Russ is a man who dates Rachel for one episode in "The One With Russ", portrayed by David Schwimmer.

Quick Answers

Who portrayed the character Russ in the Friends episode 'The One With Russ'?

David Schwimmer, credited as 'Snaro', portrayed the character Russ in the Friends episode 'The One With Russ'.

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What are the similarities between Russ and Ross in the Friends series?

In the Friends series, Russ and Ross are strikingly similar. Both are doctors, with Russ in dentistry and Ross in paleontology. Their behaviors and personalities are eerily alike, a fact noticed by everyone except Rachel and Ross. Their friends theorize that Rachel dating Russ indicates lingering feelings for Ross, a theory Rachel initially dismisses, acknowledging only their similar names.

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Why does Ross feel jealous of Russ in the Friends episode 'The One With Russ'?

In the Friends episode 'The One With Russ', Ross feels jealous of Russ due to his relationship with Rachel. Ross and Rachel had a fallout over a pros and cons list he made about her, leading her to date Russ, who bears a striking resemblance to Ross. This uncanny similarity and Ross' unresolved feelings for Rachel trigger his jealousy.

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What professions do Russ and Ross have in the Friends series?

In the Friends sitcom, Russ practices dentistry, while Ross works as a paleontologist and later advances to a professorship at New York University.

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What does Rachel's relationship with Russ suggest about her feelings for Ross in Friends?

Rachel's involvement with Russ in Friends indicates unresolved feelings for Ross. She expresses discomfort when Ross dates others, desiring his constant availability. Her response, potentially tinged with jealousy, underscores her lingering emotions for Ross.

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History

Russ looks, sounds and acts eerily similar to Ross. This freaks out everyone except Rachel and Ross, who is very jealous of him. Both are also doctors (in dentistry and paleontology respectively).

The fact that Rachel would date a man who resembles Ross in so many ways, even if she hasn't consciously noticed the aforementioned resemblances, suggests that she still has feelings for Ross-in other words, by dating Russ, she's really dating Ross. Monica, Chandler and Phoebe suggest this theory to her but she says that aside from similar names, she sees no similarity between Ross and Russ. She does agree that he reminds her of Bob Saget, however. Ross and Russ get into an argument at Central Perk and Rachel sees this, finally seeing how similar they really are. Clearly disturbed, she walks away in disgust.

At the end of the episode, Russ talks to Phoebe and Chandler and informs them that Rachel broke up with him. Julie enters and meets eyes with Russ, the two instantly falling in love.

Trivia

• In the closing credits, Russ was credited as "Snaro" even though David Schwimmer played the role. Schwimmer was credited as Snaro as a tribute to one of his friends, and it’s also an alias he used from time to time.
• The only physical differences between him and Ross (aside from the clothes and a different hairstyle) are a bigger nose, a more pronounced chin and that he appears to be slightly taller than Ross.
• His overall appearance resembles that of Fun Bobby, who appears in the same episode.
• Russ, like Barry, ex-fiancee of Rachel is a doctor in dentistry. Also, Rachel (and Monica) are the only members of the group to acknowledge that Ross is also a doctor, albeit in paleontology.
• In an interview, Lauren Tom thinks Russ and Julie are still together in 2019 (source).