By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
December 4, 1995
Hundreds of people were at the Lincoln Park Zoo Sunday afternoon for Caroling to the Animals. But the animals weren’t the main attraction. “Friends” star David Schwimmer was.
“OhmyGod,” 16-year-old Sandy Skinner of Lincoln Park said. “Ilovehimsomuch, If I don’t get to meet him, I’ll die.”
But there wasn’t much time to meet the 29-year-old actor who stars in the popular TV sitcom.
Suffering from laryngitis, Schwimmer, a Northwestern University graduate, started the event by turning the key to a gigantic children’s book from which elves popped out to sing and dance. Originally scheduled to read the tale, Schwimmer asked friend Doug Hara to step in as stunt voice. Hara is a member of the Lookingglass Theater troupe that Schwimmer founded with college buddies and with which he is still affiliated.
The singing was handled by a sprightly chorus of children, who, despite the name of the event, sang to the crowd surrounding the sea lion pool.
Schwimmer – looking dapper in a charcoal gray suit and maroon turtleneck – smiled and waved throughout the storytelling. And screams for the actor drowned out parts of the story. But the sea lions didn’t seem to mind. They kept on swimming and resting – apparently never having seen “Friends.”
After Schwimmer’s appearance, a reporter joked that his laryngitis actually was faked so he wouldn’t have to sing. Schwimmer, sipping a cup of tea, smiled and whispered: “That would be correct. My mom says I’m not a bad singer, but I think she’s the only one in the world who thinks so.”
The popularity of “Friends,” which airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on WMAQ-Channel 5, has been a boon for Schwimmer, who plays Ross and has been dubbed the breakout star of the show.
He stars with Gwyneth Paltrow in the upcoming movie “The Pallbearer” and was courted by major film companies before choosing a multimillion-dollar multipicture deal with Mirimax that will allow him to work with his pals at Lookingglass. He will return to Chicago for four months this spring and summer to begin shooting a comedy that he will direct, but not star in. He gave the lead role to Hara.
“I very much want to direct, but it’s also always been my dream to be making films with the theater company as well,” said Schwimmer.
As for the TV show that made him a star, Schwimmer wouldn’t blab about whether Ross will finally hook up with Rachel (played by Jennifer Aniston) this season, but he was receptive to the idea of having Paltrow’s boyfriend, Brad Pitt, show up in the role of the never-seen Ugly Naked Guy.
“I’ll ask him,” he said, joking. “We’re pretty tight.”
