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

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.

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.

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."