David Schwimmer’s portrayal of Ross Geller in the hit sitcom Friends was iconic. It not only presented his exceptional comic timing but also his magnificent range as an actor. While Schwimmer is still associated with his beloved paleontologist character, another series of his deserves equal credit.
In 2003, David Schwimmer was a part of the American war drama miniseries, Band of Brothers. And due to his lovable role on Friends, it did not get the popularity it deserved.
David Schwimmer’s overlooked performance in Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers narrated the stories of Easy Company, part of the 101st Airborne Division. The well-acclaimed series had stars like Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg helming the producer seat. But it also featured David Schwimmer playing the role of Captain Herbert Sobel. His character was specifically designed for the viewers to loathe. As the series portrays him as someone being too hard with his training methods, even more than military standards.
This was a completely different role than the one he had on Friends. So, not surprisingly, it didn’t get the credit it deserved, as fans were only interested in watching him as the goofy paleontologist. A fan took the same matter on Reddit and posted on what he thought about the debate surrounding Schwimmer’s role in both the series.
He added that, according to him, Schwimmer was among the best castings of the show. Further, many people still to date struggle to separate the actor from his Ross Geller persona. He added:
A lot of people struggle because he played Ross, but I truly don’t see any similarities between the characters, I have watched BoB and Friends on the same day and even then I dont see Ross in BoB, just captain Sobel.
The Reddit user further added that while he was appreciating the actor, it doesn’t mean the rest of the casting decisions were poor. He added that everyone performed brilliantly, but with Schwimmer, who was widely known for his comedic roles in the 2000’s, the series took a great risk at casting him in something that was so serious and dark.
But his performance in Band of Brothers added to the notion that he was far more capable of carrying complex and challenging roles.
David Schwimmer tried out different roles and shows after Friends
Being part of a superhit sitcom is not an easy feat. So, David Schwimmer was well aware that after his stint as Ross Geller, it would be difficult to escape the shadows of a comedy actor. In order to deal with such a situation, he went on to look for roles that were more diverse than what he had done in the past (via The Financial Times).
Along with his stint on Friends, he also got on board with projects that showcased his versatility. His career trajectory shifted to that of a more dramatic and serious one when he participated in Band of Brothers. The actor stated in The New York Times that the main reason he took the project was to shed his Ross Geller image. But he was also well aware that some viewers might still see traces of his Friend’s character.
The audience loved David Schwimmer’s portrayal of the iconic Ross Geller on the sitcom. It goes without saying that the actor is quite versatile when it comes to playing roles across diverse genres.
You can stream all seasons of Friends and Band of Brothers on Max as well as rent it on Apple TV.
