In this weekend's fourth installment of Wes Craven's Scream franchise, Courteney Cox reprises her role as Gale Weathers, the acerbic Woodsboro author and fame-hungry reporter who has managed to survive the Ghostface Killer three times now. How did Cox transform herself from a spunky teenager in the He-man-sized sci-fi '80s flop Masters of the Universe to one of the most beloved sitcom actresses of all-time?
For every Hollywood star, a direct line can be followed from their humble beginnings to where they are now. In honor of Scream 4, let's investigate nine performances in the evolution of Courteney Cox.
Masters of the Universe (1987)
After making a name for herself as the girl pulled onstage during Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" video and a few small television parts, Cox bit into her first major film role in the hilariously bad Dolph Lundgren sci-fi flick Masters of the Universe, in which Mattel's titular line of action figures was adapted for the screen. Cox plays Julie, a denim jacketed teenager whose last night with her boyfriend is foiled when she discovers a Cosmic Key, is chased by evil forces and is fatally injured by Frank Langella's Skeletor. Alas, she is miraculously healed by a Sorceress, who also decides to raise Julie's parents from the dead. To paraphrase Lundgren's He-Man, "[Heavy sigh.] Victory."
[See Cox below at 0:45, 0:50 and most magnificently, 1:10.]
Family Ties (1987)
Cox found her first major TV arc on the sitcom Family Ties, where she guest starred as Lauren Miller, the doting girlfriend of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) who favors over-sized blazers, keeps in touch with her exes (much to Alex's dismay) and hates psychology thesis papers. (Seriously, don't mention either the words "psychology" or "thesis" around her, guys.) While Cox did not get to deliver many of the sitcom's punchlines, it is already clear that the actress is comfortable with the TV format which would make her famous.
Blue Desert (1991)
By the early '90s, the actress was ready to experiment with heavier material, like this cliche-ridden psychological thriller in which Cox stars as one of the most interesting multi-hyphenates I've ever seen: a rape victim/comic book artist. Cox's Lisa Roberts starts out the movie by fleeing from her past (by motorcycle) to a small town in Arizona, only to find that lowlifes are everywhere -- and the only way to get rid of them is to whack them over the head with frying pans. Like her character, Cox would try to escape from this dark past/IMDb credit.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
After a few forgettable roles on the small screen, Courteney Cox returned to film for her most successful turn at the box office yet. In Ace Ventura: Pet Detective -- also known as the film that really launched Jim Carrey's film career -- Cox assumes the role of Melissa Robinson, the Miami Dolphins' publicist who tries to conceal the kidnapping of the teams' prized mascot while playing the straight man babysitter to Carrey's goofball P.I. With the premiere of Friends just seven months off, 1994 would be the most pivotal year in Cox's own career.
Friends(1994)
Even though Friends producers wanted Cox to play Rachel Greene (the part that would of course go to Jennifer Aniston and her haircut), Cox refused and only agreed to join the sitcom if she could play Monica Geller, the obsessive, competitive and most maternal member of NBC's most famous six-pack cast. This was a turning point in Cox's career -- not just because of the worldwide success of the series, which would last a decade -- but because for the first time, Cox was given the chance to flaunt her natural comedic timing. In spite of her success in this role, Cox was the only cast member not nominated for an Emmy during Friends' run.
Scream(1996)
Cox's success on Friends as a Type A personality led to her casting in Scream as Gale Weathers, the strong-willed and manipulative newscaster willing to endanger her camera crew just to get a scoop. Although Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) may have viewed Gale as a Grade-A bitch, the reporter played a pivotal role in the final 15 minutes of the '90s classic, which would allow Wes Craven's heroine to live another three sequels.
Dirt (2007)
From one power-hungry reporter to another. After wrapping production on three Scream movies (and Friends), the actress executive produced Dirt for FX, a dark comedy series in which Cox starred as Lucy Spiller, the workaholic editor-in-chief of a tabloid who had no qualms about destroying the lives of celebrities. The series only lasted two seasons and will likely be remembered more for the kiss Cox shared with former Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston (below) than anything else.
Cougar Town (2009)
After working with producers Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel on a three-episode Scrubs arc, the three created Cougar Town as a starring vehicle for Cox. As the 40-year-old Jules Cobb -- a real estate agent with a lust for comically over-sized glasses of wine and quirky friends -- Cox's character spent the first six episodes cruising for young tail before settling for her hunky next-door neighbor (Josh Hopkins). Although it is not nearly as popular as Friends, Cougar Town captures the actress at her loosest and funniest. The Hollywood Foreign Press recognized that achievement and nominated her for a Golden Globe in 2010.
Scream 4 (2011)
The Scream franchise has really softened Gale Weathers, both in temperament and hair highlights. Fifteen years after her debut, Cox's six-time author is now married (to real life estranged husband David Arquette's character Sheriff Dewey), bored with small town life and suffering from writer's block, which a curtain call from the Ghostface Killer may or may not be able to cure.