Matthew Perry.Photo: Michael Kovac/FilmMagic
Matthew Perrystarted acting at 10 years old — but to many fans, he’ll always be Chandler Bing.
The belovedFriendsactordied on Oct. 28, 2023, at 54 years old.
“I’m an extremely grateful guy. I’m grateful to be alive, that’s for sure,“he told PEOPLE. “And that gives me the possibility to do anything.”
01of 10Matthew Perry’s Early LifeYoung Matthew Perry.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/GettyMatthew Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on Aug. 19, 1969, though was raised in Ottawa, Canada (he attended elementary school with Canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau).His mother, Suzanne Morrison, was a journalist and press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin’s father.Perry’s stepfather isDateline‘s Keith Morrison. His father,John Bennett Perry,was once an actor and model — the younger Perry even guest-starred in an episode of his dad’s cop show,240-Robert, in 1979.
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Matthew Perry’s Early Life
Young Matthew Perry.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Matthew Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on Aug. 19, 1969, though was raised in Ottawa, Canada (he attended elementary school with Canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau).
His mother, Suzanne Morrison, was a journalist and press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin’s father.
Perry’s stepfather isDateline‘s Keith Morrison. His father,John Bennett Perry,was once an actor and model — the younger Perry even guest-starred in an episode of his dad’s cop show,240-Robert, in 1979.
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Matthew Perry and Valerie Bertinelli on Sydney.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Perry’s early television work included bit parts on favorites likeCharles in ChargeandSilver Spoonsbefore he landed a role onBoys Will Be Boysand later,Sydney,alongsideValerie Bertinelli.
In his memoir, Perry wrote that he “fell madly in love” with Bertinelli when they played siblings in the short-lived 1990 CBS sitcom, claiming that she was “clearly in a troubled marriage” with rockerEddie Van Halenat the time. He revealed that he had “elaborate fantasies” about her leaving the rock star and them running away together before he finally made a move.
For her part, Bertinelliresponded with a TikTokasking, “Anyone misbehave in their 20s and early 30s? Are you Mortified?”
He went on to havea string of high-profile relationships, getting engaged in 2020 to literary manager Molly Hurwitz. The two split in the summer of 2021.
03of 10Matthew Perry on ‘Friends’Matthew Perry on Friends.Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett CollectionCollectionIn 1994, Perry landed the role of Chandler Bing onFriends, earning an Emmy nod for his work in 2002.“It was as if someone had followed me around for a year, stealing my jokes, copying my mannerisms, photocopying my world-weary yet witty view of life,” he wrote in his 2022 memoir,according toDeadline.“It wasn’t that I thought I could play ‘Chandler’; I was Chandler.”As with his costarsJennifer Aniston,Courteney Cox,Lisa Kudrow,Matt LeBlancandDavid Schwimmer, the show became a large part of his legacy. The cast reunited in 2021on an HBO Max special, thoughspent quality time together off-screen through the years, often popping up at each other’s premieres and birthday dinners.
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Matthew Perry on ‘Friends’
Matthew Perry on Friends.Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett CollectionCollection
Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett CollectionCollection
In 1994, Perry landed the role of Chandler Bing onFriends, earning an Emmy nod for his work in 2002.
“It was as if someone had followed me around for a year, stealing my jokes, copying my mannerisms, photocopying my world-weary yet witty view of life,” he wrote in his 2022 memoir,according toDeadline.“It wasn’t that I thought I could play ‘Chandler’; I was Chandler.”
As with his costarsJennifer Aniston,Courteney Cox,Lisa Kudrow,Matt LeBlancandDavid Schwimmer, the show became a large part of his legacy. The cast reunited in 2021on an HBO Max special, thoughspent quality time together off-screen through the years, often popping up at each other’s premieres and birthday dinners.
04of 10Matthew Perry’s Movie RolesMatthew Perry and Bruce Willis in The Whole Nine Yards.Warner Brothers/GettyLater in the ’90s, Perry started to make his mark on the big screen. perhaps most notably in 2000’sThe Whole Nine Yardsand 2004’sThe Whole Ten YardsoppositeBruce Willis.“Bruce hadn’t been sure the film would work at all, and I’d bet him it would — if he lost, he had to do a guest spot onFriends,“Perry wrote of the first movie in his memoir,adding, “(he’s in three episodes of season six).”
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Matthew Perry’s Movie Roles
Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis in The Whole Nine Yards.Warner Brothers/Getty
Later in the ’90s, Perry started to make his mark on the big screen. perhaps most notably in 2000’sThe Whole Nine Yardsand 2004’sThe Whole Ten YardsoppositeBruce Willis.
“Bruce hadn’t been sure the film would work at all, and I’d bet him it would — if he lost, he had to do a guest spot onFriends,“Perry wrote of the first movie in his memoir,adding, “(he’s in three episodes of season six).”
05of 10Matthew Perry’s Additional Movie RolesMatthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley in Serving Sara.Ftm Production/Manadaly/Kobal/ShutterstockIn 2002, Perry joined Elizabeth Hurley inServing Sara.“He’s a very funny writer like he’s a very funny man. He’s an incredibly gifted comedian … his way with words is fantastic,“Hurley told Yahoo Entertainmentin 2022.Other highlights included 1997’sFools Rush In,1999’sThree to Tangoand 2009’s17 Again,oppositeZac Efron.
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Matthew Perry’s Additional Movie Roles
Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley in Serving Sara.Ftm Production/Manadaly/Kobal/Shutterstock
In 2002, Perry joined Elizabeth Hurley inServing Sara.
“He’s a very funny writer like he’s a very funny man. He’s an incredibly gifted comedian … his way with words is fantastic,“Hurley told Yahoo Entertainmentin 2022.
Other highlights included 1997’sFools Rush In,1999’sThree to Tangoand 2009’s17 Again,oppositeZac Efron.
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Matthew Perry in ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’
Matthew Perry on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.Scott Garfield/NBC
“Studio 60taught me that even if a show has this insane amount of power behind it, you never know what’s going to happen,“Perry toldUSA Todayof the Aaron Sorkin-backed project, which aired briefly from 2006 to 2007. “I was really proud of being part of that, because that pilot was just as good as anything I’ve seen on television. I can’t believe I was in it.”
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Matthew Perry on ‘The Good Fight’
Matthew Perry on The Good Fight.
Throughout his career, he earned five Emmy nominations, one Golden Globe Award nomination and seven Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, plus one win forFriends.
08of 10Matthew Perry’s MemoirMatthew Perry’s memoir.Flatiron BooksIn 2022, Perry opened up about everything from work and relationships to addiction in his memoir,Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.“I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again,“he told PEOPLE.“I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober — and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction — to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people.”
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Matthew Perry’s Memoir
Matthew Perry’s memoir.Flatiron Books
In 2022, Perry opened up about everything from work and relationships to addiction in his memoir,Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
“I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again,“he told PEOPLE.“I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober — and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction — to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people.”
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Matthew Perry’s Addiction Struggles
Matthew Perry.
When Perry was first cast onFriendsat age 24, his alcohol addiction was just starting to surface.
At one point during hisFriendsfame, Perry was taking 55 Vicodin a day and was down to 128 lbs. “I didn’t know how to stop,” he said. “If the police came over to my house and said, ‘If you drink tonight, we’re going to take you to jail,’ I’d start packing. I couldn’t stop because the disease and the addiction is progressive. So it gets worse and worse as you grow older.” He said he checked in to rehab 15 times.
His castmates “were understanding, and they were patient,“he added. “I’m pretty healthy now.”
10of 10Matthew Perry DiesMatthew Perry.Michael Kovac/FilmMagicOn Oct. 28, 2023,TMZ broke the newsthat Perry had died at the age of 54 after reportedly drowning at home in a jacuzzi.
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Matthew Perry Dies
Matthew Perry.Michael Kovac/FilmMagic
On Oct. 28, 2023,TMZ broke the newsthat Perry had died at the age of 54 after reportedly drowning at home in a jacuzzi.
source: people.com
