David Schwimmer is known to most viewers for his role as Ross Geller in the popular series Friends. Already in this regard, he can be considered a very successful actor. Today we offer to learn more about the professional successes of David Schwimmer, as well as his biography and personal life.
Childhood
David Schwimmer was born on November 2, 1966 in the American city of New York. His parents, Arthur and Arlene, were lawyers. Soon after the birth of their son, they moved to Los Angeles.
David began to show a craving for acting from an early age. So, while studying at a school in Beverly Hills, he took an active part in various productions and performances.
Youth and career start
Determined to become an actor, Schwimmer entered Northwestern University at the Theater Department. By the time he graduated, he had already gained vast experience working on the theatrical stages of Chicago. Also, having received a university diploma, David founded his own theater called Lukingglass and an association uniting actors, screenwriters and directors.
Young Schwimmer became the director of many performances, and also actively collaborated with television. The most memorable works of that time were âOne Bloodâ, âWestâ, âOdysseyâ, âWitnessâ, âMaster and Margaritaâ. As for the Lukingglass Theater, its most successful productions were The Jungle, which received six Joseph Jefferson awards, as well as Alice in Wonderland, shown during the festival in Scotland, Edinburgh.
Film career
Schwimmerâs television debut took place in 1989 in the movie âDeadly Silenceâ on ABC. Then the actor got a secondary role. After their debut work, young Schwimmer was offered to participate in such series as âWonderful Yearsâ and âLaw of Los Angelesâ, which were released in 1992.
The actor hit the big screens that year, starring in the movie Bridge. As part of this project, celebrities such as Josh Charles and Jason Gedrick were his partners. Luck did not turn away from the actor in 1993, when he was invited to participate in several more films. Films with David Schwimmer of that period include films such as âFlowerâ, âHoleâ, âTwenty Bucksâ in their list. In addition, the actor took part in the filming of several episodes of the popular series âAmbulanceâ.
As for the first permanent role, David got it in a 1994 serial project called "Monty". He played a guy named Greg Richardson. In the same year, the actor was offered the role of a policeman in the horror film âWolfâ, where Hollywood stars such as Jack Nicholson, James Spader and Michelle Pfeiffer shone .
True success
David Schwimmer, whose filmography is unthinkable without the popular series Friends, gained real fame in 1994. It was then that he accepted the offer to play one of the main roles in this cult project of the NBC television channel. The series very quickly gained popularity, at the same time making them real stars and the actors involved in it. By the way, for all of them, âFriendsâ became the apogee of a television career and a real ticket to life.
It is interesting that the role of paleontologist Ross Geller was written specifically for David Schwimmer. Thus, the actor did not even have to go through a casting. David Schwimmer and Courtney Cox in a television project played siblings (Ross and Monica Geller), who constantly tease each other, recalling their childhood tricks. Also, along with Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), the actor created the image of one of the most romantic and memorable television pairs.
David Schwimmer, whose height is 185 centimeters, was not only the tallest of the six "friends", but also the only one who did not have a addiction to smoking. Interestingly, in the sixth season, he was joined by Courtney Cox, who decided to end this bad habit once and for all.
By the way, David Schwimmer acted in the television series "Friends" not only as an actor. He became the director of 10 episodes.
Continuation of film career
In parallel with filming in Friends, the actor was actively involved in other projects. So, in 1995, he took part in the TV series âOne Guyâ and the television show âCrazy Televisionâ. Soon, Schwimmer was offered a role in the subsequently super-popular comedy Men in Black. However, David refused and preferred shooting in the comedy "Someone else's Funeral" by Matt Reeves. The film was released in 1996, and Gwyneth Paltrow played a major role with Schwimmer. According to the script, the hero of David named Tom Thompson, disappointed in life, returns home, where, thanks to the warmth of his homeland and communication with old friends and school love, he managed to recover. However, the idyll was broken by a phone call from a stranger who asked him to attend the funeral of a classmate, whose name he did not remember at all.
The next prominent movie role was played by David Schwimmer in 1998, playing a womanizer named Max in Doug Ellinâs âMake-believe Kissâ. Then there was the adventure action movie âSix Days, Seven Nightsâ by Ivan Reitman, where Anne Heche became the actorâs partner on the set.
David Schwimmer, whose filmography was fairly quickly and regularly replenished with new film works, also played the main roles in the following films: âCapable studentâ, âThin pink lineâ, âWhere did you carry?â, âRageâ.
2000s
This period is also marked by a number of brilliant acting and directorial works by David Schwimmer. So, in the year 2000, he played the role of the Holy Father in the fantastic comedy "piece by piece." Davidâs partners on the set were stars such as Sharon Stone and Woody Allen.
In 2001, Captain Herbert Sobel became the hero of Schwimmer in the miniseries Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks called Brothers in Arms.
In 2005, viewers warmly accepted the comedy drama "Repentance" with David in the title role. This was followed by participation in the series â30 Shocksâ, the thriller âFull Bummerâ, the film âNothing But the Truthâ and other talented works.
Personal life
The actor has always enjoyed the attention of representatives of the opposite sex. One of his most famous relationships was romance with actress Mili Avital and singer Natalie Imbrulia. Since 2007, the actor began to meet with an English photographer named Zoe Buckman, who later became his legal wife. David Schwimmer met his wife in London. At that time, Zoe was going through hard times and was forced to look for a waitress in a cafe. In 2010, the couple played a wedding, and in 2011 they had their firstborn, daughter Cleo.
Interesting Facts
Despite fame, David Schwimmer has always been a rather modest person. Just like his partner on the set of Friends, Matt LeBlanc (Joe Tribiani), he doesnât tolerate annoying journalists. So, in 1996, he almost refused to continue participating in the series because of their persistent attention. However, fortunately, the directors and colleagues managed to convince David to stay.
The actor has an active civic stance and is a well-known opponent of racism, and also opposes violence against children and fights for the protection of women's rights, in particular, advocating the prohibition of drugs GHB and Rofinol at the legislative level. In addition, Schwimmer takes an active part in the Center for the Treatment of Rape Victims in Santa Monica.