The Things You Might Not Know About David Schwimmer

‘Friends’ is arguably one of the biggest sitcoms to hit the small screen. It debuted in 1994 and ran for ten incredible seasons, skyrocketing the stars to unimaginable heights of fame. Of course, one of the leads was none other than David Schwimmer.

Still, the things you might not know about David Schwimmer go to show just how much the star has done away from the sitcom. From his many pieces of work to his activism, there’s so much that has been hidden by the shadow of the show throughout his career.

David Schwimmer joined his Friends co-stars in a tribute to Matthew Perry

The world stood still on October 28, 2023, when we learned that beloved actor Matthew Perry had lost his life at just 54 years old. Many wondered how much it would affect the rest of the cast of the sitcom ‘Friends’ after the six leads spent a decade working together. The world learned a little more on October 31.

David Schwimmer was joined by Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc as they released a joint statement through People magazine. Here, they spoke about how they were “more than just cast mates;” they “are a family.” The group added they needed to “take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss” in their statement.

Sources claim David Schwimmer and the cast are mourning the loss of their “brother”

While David Schwimmer stood by his former castmates by stating they needed time to process the news of Matthew Perry’s tragic passing, others have spoken about what’s allegedly been happening behind closed doors. In fact, one source talked to Page Six just one day after the news broke. Apparently, the group was still “reeling” from the loss.

The source added that they all thought of Matthew as a part of their family “because that’s what Matty was - their brother.” The source continued to speak about how the news was “devastating,” with David later spotted wearing a mask as he walked to his New York City apartment the day after Matthew’s tragic passing.

David Schwimmer has been open about his contempt for the paparazzi in the past

David Schwimmer being so quiet about the passing of Matthew might come as little surprise to his fans. After all, the actor has always been known for his private life, even marrying his wife and welcoming a child together in secret. However, it wasn't until David spoke to the Independent that many realized his true feelings toward the paparazzi.

Here, the star admitted that sometimes he's "in a good mood" and doesn't care if someone takes his photo. Other times? He has "a contempt for the profession of paparazzi." According to David, he will often tell them to "Get a life" as he thinks it's "a waste of life," adding it's “a waste of your existence on this planet.”

Starring in Friends changed David Schwimmer’s life in ways he didn’t expect

Getting cast as one of the leads in ‘Friends’ was only ever going to end one way: with David Schwimmer becoming a face that so many would recognize. After all, the show garnered millions of fans, but it wasn’t a ride that was easy for David. The fact Ross Geller became an icon threw him into an entirely new life.

When talking to the ‘Awards Chatter’ podcast, David admitted that he was “very aware of the power” that came with the success of the show. While being one of the biggest stars of his time and seeing everything Hollywood had to offer, David also had to battle with the fact that he suddenly lost his anonymity altogether.

Becoming so famous saw the actor struggle with his new level of fame

Playing Ross Geller saw David Schwimmer become an overnight sensation, but it didn’t take long for the actor to learn it wasn’t everything he thought it would be. Instead, he told ‘Awards Chatter’ that it was “jarring” and “messed with my relationship to other people.” Apparently, it took “years” for David to “adjust” to his new fame.

Even then, David admitted he often wanted to “hide under a baseball cap,” especially as he had to learn who he could trust and who was merely in his inner circle because of his fame. The star continued to add he was trying to strike a balance while learning it was “tricky” to be “an actor in this new world.”

David Crane always thought David Schwimmer would be perfect for Ross Geller

It might be tough to imagine a world where the leading six cast aren’t the ones playing the famous friends that we have come to know and love. It seems we’re not alone, as one of the co-creators of ‘Friends’ immediately had David Schwimmer in mind for the part of Ross. That was none other than David Crane.

When talking on the talk show ‘The One Show’ in 2019, Crane confessed that he had already seen David audition for another TV show he was working on at the time, but things didn’t work out. However, Crane didn’t stop thinking about the actor, admitting he thought he would be perfect for Ross when ‘Friends’ was first thought up.

David Schwimmer almost turned down the part of Ross Geller

Even though David Schwimmer was the only one that David Crane had in mind for the part of Ross Geller, it didn’t mean things were going to work out between the pair. At the time, Crane said the actor “didn’t want” the part “because he had theater experience.” In fact, they had to “persuade [David] to come back to television.”

Amazingly, another person was up for the part. Eric McCormack rose to fame on the sitcom ‘Will & Grace,’ but told HuffPost he actually auditioned for the role of Ross. However, it was all in vain. Once he spoke to director James Burrows about the audition, Eric allegedly learned he was “wasting [his] time” as the part was written for David.

The actor didn’t have good things to say about Marcel during their time together on Friends

The first season of ‘Friends’ introduced us to stars we would fall in love with for years to come. However, it wasn’t just the leading six. Marcel, the monkey, was an unexpected addition, but David Schwimmer was apparently less than thrilled with his prime co-star. However, it wasn’t because Marcel - played by Katie - was a monkey.

Instead, David told Entertainment Weekly in 1995, “I hate the monkey” because Katie’s trainers wouldn’t “let me bond with it,” adding they were “really possessive.” Matt LeBlanc backed up David’s claims, admitting on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ that he “liked the monkey” and Katie “was really cool.” David? “Not so much.” It seems there was no love lost after that season.

David Schwimmer says he was the one to push for more diversity on Friends

‘Friends’ might have been the show that rocketed his career, but David Schwimmer hasn’t had entirely good things to say about the series in the years since. In fact, he spoke to The Guardian in 2020 about the lack of diversity that featured in the sitcom. Here, he suggested “there should be an all-Black ‘Friends’ or an all-Asian ‘Friends.’”

Apparently, David was also the one who “campaigned for years to have Ross date women of color.” The actor added that Ross’ first on-screen girlfriend was none other than Julie (played by Lauren Tom) before dating Charlie (played by Aisha Tyler) later on in the show. According to David, it was “a very conscious push on my part.”

He feels Friends still lacked a lot of diversity, especially when it came to religion

It’s not just the ethnicity of the characters on ‘Friends’ that David Schwimmer has questioned. The actor took part in a documentary in 2022 called ‘Jews Don’t Count.’ where he spoke to host David Baddiel about what it was like to be on the sitcom. Here, David admitted ‘Friends’ was set in New York City, a place “that’s very diverse.”

However, David felt there was “no real representation of other minorities,” including “people of color.” To make matters worse, the actor felt “the criticism is appropriate” because things like Judaism were “only mentioned a couple of times,” such as when Ross played the part of the Holiday Armadillo.” While you can’t change history, David wants to change the future.

The actor was forced to apologize for his comments about Friends

While he might have meant well with his comments about the lack of diversity in ‘Friends,’ they didn’t go down too well with everyone. Actress Erika Alexander was quick to call out the star on social media, asking, “r u seriously telling me you’ve never heard of #LivingSingle?” talking about her own sitcom ‘Living Single.’

The show actually aired before ‘Friends’ and featured a group of black friends, with Erika adding, “We invented the template. Yr welcome, bro.” David was quick to respond, adding he “didn’t mean to imply” the show “hadn’t existed” or “come before ‘Friends.’” He even stated it was “entirely possible” ‘Friends’ wouldn’t have gotten the “green light” without ‘Living Single.’

David Schwimmer was meant to get his big movie break shortly after Friends ended

‘Friends’ eventually came to an end in 2004, but it wasn’t long before the stars of the show had plenty of offers. David Schwimmer was quick to sign up for the lead in the drama movie ‘Duane Hopwood.’ The problem? Hardly anyone saw it. Here, David was determined to break away from the world of sitcoms for a time.

The heartbreaking tale followed David as he played the lead of the movie, who was struggling with a divorce, the custody of his two children, and a drinking addiction. However, David told the Independent that “It’s not a comedy,” and he was “really proud of that film” because it was “like a real role in a real story.”

Most people have never seen David Schwimmer’s most notable work

Even though it had one of the biggest actors of the time as the lead, ‘Duane Hopwood’ was still an indie film, meaning it only had a limited release after it first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The worst part? It only received mixed reviews, making the career-defining moment nothing more than a passing project for David Schwimmer.

To make matters worse, this wasn’t the first time it happened to the actor. In 2001, he appeared as one of the leads in the war drama miniseries ‘Band of Brothers.’ Although David was highly praised for his work and acting talents, it has largely flown under the radar, instead shadowed by his work on ‘Friends.’

The actor took a step behind the camera following his time on Friends

Believe it or not, but David Schwimmer has long had a passion for getting behind the camera. In fact, he directed ten episodes of ‘Friends,’ and - perhaps in a bid to take a break from the sitcom - decided to head behind the camera once more once the show finally came to an end in 2004.

His movie directorial debut came in 2007 when David teamed up with actor Simon Pegg to produce the comedy ‘Run Fatboy Run.’ Even though it received mixed reviews, it did well at the box office. By 2010, David was back behind the camera for the drama movie ‘Trust.’ Sadly, this didn’t fare as well at the box office.

David Schwimmer has also been working on his career as a TV director

It turns out it’s not just big-screen hits that have dominated a large part of David Schwimmer’s professional life in recent years. In fact, the star has also worked on several TV shows. ‘Friends’ might have given David his first taste, but it wasn’t long before he was in charge of directing two episodes of the show’s spin-off, ‘Joey.’

Throughout the years, David has also worked on the likes of the comedy series ‘Little Britain USA’ and as the producer and director for the sitcom ‘Growing Up Fisher.’ Amazingly, David was the one to work as the executive producer for ‘Friends: The Reunion’ when the cast met once again for the TV special in 2021.

Working on the Madagascar franchise helped David Schwimmer get his voice back out there

Trying to break away from comedy roles and onto something more serious has seemed to be something that’s plagued much of David Schwimmer’s career since his time in ‘Friends.’ However, sticking to the genre did incredible things for the actor when he signed up as Melman in 2005’s comedy movie ‘Madagascar’ - even if it was just his voice.

Here, the star pays the part of a hypochondriac, panic-stricken giraffe who ends up getting shipped off to Madagascar with his friends. It might not have been the dramatic role that he was after, but appearing in the film - and its two sequels, shorts, and TV series - saw the world get a taste of just how talented David is.

Appearing as Melman helped to remind the world David Schwimmer has incredible comedy timing

Amazingly, ‘Madagascar’ received pretty mixed ratings when it was released, but it didn’t take long for fans around the world to fall in love with the movie. In fact, there was someone who stood out more than most: David Schwimmer. Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, and Ben Stiller made up the rest of the leading cast.

However, David’s comedy timing meant he always stole every scene he was in. Plus, it was a chance to get his name back on the map as the sequels kept coming. It might have been a family-friendly movie, but ‘Madagascar’ was enough to help David transition into the more serious roles he was hoping to land.

David Schwimmer hoped to break away from Ross Geller by taking to the stage

The end of ‘Friends’ left David Schwimmer with plenty of room to look for a new career path. In 2005, he attempted to turn his career on its head again by making his West End debut as a part of the comedy show ‘Some Girl(s).’ Sadly, David expected people to be less than impressed with his new career path.

He told the Independent that he knew people would believe “it’s just Ross up there.” To make matters worse, David added he would “take that… really hard actually.” However, that didn’t stop David from giving it his all. The actor admitted he “can’t control it” and that people would always compare him to Ross, no matter the role.

Critics have been pretty mixed with their reviews of David Schwimmer’s stage work

Unfortunately, David Schwimmer’s worries about what people would think of his West End debut might have been correct. The Daily Mail was quick to point out the similarities in his new character to Ross Geller, but that didn’t stop him from giving it his all. In fact, it wasn’t long before David had new stage shows in the works.

By 2006, David was making his Broadway debut in ‘The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial’ before appearing in ‘Our Town’ three years later. As well as continuing to work on his busy stage career, it seems David has blended his love of directing and the theater by directing Stephen Belber’s dark comedy show ‘Fault Lines’ in 2008.

The actor feels his work on Friends eradicated any stage work he had done before

Even though he was trained in theater before he made his way to the small screen, David Schwimmer finds it hard to get people to take him seriously - and it’s all thanks to his time on ‘Friends.’ It’s not uncommon for people to be typecast as a role, especially when they’re one as iconic as Ross Geller.

The actor told The Guardian he ended up “pigeonholed” when the show ended, even though he had “done all of this work on stage.” Sadly for David, he felt his precious acting work was “eradicated” as the public believed he “came out of the womb doing sitcom,” adding the show “obliterated all the other training” he’d done.

David Schwimmer thought he met his big break when he was introduced to a talent agent

Acting was nothing new to David Schwimmer by the time he landed ‘Friends.’ In fact, the star attended Northwestern University, where he studied theater, and it wasn’t long before his talents started to shine through. Apparently, it was while at college that David thought he was about to land his first big break - but things didn’t work out.

The actor told the Chicago Tribune that he was working on a ‘Hamlet’-inspired piece when a Hollywood agent won him over with promises of stardom. Apparently, David was “incredibly naive” and “believed her” when the agent explained he “would make a very good living very quickly” as a top Hollywood actor. Sadly, she was wrong.

He ended up flying between Chicago and Los Angeles just to make ends meet

Just because he thought it was his big ticket to Hollywood didn’t mean that things would work out for David Schwimmer. In fact, he spent the next few years flying between Chicago and Los Angeles to try and make a name for himself. When in Chicago, David worked in stage and theater shows to help build his career.

However, in Los Angeles, it was a different story, as David was left waiting tables as he auditioned for several guest spots on TV shows. Even when he became a household name, David would still return to Chicago, telling The Times of Israel the city is “my artistic home,” adding to Chicago’s Splash it’s “a real working city.”

The actor used his own money to fund a theater show while in college

Acting became an instant passion for David Schwimmer - and it was something he was determined to make a part of his life. He was asked to direct a version of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ while at Northwestern but learned there was no rehearsal space. Eventually, David used his bar mitzvah money to rent his own room for the troupe.

Amazingly, they were asked to represent the college in Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival, where the dean matched the $5,000 they managed to raise for the trip. David later told The Daily Northwestern that they had an “amazing experience” that helped them bond and taught him that “with enough chutzpah and determination,” they could reach their dreams.

He eventually co-founded Chicago’s Lookingglass Theater Company

Amazingly, David Schwimmer’s dedication to acting at college meant it wasn’t long before he teamed up with some of his classmates to form the Lookingglass Theater Company. The actor returned to his college in 2013 to talk about just how far things have come with Lookingglass since becoming a Chicago institution after years of work.

He might have long left his college years behind him, but David has been a keen supporter of the company ever since, even acting in and directing several of their prosecutions. One of those moments came in 2009 when the star took the lead in ‘Our Town’ with David stepping behind the scenes as the director of 2018’s ‘Plantation.’

Stephen Colbert and David Schwimmer were once a part of the same improv group

It turns out David Schimmer’s time at college wasn’t all about honing his acting skills. Have you ever wondered how he became so talented with his comedic timing? That was all thanks to being a part of an improv group - and he wasn’t the only star. In 2016, David appeared on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.’

Here, Stephen announced they not only went to college together but they were a part of the improv group No Fun Mud Piranhas. Too. As well as revealing a photo of the pair together to the audience, Stephen added he always loved working alongside David in the group, adding he still had his t-shirt from their time together.

The Wonder Years finally gave David Schwimmer the big break he needed

By the time the 1990s rolled around, David Schwimmer had a few TV acting roles under his belt. However, they were nothing compared to his 1991 role in the comedy-drama show ‘The Wonder Years.’ Here, David landed his first recurring role, appearing as Michael in four episodes between seasons four and five. Sadly, it quickly ended.

David played Karen Arnold (played by Olivia D’Abo)’s boyfriend, but things ended when the pair took things to the next level. Getting married and moving to Alaska meant that David was no longer needed in the show - but that didn’t matter. After all, ‘The Wonder Years’ got his name on the map at long last.

The executive producer liked how David Schwimmer reminded him of Nicolas Cage

Apparently, there was a reason that David Schwimmer landed his role in ‘The Wonder Years’ - and it wasn’t necessarily because of his acting talents. Instead, Olivia D’Abo later revealed to Yahoo! Finance that executive Bob Brush told her about her new on-screen love interest and how he got the job because he was like Nicolas Cage.

According to Olivia, Bob described David as “kind of dopey and a little goofy, but not too goofy.” Even though it was one of his first roles, the actress admitted she could see David “was on the road to bigger and better things” as he had “a quality that you just kind of fall in love with.”

David Schwimmer learned about directing through the TV movie Since You’ve Been Gone

‘Run Fatboy Run’ might have been David Schwimmer’s film directorial debut, but he’d actually directed a TV movie in 1998 before the project came along. David starred and worked on the comedy ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ and wanted to ensure that he could help as many friends of his as possible in the process. It started by filming in Chicago.

Here, David employed many of his friends from the Lookingglass Theater Company in their first movie role, telling The Hollywood Reporter that he told them all to block out the next six weeks as they had a big project. According to David, “everyone turned down all these opportunities” as they were “banking on doing this first film with me.”

Being committed to the project saw David Schwimmer turn down the lead in Men in Black

David Schwimmer was busy working on 'Since You've Been Gone' when he got a call that could have changed everything. Apparently, they wanted to cast him as the lead in the sci-fi comedy movie 'Men in Black,' a role that ultimately went to Will Smith and helped to cement him as a top Hollywood actor of the time.

The problem? David had already told others not to work so they could finish the TV movie. As a result, David told the Chicago Tribune he couldn't as they were "my closest friends in the world," and it was his "first shot at directing" as well as "their first shot at a movie." Eventually, it “wasn't even like a choice.”

He once sued a charity fundraiser for defamation about his character

Even though he earned a reputation as one of the nicest people in Hollywood, that was called into question in 2006. That’s because charity fundraiser Aaron Tonken suggested that David Schwimmer would only attend a charity event if he was given two Rolex watches. The result? David took Aaron to court and sued him for defamation in 2006.

The courts were on David’s side, as the actor walked away with $400,000 at the end of the case. That wasn’t all, as Aaron later retracted his statements and apologized. It wasn’t long before David spoke out about it all, admitting in a statement he felt “vindicated by the judgment” and that “his statements about me… were untrue.”

People questioned David Schwimmer once again when he allegedly demolished a historic house

Things took another turn in 2012 when David Schwimmer’s character was once again called into question. This time, it was all about a property he’d bought in New York. The New York Post reports that David purchased a place in the East Village, but there was a problem; he supposedly demolished an 1852 townhouse in the process.

It’s claimed David had been told by the Landmarks Preservation Commission that the home was probably going to be granted “landmark status,” meaning it was historically important and couldn’t be destroyed. However, it’s said David had the building torn down before this happened and built a property he designed in its place, causing outrage among the locals.

David Schwimmer has long campaigned against assault on women

Ever since 2001, David Schwimmer has been a public figure when it comes to campaigning against assault and helping those who have been affected by the crime. This was the year he started serving on the board of directors at a treatment center found in Santa Monica, California, but that’s not all. David has also been vocal about his support.

As well as campaigning to ban certain substances, the actor has spoken about helping to “give voice and give presence and get guys to see that it is their issue” and “their responsibility.” Apparently, David wanted to channel his energy into activism instead of Hollywood after realizing “it’s as much a man’s issue as it is a women’s issue.”

He launched his own #ThatsHarassment campaign before the #MeToo Movement

Before the #MeToo Movement dominated Hollywood in 2017 and in the years since David Schwimmer was working toward a Hollywood where everyone felt safe and free from the risk of assault. In fact, he actually launched his own campaign called #ThatsHarassment. The actor has been incredibly open about the movement ever since, including when talking to Cosmopolitan.

Here, David admitted how “The reality is there’s still fear of retaliation” when people report harassment on social media. Instead, he wanted to “generate as much awareness” for every gender but admitted they “feel like men have trouble really understanding where the line is.” Amazingly, it’s a view that hasn’t faltered for David in the years since.

David Schwimmer created a host of public announcements to get people talking about harassment

It turns out David Schwimmer had plenty of inspiration when it came to using his fame to help fight assault and spread awareness. The actor was born to parents who both worked as attorneys, with David telling The Guardian that his mom was “a very vocal, groundbreaking feminist activist lawyer.” However, that wasn’t all his inspiration.

David appeared on ‘Today’ in 2017, where he discussed the various public service announcement videos he’d created. In one clip, David plays the part of someone trying to make a move on a female co-worker, telling the show he wanted to “ put a face” on what harassment “actually is.” Apparently, it’s something that’s long been ingrained in his mindset.

The actor admitted the Friends set was “one of the better ones” for harassment

One thing many people have questioned is whether or not David Schwimmer has been so active in his activism work because of something that happened in his private life. However, he was quick to squash any rumors that an incident took place while he was on the set of ‘Friends,’ telling Cosmopolitan about it all.

Here, David confessed the set was “one of the better ones” when it came to harassment. According to the star, it was all thanks to the actor and executive producers who “were not going to let anything like that happen.” However, David did have a revelation when he admitted that “other shows and other sets” were known to be “worse.”

It’s been tough for David Schwimmer to break away from Ross Geller

Even with all of his work and his activism, there’s one thing that’s always been looming over David Schwimmer’s head: Ross Geller. It really was the role that saw him hit the big time, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy for him to find work away from the show. David opened up about it all in 2016.

When speaking with the Los Angeles Times, David confessed that he always feels “equally comfortable” performing on stage as he does in movies and TV shows. Even though Ross meant he was financially stable and could be picky with his roles, David admitted his lack of “strategy” might have stopped him from being a “much bigger film actor or star.”

Playing Rob Kardashian helped the actor’s dramatic side shine through

Thankfully, a career resurgence did come for David Schwimmer when he took the role of Robert Kardashian in 2016. This was as a part of the drama miniseries ‘The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,’ a series that brought the trial of the century back to life in a dramatic retelling over 20 years later.

Robert was O.J.’s lawyer and close friend at the time, with David perfectly bringing the conflict he felt to life once more. Apparently, David was offered the chance to meet Robert’s famous daughters - Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé. Still, he told The Hollywood Reporter he didn’t “feel that was necessary” and that “they wanted to do it on camera.”

News of a potential romance with Jennifer Aniston outshone his career again

Rachel Green and Ross Geller’s relationship was the will-they-won’t-they that dominated the ‘90s and ‘00s. Of course, it only made sense that people shipped Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer in real life, too. However, it wasn’t until the pair appeared on ‘Friends: The Reunion’ in 2021 that we learned the truth. Apparently, they both had feelings for one another.

When David admitted he had “a major crush on Jen,” she was quick to say, “It was reciprocated.” The issue? They were both always in a relationship with someone else. Instead, Jen says they “channeled” their “love and adoration” into their on-screen relationship. Sadly, this news quickly saw David tied to his character in the headlines once more.

David Schwimmer made a surprise charity appearance at the start of 2023

David Schwimmer has continued with his work both on screen and behind the scenes in the years since he appeared on ‘Friends.’ However, it was 2023 that gave people an unexpected scene when he appeared on the reality show ‘The Great British Bake Off’ for a special Stand Up to Cancer episode. Thankfully, David really stood out.

After receiving a famous handshake from judge Paul Hollywood and making a plant-based meal in honor of his daughter, judge Prue Leith told the Mirror that she assumed David would “behave like he behaved as Ross.” The twist? The star “was actually very concentrated.” Apparently, David took part in the show after his family’s battles with cancer.

No one expected to see David Schwimmer helping his friend on Shark Tank in 2023

2023 seemed to be the year of surprise appearances from David Schwimmer, as the star also appeared in an episode of the reality show ‘Shark Tank’ in January. As well as getting to reunite with his former co-star Gwyneth Paltrow - who was a guest Shark in season 14 - David also got to help his friend endorse Long Table.

The company makes healthy waffle and pancake mixes that use popcorn flour, with founder Samuel Taylor becoming friends with David through Lookingglass. David posted to social media he had “nothing to gain.” but he believed they were “the best” pancakes and waffles he’d had. Sadly, no one invested in Long Table, but it did show David’s deviation to his friends.