David Schwimmer, best known for his role as Ross Geller on the legendary sitcom "Friends," has opened up about the effects of fame and the overwhelming success of the show. While "Friends" brought joy to millions, Schwimmer revealed that it also came with some personal struggles, including an aversion to the iconic theme song, "I’ll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts.
During an appearance on the "Making a Scene" podcast, hosted by British comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams, Schwimmer candidly discussed his complicated relationship with the song. "I’ll be really honest, there was a time for quite a while that just hearing the theme song would really… uggh," he admitted. "I just had that reaction. I just had heard it so many times."
It wasn’t just a passing annoyance. The song was played relentlessly as an introduction anytime he appeared on a talk show, interview, or public event. "Any time you’d go on a show or a talk show or an interview, that would be your intro song. So I just didn’t have the greatest response to it for a period of time," Schwimmer explained.
Schwimmer’s time on "Friends" spanned a decade, from 1994 to 2004, alongside co-stars Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry. While the show catapulted him to international stardom, it also drastically changed his life, making it difficult for him to go anywhere unnoticed.
Reflecting on his first brush with fame, Schwimmer recalled a pivotal moment from 1994 before "Friends" even aired. The show’s director, Jim Burrows, had taken the cast to Las Vegas as a bonding experience, and while they were walking through a casino, Burrows issued a prophetic warning: "Remember this moment, it’s the last time you’re going to be able to walk through a casino like this – basically, with total anonymity."
At the time, Schwimmer didn't fully grasp the weight of Burrows' words. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize just how right he was. One incident at LAX airport drove the point home in a terrifying way.
"I’m going through LAX trying to find my flight, I hear a blood-curdling scream. I was genuinely frightened. I thought someone was being stabbed or something," Schwimmer recounted. "And a group of girls come and just accost me… literally just scream and grab me. And they won’t let me go… I mean, it was terrifying."
For an actor who never traveled with an entourage, the sudden and overwhelming attention was a shock. "It took me a long time to get adjusted to that kind of fame," he admitted. "At that time you had three cars following you everywhere you went… staked outside your house. You had absolutely no privacy, ever."
Fame, as glamorous as it may seem from the outside, came at a cost. The constant lack of privacy and overwhelming fan attention were difficult adjustments. Despite all this, Schwimmer's perspective on "Friends" and its theme song changed over time—especially after becoming a father.
"My whole relationship to that song and to the show changed again," he shared. His child, around the age of nine, started watching "Friends," and Schwimmer often found himself making breakfast while hearing their laughter from the other room. That simple moment reignited his appreciation for the show and all it brought into his life.
Schwimmer’s story is a raw and honest look at the highs and lows of fame. While "Friends" remains a beloved classic that continues to bring joy to audiences worldwide, its success also reshaped his life in ways he never anticipated. Over time, he has found a new appreciation for it, even if it took years to fully embrace the phenomenon that made him a household name.
Login