Ross is the older brother of Monica Geller, and is frequently shown to be their parents' favorite. The two siblings are extremely competitive as they tell the others that, as children, they used to take part in a football match for the Geller Cup every Thanksgiving. This ended in its sixth year, after Monica "accidentally" broke Ross's nose. They also tell Rachel about how they used to wrestle as children and had various complications in their relationship, such as Ross having a recurring nightmare that the then-overweight Monica would eat him. Ross and Monica are half-Jewish, but see themselves as at least cultural Jews, with Ross taking a more active role in wanting to teach his son about the faith.
Ross often came into conflict with his close friend, Phoebe Buffay. His rationality and Phoebe's eccentricity led to conflict over the theories of evolution, gravity, and whether or not Phoebe's dead mother was reincarnated as a cat. It was also revealed that Phoebe mugged Ross during her homeless years (stealing a copy of the comic book Science Boy that Ross had created) when they were teenagers, although Phoebe was slightly cheered about the discovery as she had always felt like an outsider to the group as she lacked the longer-term connections of the others. The two were also roommates for a few weeks when a fire forced Phoebe to move into Chandler and Monica's apartment as Phoebe wanted to give the newly-engaged couple some privacy. Also on a 'flash back' episode, they were alone and at the bar, and they ended up kissing, but things bumped into them, like light, and pool balls.
Ross's best friend since college is Chandler Bing. He is shown to have had some old memories such as a band with Chandler called Way/No Way and blamed him when he was caught smoking marijuana in college. Ross is also close friends with Joey Tribbiani and helps him with movie and stage auditions. He kisses Joey once in order to help him practice a role as a gay man only to find out that he had already done the audition and that he had not got the role. They also briefly try to cut Chandler out of their friendship group after he ignores them. Towards the end of the series, however, Ross and Joey are seen to become closer friends, often seen hanging out together after Chandler gets married. At one point, Ross tells Rachel Green that Joey is his best friend, to which Rachel replies, "I thought Chandler was your best friend?" Ross begins explaining, "Well, Chandler's my oldest friend", but refuses to discuss it further.
Ross is said to be a former practitioner of karate and pronounces it "ka-raa-tay", for which the others make fun of him. He claims that Unagi is a state of total awareness, despite his friends repeatedly telling him (correctly) that unagi is Japanese freshwater eel. He ridicules Rachel and Phoebe's self-defense class and surprises them to demonstrate that they lack Unagi. Rachel and Phoebe later surprise Ross and overpower him, however (then Rachel mockingly implies that her practice is "Salmon Skinroll" as opposed to Unagi). In a flashback episode, Ross is practicing karate, claiming that it was his means of releasing his frustration at not having sex with his wife. Ross is however shown to be an at least adequate fighter after fighting with a mugger (off-screen) as he stole Ross, Chandler and two bullies' personal belongings. He also attempts to punch Joey after being given a "free shot" but Joey ducks and Ross hits a lamp post.
Ross has two children. The elder, Ben, is Ross and Carol's son, conceived while the couple were married, and born at the end of season 1. Ben lives with Carol and Susan and his name came from a name tag on an overall seen in that episode. Ben is shy at first, but Rachel transforms him into a mischievous prankster. He was played by Cole Sprouse.
Ross's younger child (born later in the series) is Emma. She is conceived during a one night stand and lives with Ross and Rachel until Rachel moves back in with Joey. She remains there until Ross and Rachel get back together in the series finale. Emma got her name because it was what Monica wanted her daughter to be named but she lets Rachel use it.
