Andy Tennant’s 1995 rom-com It Takes Two alongside the Olsen Twins, Kirstie Alley, and Steve Guttenberg.

The UCLA grad is also remembered for her roles in The WB sitcom Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, Fox sitcom Herman’s Head, CBS sitcom The Famous Teddy Z, and NBC soap opera Santa Barbara.

Jane received no formal training as her ‘dancing hands’ technique was inspired by healer Abdy Electriciteh after she hosted informal ‘goddess circles’ for women back in Topanga (pictured February 2)

Sibbett explained to People on Wednesday: ‘[My hands] just started dancing because I was never trained in Reiki, so I wouldn’t even know what that is. I believe in it, I trust it [but] it’s just not what I do. This wasn’t trained. This just came in fully fleshed, immediately’

The Jane’s Dancing Hands founder continued: ‘I started to feel the way that source energy or God energy was moving through me. Then somebody said, “Hey, you were so good at that. I know somebody else who needs your help,” and so I went to one person, and then I did the next person, and I did the next’

Back in 1994, Jane was nearly cast as Rachel Green (L) in Friends but she got pregnant with her second child, so she eventually replaced Anita Barone as the sixth grade teacher who divorces Ross Geller before the birth of their son Ben 

Sibbett received equal parts praise and hate for portraying a woman who comes out as a lesbian and weds her mistress Susan Bunch (L, Jessica Hecht) 

The former Wild Aloha Studios co-founder memorably portrayed gold digger Clarice Kensington in Andy Tennant’s 1995 rom-com It Takes Two alongside the Olsen Twins (R), Kirstie Alley (M), and Steve Guttenberg

Jane is also remembered for her roles in The WB sitcom Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, Fox sitcom Herman’s Head (pictured), CBS sitcom The Famous Teddy Z, and NBC soap opera Santa Barbara

Sibbett – who’s currently penning a memoir – is next scheduled to host a $160 virtual Expanded Quanta Circle session between July 1-3

Jane’s last acting gig was portraying Dr. Elisabeth Boyer in Roxy Shih’s 2021 breast cancer drama List of a Lifetime alongside the late Shannen Doherty.

Sibbett has three children – daughter Ruby, nearly 33; son Kai, 30; and daughter Violet, 24 – from her 24-year marriage to Karl Fink, which ended in 2016.

The avid equestrian – who’s currently penning a memoir – is next scheduled to host a $160 virtual Expanded Quanta Circle session between July 1-3.