David Schwimmer Was 'Surprised' to Hear Matthew Perry Praised His Comedy: 'He Would Not Say That to Me'

Mar. 15, 2025

Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

David Schwimmeris thrilled to learnMatthew Perrywas a fan of his approach to comedy, but he doesn’t necessarily think the late actor would have told him himself.During an appearance on his friend Cush Jumbo’sOriginspodcast on Tuesday, Sept. 17, Schwimmer, 57, admitted Perry was “reserved” with him at times.While speaking about working with Perry — whodied at age 54on Oct. 28, 2023, from the acute effects of ketamine — onThe Good Fightfor a year, Jumbo, 38, said: “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 commedia [dell’arte] and about physical comedy and all this stuff.“Jumbo then explained how she questioned, “Is David just someone who just does it? It just comes off of him?“Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage"Or, and he talks about how it’s not out of control at all, that you’re a linchpin person in a scene that mostly people were always looking to you to know physically what direction things should go in, that without you being the pin, the other things don’t work which I thought was very, very complimentary and probably very true,” she added.Schwimmer, who starred inFriendsalongside Perry for 10 seasons, replied, “That’s interesting for many reasons, to hear that, because … that’s a huge compliment and 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.““Yeah, I am one of the few in the cast who had a rigorous theater training and so and in this way, in film or in anything that’s involving a stunt or anything physical,” Schwimmer continued. “I think it’s gotta be finely, carefully, choreographed and I would work and work and work on any physical comedy in a scene.“Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer in ‘Friends’.Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty"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 shared.Schwimmer was among theFriendscast memberspaying tribute to PerryonInstagramfollowing hisdeath in October 2023.“Matty, Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity,” he wrote in a Nov. 15 post, alongside a photo of the pair from the season 5 episode, “The One with All the Thanksgivings.” Schwimmer said the snap was from one of his “favorite moments” with his longtime friend.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Schwimmer continued, “I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes.““And you had heart,” he noted, adding “Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers,” referencing their fellow cast membersJennifer Aniston,Courteney Cox,Matt LeBlancandLisa Kudrow.

David Schwimmeris thrilled to learnMatthew Perrywas a fan of his approach to comedy, but he doesn’t necessarily think the late actor would have told him himself.

During an appearance on his friend Cush Jumbo’sOriginspodcast on Tuesday, Sept. 17, Schwimmer, 57, admitted Perry was “reserved” with him at times.

While speaking about working with Perry — whodied at age 54on Oct. 28, 2023, from the acute effects of ketamine — onThe Good Fightfor a year, Jumbo, 38, said: “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 commedia [dell’arte] and about physical comedy and all this stuff.”

Jumbo then explained how she questioned, “Is David just someone who just does it? It just comes off of him?”

Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

“Or, and he talks about how it’s not out of control at all, that you’re a linchpin person in a scene that mostly people were always looking to you to know physically what direction things should go in, that without you being the pin, the other things don’t work which I thought was very, very complimentary and probably very true,” she added.

Schwimmer, who starred inFriendsalongside Perry for 10 seasons, replied, “That’s interesting for many reasons, to hear that, because … that’s a huge compliment and 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.”

“Yeah, I am one of the few in the cast who had a rigorous theater training and so and in this way, in film or in anything that’s involving a stunt or anything physical,” Schwimmer continued. “I think it’s gotta be finely, carefully, choreographed and I would work and work and work on any physical comedy in a scene.”

Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer in ‘Friends’.Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

“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 shared.

Schwimmer was among theFriendscast memberspaying tribute to PerryonInstagramfollowing hisdeath in October 2023.

“Matty, Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity,” he wrote in a Nov. 15 post, alongside a photo of the pair from the season 5 episode, “The One with All the Thanksgivings.” Schwimmer said the snap was from one of his “favorite moments” with his longtime friend.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Schwimmer continued, “I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes.”

“And you had heart,” he noted, adding “Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers,” referencing their fellow cast membersJennifer Aniston,Courteney Cox,Matt LeBlancandLisa Kudrow.

source: people.com