Richard Burke

From Friends Central

Richard Burke, M.D. is a handsome ophthalmologist who is 21 years older than Monica and close friends with her parents. They fall in love when she caters a party for him in the middle of Season 2 and have a very close and deep relationship until the last episode of the season, when Monica discovers that Richard isn't willing to have any more kids. Because she is sure she wants children, Monica decides she cannot continue the relationship and they break up. Monica describes getting over Richard as the "hardest thing [she] ever had to do", and when they get back together in Season 3, they decide to promptly end their new relationship before it goes any further than sex.

Richard makes a final appearance in the last episode of Season 6, interfering with Chandler's plans to propose to Monica, stating that he is finally willing to get married and have children. He backs down after realizing that Chandler is prepared to offer her the same thing, and that they are happy together.

Though he is unseen throughout the remainder of the series, he is still mentioned often, much to Chandler's chagrin (one prominent example featured Joey and Chandler discovering a tape with Monica's name on it in Richard's apartment, but it was quickly revealed that Richard had taped over the 'Monica' segment).

Monica also had a brief spell with Richard's son, Timothy, who was also an eye doctor, but that quickly fell apart after she kissed him and it reminded her of Richard.