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 Looking glass Theatre Company.
Friends (1994): $750,000 / episode
Born on his mother's birthday. Graduated from Northwestern University. Along with best friend & fellow actor Joey Slotnick, he helped found the Looking Glass Theater Company, based in Chicago, Illinois. Before Friends Schwimmer competed against high-school friend Jonathan Silverman and actor Jon Cryer for a role in the TV pilot Couples. Silverman won the role opposite Helen Slater, but ABC passed on the show. The producers later reconceived the show for singles and sold it to NBC as Friends in which Schwimmer was the first actor to be cast. Called up a London talk show to deny false claims that cast members of _Friends (1994)_ were demanding $1,000,000 each per episode. [April 2000] Has worked extensively on the stage both as actor and director Is on the board of directors of the Rape Foundation for the Rape Treatment Center of Santa Monica Dated Australian singer/actress Natalie Imbruglia. Split up from Mili Avital in November 2001 Member of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity January 2003 - Premiered his play "Turnaround" at the 99-seat West Hollywood Coast theater. All of his "Friends" were in attendance. He graduated Beverly Hills High School in 1984 and performed in stage productions there under the direction of John Ingle. Went to the same High School as Angelina Jolie, Michael Klesic, Nicolas Cage, Lenny Kravitz, Jonathan Silverman, Gina Gershon, Rhonda Fleming, Jackie Cooper, Rob Reiner, Antonio Sabato Jr., Pauly Shore, Michael Tolkin, Betty White, Crobin Bernsen, E.G. Daily, Albert Brooks and Crispin Glover. Both his parents, Arlene Coleman-Schwimmer and Authur Schwimmer, had small parts in Since You've Been Gone, which he directed. David once said in an interview, he would like to become a public school teacher after Friends ended. Has a older sister, Ellie [b. 1965].