Courteney Bass Cox was born on June 15, 1964, in Birmingham, Alabama. Her father, Richard Lewis Cox, was a businessman, and her mother, Courteney Bass Cox, was a homemaker. Cox has two older sisters, Virginia and Dottie, and a younger brother, Richard Jr.
Cox began acting at the age of 10, appearing in a local production of "The Wizard of Oz." She continued to act throughout high school and college, and after graduating from Mount Vernon College, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting.
Cox's big break came in 1984 when she was cast in the role of Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom "Friends." The show became a huge success, and Cox starred in all 10 seasons of the series.
Cox has also appeared in a number of films, including "Scream" (1996), "Scream 2" (1997), "Scream 3" (2000), and "Bedtime Stories" (2008).
In addition to her acting career, Cox is also a producer, director, and businesswoman. She co-founded the production company Coquette Productions, which has produced a number of films and television shows. Cox has also directed several episodes of "Cougar Town," a sitcom in which she starred.
Cox is married to actor David Arquette, and they have two children together, Coco Arquette and Arquette Cox.