David Schwimmer on Goosebumps and Friends: "The gift that keeps on giving"

David Schwimmer reflects on Goosebumps role and Friends, describing how the latter shifted from challenging to a gift.

David Schwimmer, known for his role in Friends, has long had an interest in horror-comedy, and he finally found the perfect opportunity to explore it in the second season of Goosebumps on Disney+. The actor stars in the anthology's episode The Vanishing, where he undergoes a dramatic transformation into a monstrous character, which he describes as a compelling challenge at this stage in his career.

Photo: Disney

He stars in his first major horror role in Goosebumps: The Vanishing, a genre he’s long been passionate about but never had the chance to explore. "I’ve always been a fan of horror, especially of horror action-comedy. The genre is so exciting to me," he shared. In the show, Schwimmer portrays Anthony Brewer, a botanist balancing family life with his research in a spooky, trauma-laden storyline. Co-showrunners Hilary Winston and Rob Letterman felt Schwimmer, known for comedy, was perfect for blending both humor and horror.

Photo: Disney

Speaking to Variety, Schwimmer reflects on the intense scrutiny he faced during Friends' rise to fame, describing a challenging and dark time, especially being followed by paparazzi. "I was lucky I was 27 when I got “Friends,” but I kept thinking, oh my gosh, if I were 16 when this was happening … I don’t know how young actors survive it — I really don’t — because it’s so jarring, and your whole worldview is rocked."

He shares that moving to New York after the show ended helped him regain a healthier lifestyle, offering a contrast to the bubble-like environment of L.A. Schwimmer acknowledges how difficult it would have been to handle such fame as a teenager, but emphasizes the support from family and friends helped him cope.

"The relationship with the show itself is kind of the gift that keeps on giving. And what I mean by that is obviously it was life-changing at the time — professionally, personally, everything. It was a game changer."