David Schwimmer Admits He Couldn’t Listen to the ‘Friends’ Theme Song — Until His Daughter Changed Everything

For many fans, the Friends theme song—“I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts—is instantly nostalgic. But for David Schwimmer, it wasn’t always a happy tune.

In a candid new interview on the Making A Scene podcast with Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the actor revealed that for years, he couldn’t stand hearing the iconic theme after the show ended. “I never watched the show after we finished it,” Schwimmer said. “For me, it’s like I did it. I’m moving on. I don’t really go back and revisit.”

Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller for 10 seasons on the globally beloved sitcom, said the song became a constant reminder of a chapter he had long closed. “There was a time, for quite a while, that just hearing the theme song would really — you know what I mean? I just had that reaction. I just had heard it so many times,” he explained. “Anytime you’d go on a show, or a talk show, or an interview, that would be your intro song. I just didn’t have the greatest response to it for a period of time.”

But that changed in the most unexpected and heartfelt way: through his daughter.

At around age 9, Schwimmer’s daughter Cleo discovered Friends on her own. Now 13, she fell in love with the show, and her laughter began echoing through their home. That changed everything for him.

“I’d be making breakfast, or whatever, and I’d hear my kid’s laughter,” Schwimmer said. “My whole relationship to that song and to the show changed again.”

With a smile, he added, “It is different when you don’t force a child to watch your work.”

Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004, remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. It launched the careers of Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry, and won numerous accolades including a 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.

The show celebrated its 30th anniversary in September 2024, with creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman reflecting on its enduring appeal among new generations. “When you have preteens coming up to you, telling you how much they love your show and asking, ‘Will there be more episodes?’” said executive producer Kevin Bright, “it reminds you how timeless it really is.”

For Schwimmer, the connection is now even more personal—one that plays out over breakfast and laughter, thanks to a daughter who helped him rediscover what millions never forgot.