David Schwimmer shocked by ‘huge compliment’ Matthew Perry gave him before he died
Friends star David Schwimmer shared his shock at hearing a 'huge compliment' Matthew Perry gave him before his untimely death.
The actor, who is next appearing in the Disney+ anthology series Goosebumps, reflected on his relationship with Perry on the latest episode of the Origins with Cush Jumbo podcast.
During their conversation, Jumbo recalled working with Perry for a year on the series The Good Fight, in which she played Lucca Quinn.
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Perry appeared in just three episodes of the show in 2017, but it was enough time for Cush to have a conversation with him.
She told 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?'"
Jumbo recalled Perry's response as he allegedly shared high praise for Schwimmer's comedic talents, saying: "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 described Perry's response as 'interesting for many reasons', admitting it was something he probably wouldn't have heard directly from his Friends co-star, who died in October 2023.
"That’s interesting for many reasons to hear that [...] that’s a huge compliment," he said.
"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 went on to point out that he had 'rigorous theatre training', which came in handy when he had to carry out a stunt or 'anything physical'.
"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."
Schwimmer told Jumbo that his love for physical comedy stemmed from his childhood, when he 'loved' hearing his mom 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 explained.
Origins With Cush Jumbo is available wherever you get your podcasts.
Topics: Friends, Matthew Perry, Podcast, Disney
Emily Brown