Adam Goldberg turned down Friends role because he was a 'snob'
Adam Goldberg has revealed he initially turned down a role in 'Friends' because he was a "snob" and he "rooting to hate" the show because his ex-girlfriend had appeared in the pilot episode.
Adam Goldberg initially turned down a role in 'Friends' because he was a "snob" and he "rooting to hate" the show.
The 53-year-old actor appeared in three episodes of the hit sitcom back in 1996 playing Chandler's unhinged roommate Eddie but he's revealed he was actually reluctant to take on the job because he wasn't a fan of TV comedies and he also wanted to hate 'Friends' because his ex-girlfriend had appeared in the pilot episode.
Adam told The Independent newspaper: "['Friends'] wasn’t super notable to me at the time, because I was a snob ...
"I remember very specifically getting the call from my agent and them saying they were offering me this part, and that it started maybe two days later - everything’s always very fast in that world because you’re shooting an episode a week.
"And I was like, 'No way. I’m not doing that show'. And my agent was like, 'Yes, you are'. I was sort of bound up in all these ideas of what I was supposed to be doing, and also whatever weird personal baggage I was bringing to the situation.
"Like, my ex-girlfriend at the time, the love of my life back then, she had a guest role on the pilot episode. So I remember really rooting to hate it. These are the sorts of things that affect your decision!"
However, Adam was eventually persuaded to take the role and he ended up having a good time. He explained: "I said OK. And I went and did it and it ended up being much more fun than I had anticipated."
The guest role propelled him to a new level of fame and Adam now regrets not extending his character's time on the show.
Adam added: "I was like, jeez, if I’m gonna get this harassed, and be known for only having done 'Friends', at least I should be doing more episodes. Like, I should have another arc on the show. I remember my agent calling at the time, but it obviously never happened.
"I thought they were setting something up with Lisa's [Lisa Kudrow] character, that’s what it felt like. That would have been really funny if [Lisa's character] Phoebe and [Adam's character] Eddie got together."
