Matthew Perry passed away in October 2023 at age 54, shocking fans and leaving a huge hole in the legacy of the beloved sitcom Friends. The beloved funnyman portrayed Chandler Bing on the NBC show for nearly ten years, winning the hearts of many for his witty, sarcastic portrayal of the character. Here are ten facts about him you probably didn’t know!
The Last Laugh
It’s perhaps fitting that Matthew Perry got to say the final line ever spoken on Friends. When the gang suggests all going out to get a cup of coffee before Monica and Chandler move out to the suburbs, Chandler asks “where?” The suggestion that they could ever go anywhere but Central Perk to get a cup of joe lingers as the camera pans around Monica and Chandler’s now-empty apartment.
Don’t Razz Him
Matthew Perry, surprisingly enough, is the only main Friends actor who has never been nominated for a Golden Raspberry. The not-so-illustrious award, often called a Razzie, is given to actors for particularly bad performances in major motion pictures.
Supporting Cast
Perry famously asked that he have his name removed from contention in the Emmy category “Best Actor in a Comedy.” According to the cast of Friends, they all exclusively wanted to be listed as “Supporting Cast,” as none of the six of them were “main characters” on the show. Instead, the ensemble was the main draw, not any one of the actors.
Sweet Revenge
Perry once recounted a story that he mailed his first People magazine cover to an old teacher of his, Dr. Web. According to Perry, Dr. Web had warned him that he’d never amount to anything if he “kept joking around.” That’s a decidedly Chandler move, and it sounds like much of Perry’s own personal form of humor bled over into the show.
A Lot of Himself in the Role
In fact, producers and directors have stated that’s exactly what happened. Perry was legendarily witty and would often crack jokes between scenes. He was funny enough that the episode’s director would usually just have him say the joke again with the cameras rolling to keep the audience laughing.
Knew it By Heart
When Perry auditioned for the part of Chandler, he didn’t need to read from the script at all. He knew every one of Chandler’s lines from the pilot by heart. He had, apparently, already been helping a friend read lines for the pilot already. This impressed the producers a ton, showing his surprising work ethic.
Quick Hiring Process
His quick wit, intimate knowledge of the script, and professional attitude on set impressed Friends’ producers so thoroughly that they nearly hired him on the spot. He auditioned on a Friday and started filming scenes as Chandler the following Monday. That’s a smashing job interview if any actor’s ever had one!
Famous Friends
In addition to being a famous Friend, Perry had quite a few famous friends of his own. Back in the day, he attended high school in Canada with future Prime Minister Justin Trudeau! There must have been something in the water at that high school in the 80s, because those are some powerhouse charismatic people.
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Weird Cameo
In a first-season episode of The West Wing, a character mentions that Matthew Perry is at an LA party the president is attending. Later, in the fourth season, Perry had a recurring role as Joe Quincy. No one seems to comment on this oddity, even so much as suggesting that Joe looks eerily similar to Matthew Perry.
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Ongoing Investigation
The circumstances of Perry’s death have remained controversial in the months since the news broke. Law enforcement agencies have been investigating what happened and have even recently made a few arrests, accusing a doctor and some of Perry’s associates of supplying him with illegal substances which could have led to his death.
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