Matthew Perry was an American-Canadian actor, comedian, producer, and writer who rose to fame as one of the stars of the popular sitcom ‘Friends’. He played Chandler Bing, a sarcastic and witty character who often made jokes to cope with his insecurities and awkwardness. Perry’s portrayal of Chandler was widely praised by critics and fans alike, and he earned several awards and nominations for his performance. He also became one of the highest-paid actors in television history, earning $1 million per episode in the final seasons of ‘Friends’.
Perry was loved by millions of people around the world for his comedic talent, his charming personality, and his generosity. He had a loyal fan base that followed him throughout his career, and Matthew Perry often interacted with them on social media and in interviews. Matthew Perry was also a kind and compassionate person who supported various causes and charities, especially those related to addiction recovery and drug abuse prevention. Perry was a role model and an inspiration for many people who struggled with similar issues.
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Early life and career
Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, to Suzanne Marie Morrison, a Canadian journalist, and John Bennett Perry, an American actor and model. His parents divorced when he was a year old, and he moved with his mother to Ottawa, Canada. He grew up in a bilingual household, speaking both English and French. Matthew Perry attended Ashbury College, a private school in Ottawa, where he excelled in academics and sports. He was particularly good at tennis and became a top-ranked junior player in Canada.
How Matthew Perry became a successful actor
Perry developed an interest in acting at an early age and participated in several school plays and community theater productions. He decided to pursue a career in acting after graduating from high school in 1987. Matthew Perry moved to Los Angeles to live with his father, who helped him get an agent and some auditions. He made his television debut in 1979 as a guest star on the sitcom ‘240-Robert’. Matthew Perry then appeared in several TV shows and movies throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, such as ‘Second Chance’, ‘Sydney’, ‘She’s Out of Control’, ‘Dance ‘Til Dawn’, ‘Growing Pains’, ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, ‘Home Free’, and ‘L.A. Law’.
Matthew Perry’s Friends and Fame
Perry’s breakthrough role came in 1994 when he was cast as Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom ‘Friends’. The show revolved around the lives of six friends living in New York City: Chandler Bing (Perry), Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), and Ross Geller (David Schwimmer). The show was a huge success, becoming one of the most watched and loved shows in TV history. It ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 and won numerous awards and accolades.
Perry’s character Chandler Bing is a sarcastic and witty character
Perry’s character Chandler Bing was a sarcastic and witty character who often made jokes to cope with his insecurities and awkwardness. He worked as a data processor for a large corporation, but later quit his job to pursue a career in advertising. Matthew Perry had a troubled childhood, as his parents divorced when he was nine years old after his father came out as gay. He also had a fear of commitment, until he fell in love with Monica Geller, his best friend’s sister. They eventually got married and adopted twins.
Awards and Nominations for His Performance
Perry’s portrayal of Chandler Bing was widely praised by critics and fans alike, and he earned several awards and nominations for his performance. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2002, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2003, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series from 1996 to 2000. He also became one of the highest-paid actors in television history, earning $1 million per episode in the final seasons of ‘Friends’.
Challenges and struggles in the life of Matthew Perry
Despite his success and fame, Perry faced many challenges and struggles in his personal life. He developed an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs, mainly Vicodin, which he started taking after a jet ski accident in 1997. Matthew Perry also suffered from pancreatitis, which caused him to lose a lot of weight and look visibly different in some episodes of ‘Friends’. He checked into rehab twice, in 1997 and 2001, to seek treatment for his addiction. Matthew Perry later admitted that he had no memory of filming three seasons of ‘Friends’ due to his substance abuse.
Personal Problems
Perry also had some difficulties in his romantic relationships. He dated several actresses and celebrities, such as Julia Roberts, Yasmine Bleeth, Lauren Graham, and Lizzy Caplan, but none of them lasted long. Matthew Perry was engaged to fashion designer Rachel Dunn in 2003, but they broke up in 2004. He never married or had any children of his own.
Matthew Perry faced some challenges in his professional life
Perry also faced some challenges in his professional life after ‘Friends’ ended. He tried to launch his own sitcoms, such as ‘The Odd Couple’ and ‘Mr. Sunshine, but they were canceled after one or two seasons. He also starred in some movies and shows, such as ‘The Whole Nine Yards’, ‘17 Again’, ‘The Ron Clark Story’, ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’, and ‘The Good Fight’, but none of them matched the popularity or acclaim of ‘Friends’.
How Matthew Perry starred in movies, shows, and video games
Perry was not only an actor, but also a producer, writer, and director. He co-created and co-produced two of his own sitcoms, ‘Mr. Sunshine’ and ‘The Odd Couple’, which he also starred in. Matthew Perry also wrote and directed an episode of ‘Scrubs’ in 2006, and an episode of ‘Cougar Town’ in 2014. He also produced a documentary film called ‘Endure: A Run for the Kids in 2010, which followed his friend Peter Hotez as he ran a marathon to raise money for children with cerebral palsy.
Other Projects and Achievements
Perry was also involved in some other projects and achievements outside of acting. He was an avid gamer and voiced the character of Benny in the video game ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ in 2010. Matthew Perry was also a fan of sports, especially hockey and tennis. He played in several celebrity tournaments and charity events, such as the World Poker Tour and the Celebrity Tennis Classic. Matthew Perry was also a co-owner of the Hollywood All-Stars, a celebrity softball team.
Philanthropy and activism:
Perry was a generous and compassionate person who supported various causes and charities throughout his life. He was especially passionate about helping people who struggled with addiction and drug abuse, as he had experienced it himself. Matthew Perry donated money and time to several organizations that provided treatment and recovery services, such as the Perry House, the Phoenix House, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, and the Drug Policy Alliance. He also spoke publicly about his own addiction and recovery journey and encouraged others to seek help.
Matthew Perry supported various causes and charities
Perry also supported other causes and charities that were close to his heart, such as animal rights, environmental protection, cancer research, children’s welfare, veterans’ affairs, and human rights. He donated money and participated in events for organizations such as PETA, Greenpeace, Stand Up To Cancer, UNICEF, Wounded Warrior Project, Amnesty International, and many more.
Matthew Perry Received Awards for His Humanitarian work
Perry received several awards and recognition for his philanthropic and humanitarian work. He received the Champion of Recovery Award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2013 for his advocacy on drug courts. Matthew Perry also received the Phoenix Rising Award from the Phoenix House in 2015 for his support of addiction recovery. He was also honored with the Global Generation Award from UNICEF in 2016 for his contributions to children’s welfare.
Death and tributes:
Perry passed away on October 28, 2023, at his Los Angeles home. He was 54 years old. According to the LA Times, Perry was found dead in a hot tub in an apparent drowning accident. No foul play is suspected, the sources told the newspaper.
His death shocked and saddened his fans, friends, and colleagues around the world. They expressed their grief and condolences on social media and in interviews. They also shared their memories and appreciation of Perry’s life and work.
His former co-stars from ‘Friends’ posted heartfelt messages on Instagram, saying that they were devastated by the loss of their dear friend. They also posted a group photo of them together with Perry from their recent reunion special, which aired earlier this year on HBO Max.
Other celebrities who worked with Perry or knew him personally also paid tribute to him on social media or in statements. They praised him for his comedic genius, his warm personality, his generosity, and his courage