David Schwimmer
David Schwimmer (born
November 2,
1966 in
Astoria, New York) is an
Emmy-nominated
American actor and director, who gained popularity as
Ross Geller on
Friends.
Schwimmer, who is Jewish, was born in
Astoria, New York to Authur Schwimmer and Arlene Colmann and was raised in Los Angeles, where he attended
Beverly Hills High School. Having attended Northwestern's summer "Cherub" program (the National High School Institute) in 1983, he subsequently enrolled at the University as a theater major, joining
Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Arts Alliance in addition to acting and directing. In
1988, along with seven other Northwestern graduates, he co-founded
Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company.
Schwimmer is best known for his role as
Ross Geller in the television
sitcom Friends.
He earned an
Emmy Award nomination in the "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series" category for
Friends in
1995. This made him the first castmember of 'Friends' to receive such a nomination. As well as acting, he also frequently directed episodes of the acclaimed comedy series.
In the
Friends episode "
The One With Russ," the character of "Russ," who bore an amazing resemblence to Schwimmer's "Ross," was played by Schwimmer himself. Although in the credits the role was credited as being played by "Snaro." The producers have joked in the past that the character of Russ was played by a famous Croatian actor named Snaro, but Schwimmer has said that the name Snaro was a tribute to a friend of his.
His film credits include
Apt Pupil,
The Pallbearer,
Breast Men,
Kissing a Fool,
Six Days Seven Nights,
Uprising, and
Madagascar (voice). Schwimmer also appeared in the
Steven Spielberg and
Tom Hanks television production
Band of Brothers.
He made his
West End theatrical debut in
2005 in
Neil LaBute's play
Some Girl(s) at the
Gielgud Theatre in
London as the character 'Man' alongside
Catherine Tate,
Saffron Burrows, Sara Powell, and
Lesley Manville.
Schwimmer appeared as himself in Season 4 of
Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In the spring of 2006, he starred on Broadway in
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial alongside
Tim Daly and
Zeljko Ivanek, directed by four time Tony Award winner
Jerry Zaks.
He also dated Australian singer/actress
Natalie Imbruglia.
*2006 :
Run, Fat Boy, Run*2005 :
Madagascar (voice)
*2005 :
Duane Hopwood*2001 :
Uprising (TV)
*2001 :
Hotel*2001 :
Band of Brothers (TV Series)
*2001 :
Resistance *2000 :
Picking Up the Pieces*2000 :
Love & Sex *1998 :
All the Rage *1998 :
Apt Pupil *1998 :
Six Days Seven Nights*1998 :
Since You've Been Gone (TV)
*1998 :
Kissing a Fool *1998 :
The Thin Pink Line *1997 :
Breast Men *1996 :
The Pallbearer *1995 :
The Party Favor*1994 :
Monty (TV Series)
*1994 :
Friends (TV Series)
*1994 :
Wolf*1993 :
Twenty Bucks *1993 :
The Pitch *1993 :
The Waiter*1992 :
The Wonder Years (TV Series)
*1992 :
Crossing the Bridge
*1991 : Flight of the Intruder*1989 :
A Deadly Silence (TV)
