Matthew Perry is one of the most beloved and iconic actors of his generation. He is best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom FRIENDS, which aired from 1994 to 2004.
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| Matthew Perry |
- The first time he ever got onto the cover of "People" magazine he sent it to one of his old teachers, Dr. Web, who said he would never amount to anything if he kept joking around all the time.
- Matthew's initial dream was to become a professional tennis player. He started playing tennis at the age of four and showed great talent in sports. During his teenage years, he was ranked as the 17th best tennis player in the teenager group around the world.
- He asked that his name be removed from the Best Actor in a Comedy Emmy list. The Friends (1994) co-stars have all agreed that they would only be nominated in supporting roles. (June 2000)
- Matthew's wit was so legendary that directors often used his gags and suggestions on the show.
- In "Friends," Chandler once said, "Honestly, I Guess I’ll be the One Who Dies First." He even had a line in the show: "I could be in a bath, and I could be electrocuted and drown slowly."
Friends cast - Missing part of his middle finger on his right hand due to an unfortunate door-shutting accident in nursery school.
- When auditioning for the part of Chandler Bing, he didn't need a script because he knew the pilot by heart. He had been helping a friend with the part before auditioning himself.
- He spoke the last line in the final episode of Friends (1994). When it's suggested that they all go out for coffee, his character Chandler says "Where?".
- Auditioned for Chandler Bing on a Friday and started work the following Monday.
- Was the youngest cast member of Friends (1994).
- Friends (1994) Castmate Jennifer Aniston offered to be his personal trainer after he received threats from his bosses at Warner Brothers about his increasing weight problems. (2002)
- His father appeared on the Friends (1994) episode The One with Rachel's New Dress (1998), as the father of one of Jennifer Aniston's boyfriends.
- Behind the scenes of Friends (1994), Perry was very close friends with co-star Jennifer Aniston.
- His father, John Bennett Perry, played his father in Fools Rush In (1997).
- Used to be ranked nationally in junior tennis in Canada. He has said on interviews that he tried to play in the States but he wasn't good enough.
- He completed a 28-day programme in 1997 for Vicodin addiction (he'd been taking up to 55 pills a day) and then another stint in rehab for addiction to opioids (OxyContin) and alcohol (quart of Vodka daily) in 2001. He was hospitalised again in 2002 while filming Serving Sara (2002) with Elizabeth Hurley and checked himself into a rehab facility in Marina del Rey, California. He estimates that he's been in detox 65 times, attended 6000 AA meetings, survived 14 surgeries and almost died in an emergency trauma room in 2019 after his colon exploded. As one of five patients who was put on an ECMO machine as the last hope for survival that night, Perry was the only one who made it. He was in a coma for 14 days after that incident and spent a further 5 months in hospital. Spent an estimated $9 million trying to get and stay sober. Perry has also battled huge weight loss and gains throughout his career.
- He was the only central cast member of Friends (1994) who has not been nominated for a Razzie.
- His real-life father, John Bennett Perry, played his father when he guest-starred on the Scrubs (2001) episode My Unicorn (2004).
- Perry went out with actress Julia Roberts from 1995-1996, Neve Campbell from 1997-1998, Lauren Graham in 2003, and Lizzy Caplan from 2006 to 2012.
With Julia Roberts - Turned down a role in Independence Day (1996). The part he was offered was eventually taken by Harry Connick Jr.
- His acting idol was Michael Keaton.
- Both in The Whole Nine Yards (2000) and Three to Tango (1999), his characters are asked "Are you always this nervous?". Both times the response is "yes.".
- Close friends with Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) co-star Bradley Whitford and actor Hank Azaria.
- Following the May 6, 2004, airing of the Friends (1994) series finale, he and the rest of the show's cast were on the Jay Leno broadcast from the Central Perk set in the Friends (1994) studio.
- The part of Maj. Don West in Lost in Space (1998) was originally offered to him, but eventually went to Friends (1994) co-star Matt LeBlanc.
- He enjoyed playing ice hockey and softball in his spare time.
- Was classmates in high school with the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
- Mother, Suzanne Morrison, was the press agent for Pierre Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, during the seventies and eighties.
- He starred in 6 shows that lasted one season only: Boys Will Be Boys (1987), Sydney (1990), Home Free (1993), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006), Mr. Sunshine (2011) and Go On (2012).
- According to an interview, Matthew claimed that when he was filming A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) he had formed a star complex and would cockily ask his fellow co-stars what they planned on doing now that "they were on their way". He then said that reality settled in once the movie was released and nothing happened.
- Was on the board of directors for the soon-to-be-opened Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Ron Clark is a world-renowned educator who Perry depicted in the TNT original film The Ron Clark Story (2006).
- Admited that his drinking problem began at 14 years of age.
- In season 1, episode 16 of The West Wing (1999), he was mentioned as a guest at a party the president was attending in L.A. He later played the character of Joe Quincy in three episodes during the fourth and fifth seasons.
- Made his world stage debut in the West End in London alongside Minnie Driver. (May 2003)
- Appeared in the top 30 of Forbes Top 100 Celebrity rich list for the first time (2003)
- He was the first main member of the Friends (1994) cast to pass away (28 October 2023).
- Was a Toronto Blue Jays fan.
- He was a fan of NHL team Ottawa Senators. He often attended the playoff games in Ottawa, Canada. He attended the 2004 playoff games between Ottawa and Toronto Maple Leafs.
