David Schwimmer Opens Up About Matthew Perry’s Praise for His Comedy on ‘Friends’ – ‘Huge Compliment’
David Schwimmer shares his emotional reaction to Matthew Perry's praise for his physical comedy
Chandler was always quick to say whatever was on his mind on Friends, but it seems that Matthew Perry was a little bit more reserved when it came to what he was truly feeling. David Schwimmer, best known as Ross Geller on Friends, recently discovered that Perry praised his comedy skills, a compliment never shared with him directly.
Schwimmer appeared on actress Cush Jumbo’s podcast, Origins with Cush Jumbo, where he learned about Perry’s praise regarding his talent for physical comedy. Jumbo and Perry previously starred together on a season of The Good Fight, where she asked her co-star if Schwimmer’s comedy came naturally.
“Is David just someone who just does it?” Jumbo recalled asking Perry of Schwimmer’s comical talent. “It just comes off of him?” According to Jumbo, Perry didn’t think so. The beloved late actor explained that Schwimmer’s comedy was always controlled and skillful, making him the pivotal actor in many scenes.
“He talks about how it’s not out of control at all, that you’re a linchpin person in a scene that mostly people were always looking to you to know physically what direction things should go in, that without you being the pin, the other things don’t work,” Jumbo shared of Perry’s estimations of his co-star.
David Schwimmer’s reaction to Matthew Perry’s compliment
Schwimmer was deeply touched and surprised by the heartfelt words from his late friend and co-star, Perry. The actor shared how that was a “huge compliment” and that he was surprised because “Matthew was reserved with me, he would not say that to me, but I appreciate that a lot.”
Schwimmer also shared that he was one of the few Friends stars with rigorous theater training, a background that shaped his commitment to physical comedy.He would work hard to make sure each scene on the hit sitcom was perfectly choreographed.
“In anything that’s involving a stunt or anything physical, I think it’s got to be finely, carefully, choreographed,” Schwimmer explained. “And I would work and work and work on any physical comedy in a scene…not only so that I never hurt myself or hurt anyone else, but that I could repeat it many, many, many, many times.”
While the two stars were good friends off-screen, as well as on-screen through their characters, Schwimmer shared that Perry wasn’t always vulnerable with him, which is why he was surprised to learn of his feelings.
David Schwimmer’s emotional response to Matthew Perry’s untimely passing
Perry passed away in October 2023, due to the acute effects of ketamine, which was a surprise to not only the Friends cast but the entire world. Following Perry’s passing, Schwimmer shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, reflecting on their decades of friendship and comedic chemistry on Friends.
“Matty, Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity. I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes. And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers.”
The actor continued by explaining his choice of photo, which was from one of the series’ iconic Thanksgiving episodes. “This photo is from one of my favorite moments with you. Now it makes me smile and grieve at the same time. I imagine you up there, somewhere, in the same white suit, hands in your pockets, looking around—‘Could there BE any more clouds?’”
A joint statement from all the Friends was released, which stated, “We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.”
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