Trivia

Turned down Will Smith's role in Men in Black (1997).

Before Friends (1994) Schwimmer competed against high-school friend Jonathan Silverman and actor Jon Cryer for a role in the TV pilot Couples (1994). 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 (1994) in which Schwimmer was the first actor to be cast.

Became a 1st time father at age 44 when his wife Zoe Buckman gave birth to their daughter Cleo Buckman Schwimmer on May 8, 2011.

Is on the board of directors of the Rape Foundation for the Rape Treatment Center of Santa Monica.

David once said in an interview, he would like to become a public school teacher after Friends (1994) ended.

Born on his mother's birthday.

Went to Beverly Hills High School, the same high school as Logan Lerman, 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, Corbin Bernsen, Elizabeth Daily, Albert Brooks and Crispin Glover.

Had to miss Lisa Kudrow's wedding in Los Angeles due to filming The Pallbearer (1996) in New York.

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)

Became good friends with John Krasinski during the filming of Duane Hopwood (2005). Schwimmer attended Krasinski's July 2010 marriage to Emily Blunt.

January 2003 - Premiered his play "Turnaround" at the 99-seat West Hollywood Coast theater. All of his "Friends" were in attendance.

Was considered for the role of Neo in The Matrix (1999) before Keanu Reeves was cast.

In the 1980s he attended Chicago's Northwestern University's theater & speech class with Stephen Colbert.

Along with best friend & fellow actor David Catlin, he helped found the Looking Glass Theater Company, based in Chicago, Illinois.

Allergic to cats.

Member of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity.

Both his parents, Arlene Colman-Schwimmer and Arthur Schwimmer, had small parts in Since You've Been Gone (1998), which he directed.

Playing "Michael" in The Wonder Years (1988), he rides a 500cc Triumph Daytona motorcycle. The same motorcycle, also seen in other episodes, is also seen mounted on the back of his character's Volkswagen van.

He was awarded the 1991 Joseph Jefferson Award Citation for Director - Play for directing a stage adaptation of "The Jungle" at the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Joy Gregory and he were nominated for a 2003 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Adaptation for "Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About" at the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

He graduated Beverly Hills High School in 1984 and performed in stage productions there under the direction of John Ingle.

Has worked extensively on the stage both as actor and director.

He was voted one of Playgirl Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive at No. 15.

Graduated from Northwestern University. His classmate was his friend, Roger Kumble.

His family is Ashkenazi Jewish (from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Austria, Germany, and England).

With Andy Bellin, nominated for a 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work - Play for "Trust" at the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Starring in a London West End play, Neil LaBute's "Some Girl(s)" at the Gielgud Theatre with Saffron Burrows. (April 2005)

Has an older sister, Ellie Schwimmer.

He went to school with actor Harry Lennix.

Split up from Mili Avital in November 2001.

Grandson of Bertram Schwimmer (1910-2000), Beatrice P. Schwimmer (Osgood) (1907-2004), Max S. Colman (1916-1975) and Syd Colman (Sherman) (1916-1988).

Brother-in-law of Sandro Carotti and Peter Buckman.

As a child his family moved to 80 East Argyle Street in Valley Stream, New York before moving to California.

Both his parents are attorneys. His mother practices matrimonial law and represented Elizabeth Taylor.

Loved at 75-34 Utopia Parkway in Fresh Meadows, Queens, New York.

Originally was planning to be a doctor before he was bitten by the acting bug.

In May 05 he was at the University of Texas in Austin.