David Schwimmer — actor (friends) with roots in the Russian Empire
David Schwimmer is an American actor, director, and producer best known for playing Ross Geller in Friends (NBC, 1994-2004), one of the most watched sitcoms in television history. He has also directed films and theatre, and is a committed advocate against sexual harassment.
Tracing the roots — Ukraine / Russia
Schwimmer's family has roots in Ukraine and Russia (Russian Empire) on his father's side. Growing up in a Jewish household in Los Angeles, the immigrant work ethic and family emphasis on education fed directly into the drive that took him from Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre to one of the most successful TV careers of the 1990s.
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Ukraine / Russia. At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
A career defined by ambition
"Ross is not me. But his need for love — that I understand."