David Schwimmer Birthday, Age, Ex-Wife, Daughter & Career
David Schwimmer, forever loved as palaeontologist Ross Geller on Friends, was born on November 2, 1966, in New York City. Beyond the famous sitcom, he is an Emmy-nominated actor, a film and theatre director, and the voice of Melman the giraffe in Madagascar. He is 59 years old.
| Full Name | David Lawrence Schwimmer |
|---|---|
| Known For | Actor and director; Ross Geller in “Friends” |
| Professions | Actor, Film Director |
| Birthday | November 2, 1966 |
| Age | 59 years old |
| Birthplace | New York City, USA |
| Nationality | American (🇺🇸 United States) |
| Zodiac Sign | ♏ Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) |
| Chinese Zodiac | Fire Horse |
| Birthstone | Topaz |
| Birth Flower | Chrysanthemum |
| Generation | Generation X |
| Born on a | Wednesday |
| Wife | Ex-wife Zoë Buckman (m. 2010; separated 2017) |
| Children | Daughter, Cleo (born 2011) |
| Siblings | Ellie Schwimmer (sister) |
| Famous role | Ross Geller, Friends |
| Education | Northwestern University (1988) |
Early Life and Theatre Roots
Schwimmer was born into a Jewish family and grew up in Los Angeles, where both of his parents worked as lawyers. He has an older sister, Ellie. At 12 he attended a Shakespeare workshop given by Sir Ian McKellen, and later studied theatre and speech at Northwestern University, graduating in 1988. Straight after college he co-founded Chicago’s award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company.
Career Timeline
| Year | Project | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994–2004 | Friends | Ross Geller — SAG Award and a 1995 Emmy nomination |
| 2001 | Band of Brothers | Captain Herbert Sobel |
| 2005–2012 | Madagascar films | Voice of Melman the giraffe |
| 2007 | Run Fatboy Run | Feature film directing debut |
| 2010 | Trust | Director of the acclaimed online-safety drama |
| 2016 | The People v. O. J. Simpson | Robert Kardashian — second Emmy nomination |
| 2020–2021 | Intelligence | Jerry Bernstein, UK comedy he also co-produced |
| 2025 | Goosebumps: The Vanishing | Professor Anthony Brewer — Children’s and Family Emmy nomination |
Ex-Wife and Daughter
Schwimmer began a relationship with British artist Zoë Buckman in 2007, and they married on June 4, 2010. Their daughter, Cleo Buckman Schwimmer, was born in 2011. The couple announced their separation in 2017 and remain committed co-parents.
Why Fans Still Love Ross
- Ross’s famous “Pivot!” and “We were on a break!” moments are among the most quoted lines in sitcom history.
- The 2021 Friends: The Reunion special brought Schwimmer back together with the original cast.
- He has used his fame to speak out on online safety and against antisemitism, including in the 2022 documentary Jews Don’t Count.
👉 Same birthday: Who else was born on November 2?
👉 Plan the day: Everything celebrated on November 2
Frequently Asked Questions
David Schwimmer is 59 years old. He was born on November 2, 1966.
He played Ross Geller, the palaeontologist brother of Monica, from 1994 to 2004.
He was married to British artist Zoë Buckman from 2010; they separated in 2017.
Yes. His daughter, Cleo, was born in 2011.
Also Born on November 2
Shah Rukh Khan
Bollywood actor; “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, “Jawan”
Celebrate more on November 2: David Schwimmer shares a birthday with All Souls’ Day, Day of the Dead, International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, National Deviled Egg Day. See everything celebrated on November 2 →
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