DAVID SCHWIMMER

Full Name, Age & Place of Birth

David Lawrence Schwimmer was born on November 2, 1966, in Astoria, Queens, New York, USA. As of June 2025, he is 58 years old .

Early Life & Education

At age two, his family moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Beverly Hills High School and first discovered his passion for performance through school plays and Shakespeare workshops—including one led by Ian McKellen . He went on to earn a BA in Theatre & Speech from Northwestern University in 1988, where he joined an improv group with peers like Stephen Colbert .

Rising Star on Stage & Screen

After college, Schwimmer co-founded Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre Company, then moved back to L.A. to start his on-screen career. His early roles included parts on L.A. Law, The Wonder Years, NYPD Blue, and Blossom, before landing his breakout in 1994 .

Worldwide Fame as Ross Geller

His portrayal of Ross Geller on Friends (1994–2004) made him an international star. The show’s 10-season run featured over 236 episodes, peaking at 22 million viewers for its pilot . For his work, Schwimmer earned a Primetime Emmy Nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award .

Branching Out: Directing & Diverse Roles

Schwimmer directed 10 episodes of Friends and explored behind-the-camera roles, including the films Run Fatboy Run (directorial debut, 2007) and Trust (2010), as well as various stage productions . He also starred in projects like Duane Hopwood, voiced Melman in the Madagascar franchise, and appeared in the Band of Brothers miniseries .

Recent Work & Current Projects

In early 2025, Schwimmer took on a lead role in Goosebumps: The Vanishing as a divorced botanist and father—a character that echoes his real life as a dad of a 13-year-old daughter . He’s also appeared on The Great Celebrity Bake Off to support cancer charities, earning praise and even emotional moments watching Bake Off .

Personal Life & Human Side

David married artist Zoë Buckman in 2010, and they share daughter Cleo (b. 2011) before divorcing in 2017. They maintain an amicable co-parenting relationship . He currently lives in Manhattan’s East Village, with past residences in Chicago and L.A. .

Unique Anecdotes & Advocacy

As a teenager, David helped his mother (a divorce attorney) serve papers to rock star Rod Stewart—a tale he shared on The Late Show, highlighting his early brush with celebrity life . He’s also an advocate for sexual abuse survivors and has campaigned against predatory date-rape drugs .

Legacy & Cultural Influence

With over three decades in entertainment, Schwimmer remains a multi-talented figure: actor, director, producer, and advocate. Ross Geller’s awkward charm transformed into a lasting pop-culture icon, but Schwimmer has consistently shown depth—from drama to comedy, and stage to screen. His recent projects reflect growth, including fatherly roles that echo his own life story.