For years, fans speculated about the actor who played Russ. The credits famously listed a performer named .

Airing on January 4, 1996, stands as one of the most surreal and technically impressive episodes of Friends' early seasons. It’s a masterclass in physical comedy that explores the subconscious ways we try to move on from heartbreak by finding exactly what we just lost. The Main Event: Rachel, Ross, and... Russ?

Russ was actually played by David Schwimmer himself, using prosthetics and makeup to slightly alter his appearance.

While the Russ/Ross saga takes center stage, the subplots deliver significant character development: