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(A Word With: David Schwimmer)
David Schwimmer and O.J. Simpson were moving in opposite directions in 1994, with the actor growing famous as part of a new hit sitcom,
Friends, as the former football star's life fell apart on national television.
Now Schwimmer is revisiting the era on FX's
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, playing Robert Kardashian, a close friend of Simpson - and part of his "dream team" defense - who died in 2003 and is now better known as the father of Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Robert and ex-husband of Kris Jenner.
Tuesday's episode presents the infamous white Bronco chase from multiple perspectives, including Kardashian's. Schwimmer recently chatted by telephone about having followed the trial while
Friends was becoming a phenomenon and how his work on the FX docudrama has broadened his understanding of a case that, more than 20 years later, still stirs strong emotion. These are excerpts from the conversation. (Also Read:
There's No F.R.I.E.N.D.S Reunion. David Schwimmer is 'Sad')
Q: Did you know immediately that you wanted to do this series?
A: I had to think it through, to be honest. The first thing I needed to really be reassured about was just the tone. I just didn't want it to be sensationalized because I was very aware that there are real victims involved, and I just wanted it to be handled respectfully.
Q: When you were preparing to play Robert Kardashian, you had a long conversation with Kris Jenner. What did you take away from that conversation?
A: She talked about what a man of faith he was and how he had a very strong and personal relationship to God that influenced every decision he made. When I heard that, I suddenly was looking at him in a very different light. For me, it started to answer the questions I was having about the choices he had made in terms of taking part in the trial and his loyalty.
Q: Episode 2 opens with a scene that shows Robert praying for O.J. Simpson in his bathroom. Was that based on something that actually happened?
A: That scene wasn't in there until we started talking about it. We were filming in the Kardashians' actual house. Ryan Murphy (an executive producer) came upstairs at one point to talk to me about the next scene, and he found me going over lines in the bathroom. And he said, "Oh my God, look at this bathroom." I said, "I know, right?" He said, "We have to shoot in here." He was just inspired by that fantastic bathroom and the idea that this is possibly where Robert sat and prayed.
Q: How closely did you pay attention to the trial and everything that happened afterward? It was hard to not pay attention on some level.
A: Especially living in L.A. It was unavoidable. I mean the irony is that was also exactly when we started the series
Friends. So I was having this huge break, my first real big break as an actor, professionally, creatively. It was a huge high that we were all on, as a cast. It was euphoric to find such a great writing team and cast and this show that people seemed to be responding to. So on the one hand, I was trying to really enjoy and focus on the work and be as good as possible in this new opportunity. And of course on the other hand, I wanted to stay connected to the real world.
There were times when we would all huddle in Courteney's (Courteney Cox's) room - Courteney seemed to follow the trial the most of all of us - and we would all pile into her room and watch, when we had a little break from filming or rehearsals.
Q: The Kardashian name means something different now than it did in the mid-1990s. When the audience watches the scenes that involve Robert or his kids, there's a subtext to it. How much do you think about all of that?
A: I think you have to be aware, OK, well, people are going to be receiving this in a way that is rather difficult to predict. So let's be careful and judicious. And I think the producers really were.
Q: Has your perspective changed regarding the case?
A: My opinion of the verdict being right or not, or his innocence, has not changed. But I sure learned a hell of a lot in this process. I really had no idea at the time how much politics and gender discrimination and class and, frankly, hubris played a part in the outcome of the trial.
Q: You said it hasn't changed your mind about the opinion of the verdict. Can you share what that opinion is?
A: No. I mean, I would after the whole series finishes. I just don't want to influence viewers one way or another in terms of when they're watching Robert, you know what I mean? Knowing what I really think: I don't want it to get in the way.
© 2016 New York Times News Service