David Schwimmer, known for his role in Friends, was deeply moved when he learned about a significant compliment Matthew Perry had given him before his untimely passing.
In an episode of the Origins with Cush Jumbo podcast, Schwimmer, who will soon appear in the Disney+ anthology series Goosebumps, reminisced about his connection with Perry.
During the podcast, Jumbo shared her experience working with Perry on The Good Fight, where she portrayed Lucca Quinn. Although Perry only appeared in three episodes in 2017, they had enough time to engage in meaningful conversations.
She recounted to Schwimmer: “I’m recalling talking to him about how I knew you a little bit but not very much at that stage, and I was talking to him about […] physical comedy and all this stuff.
“I was saying, ‘is David just someone who just does it? It just comes off of him?'”
Perry’s response, as remembered by Jumbo, was filled with admiration for Schwimmer’s comedic abilities: “He talks about how it’s not out of control at all, that you’re a linchpin person in a scene […]
“That without you being the pin, the other things don’t work, which I thought was very, very complimentary and probably very true.”
Schwimmer found Perry’s comments compelling for multiple reasons, stating that it was a compliment he likely wouldn’t have heard directly from Perry himself, who passed away in October 2023.
“That’s interesting for many reasons to hear that […] that’s a huge compliment,” Schwimmer noted.
“I’m surprised to hear it because Matthew was reserved with me, he would not say that to me but I appreciate that a lot.”
Schwimmer elaborated on his background in theatre, explaining how it helped him with stunts and physical comedy.
“I think it’s gotta be finely, carefully choreographed and I would work and work and work on any physical comedy in a scene,” he said. “I would meticulously structure and choreograph it, not only so that I never hurt myself or hurt anyone else but that I could repeat it many, many, many times.
“So I think that’s what maybe he’s referring to.”
He also shared with Jumbo that his passion for physical comedy began in his childhood, especially enjoying making his mother laugh.
“I would learn that the more I did physical comedy for her – I would throw myself off furniture, I would trip myself a lot, I would fall down, I would throw myself into walls, I would walk into things – and the more that I learned she enjoyed it, the more I would do it and try to start to refine it so that I wouldn’t actually hurt myself as much,” he said.
For those interested, Origins With Cush Jumbo can be accessed on various podcast platforms.