Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Schwimmer was encouraged by a high school instructor to attend a summer program in acting at Northwestern University. Inspired by that experience, he returned to Northwestern where he received a bachelor's degree in speech/theater. In 1988, along with seven other Northwestern graduates, he co-founded...
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Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Schwimmer was encouraged by a high school instructor to attend a summer program in acting at Northwestern University. Inspired by that experience, he returned to Northwestern where he received a bachelor's degree in speech/theater. In 1988, along with seven other Northwestern graduates, he co-founded Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company. Show less «
[on his post-Friends (1994) activity in live theatre] The best thing about going back to drama was d...Show more »
[on his post-Friends (1994) activity in live theatre] The best thing about going back to drama was discovering how good I feel as a leader. I feel I'm a natural collaborator, but I'm also good at bringing people together..People really have to know their opinion matters. And I can remember the days when I was happiest as an actor were those days when my opinion seemed to make a difference. Show less «
[on being the first member of the Friends (1994) cast to receive film offers] I said to the group, "...Show more »
[on being the first member of the Friends (1994) cast to receive film offers] I said to the group, "Here's the deal. I'm being advised to ask for more money, but I think - instead of that - we should all go in together... use this opportunity to talk openly about the six of us being paid the same. I don't want to come to work feeling that there's going to be any kind of resentment from anyone else in the cast down the line". I thought it was significant for us to become a mini-union. Show less «
To be perfectly honest, I feel I have a duty to use my celebrity status in a positive way. Most rape...Show more »
To be perfectly honest, I feel I have a duty to use my celebrity status in a positive way. Most rape victims are women, so the bulk of the discussion is loaded towards women. I thought I could find a way to approach the subject of rape in such a way that men are going to respond to it. My most devastating moment was when a 13-year-old girl told me her story. At that moment, I realized just how important this center really is. Nothing else had ever made me connect with reality like that. Show less «
[on David Crane, Marta Kauffman and other writers on Friends (1994)] They really invited our ideas. ...Show more »
[on David Crane, Marta Kauffman and other writers on Friends (1994)] They really invited our ideas. They created an atmosphere in which we could play and fail and pitch stuff. And because of that it wasn't about any individual - it was about all of us trying to come up with the funniest and the best and the most emotional material we could. It was hands down the best creative experience I've had professionally, as an actor - a huge high, and it spoils you for life. Show less «
We spent an enormous amount of time together those first several years. We wouldn't want to leave ea...Show more »
We spent an enormous amount of time together those first several years. We wouldn't want to leave each other. We'd go out to dinner after work, or we'd go to lunch together, or play poker, or just play games. I think we were genuinely having the time of our lives, and also there was something very bonding about how scary the whole experience was. We had the other five, like a very protective cocoon. Show less «
[on Friends (1994)] The miracle is the casting. Having been on the other side of it now in terms of ...Show more »
[on Friends (1994)] The miracle is the casting. Having been on the other side of it now in terms of directing and producing, to find one magical actor who is just right for the role is difficult enough, but to find six and then to have them actually have chemistry with each other is just kind of a miracle. I looked at the five of them. I watched their work and thought, Everyone is just so talented and perfect for their character. And they grew into their characters and enriched them and deepened them. Show less «
I don't think I responded very well to the sudden celebrity, the sudden fame, and the loss of privac...Show more »
I don't think I responded very well to the sudden celebrity, the sudden fame, and the loss of privacy. There were several moments that were quite traumatic for me. I remember just going to the airport and walking to my gate, when I heard bloodcurdling screams and I thought someone was being killed. Before I knew it, a group of girls was running at me and literally dragging me and wouldn't let me go. Show less «
As an actor, the training I received was that I walk through the world as an observer of life and of...Show more »
As an actor, the training I received was that I walk through the world as an observer of life and of people. My job is to actually be looking out all the time and watching people. But the effect of celebrity on me was that I suddenly found myself with a baseball cap, with my head down, hiding everywhere I went. Show less «
I've made a good amount of money. I'm very happy that I can now support my theatre company and suppo...Show more »
I've made a good amount of money. I'm very happy that I can now support my theatre company and support friends and family, and I'm ready to maybe go back to school and change careers. Show less «
