Matthew Perry was a renowned American and Canadian actor. He was best known for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing on the TV series "Friends" from 1994 to 2004, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award. He had notable roles in TV shows like "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Mr. Sunshine," "Go On," and "The Odd Couple," as well as appearances in various films. Perry's career also included voice acting in "Fallout: New Vegas," playing Ted Kennedy in "The Kennedys: After Camelot," and reuniting with the "Friends" cast in "Friends: The Reunion." In 2022, he authored a memoir titled "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing." The news of Perry's passing emerged on October 28, 2023. He was discovered lifeless at a residence in the Los Angeles area, specifically in a jacuzzi, with no drugs present at the location, as per accounts.
Matthew Perry Biography
Matthew Perry, famous for his role as Chandler Bing on "Friends," had a successful acting career, including roles in TV shows like "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Mr. Sunshine," and "The Odd Couple." His passing was reported on October 28, 2023, when he was found lifeless in a Los Angeles home's jacuzzi. He dies at 54.
Matthew Perry, originally named Matthew Langford Perry, was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA. He held American-Canadian nationality and had a diverse ethnic background, with German, French-Canadian, Swiss-German, Irish, and English ancestry. Perry was born to his father, John Bennett Perry, a professional actor, and his mother, Suzanne Morrison, who served as the press mediator of the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, during the '80s and '90s. His parents separated when he was just one year old, and his mother later married Canadian broadcast journalist Keith Morrison, with whom she had four children—Caitlin, Emily, Will, and Madeline. On the other hand, John had a daughter named Maria with his second wife, Debbie Boyle. Perry had a unique characteristic, as he lost part of his middle finger due to a childhood incident involving a slammed door.
As for his education, Perry attended Rockcliffe Park Public School for elementary education, where he went to school with future Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He later enrolled at Ashbury College, a boarding school in Ottawa. At the age of 15, Perry embarked on his acting journey by studying at the Buckley School, a college-preparatory school in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, where he graduated in 1987. During his high school years, Perry honed his comedic skills by taking improvisational comedy classes at L.A. Connection in Sherman Oaks.
Matthew Perry's journey in the entertainment industry began as a child actor in 1979 when he had a small part in "240-Robert." After moving to Los Angeles, he actively pursued acting opportunities, making guest appearances on various TV shows like "Not Necessarily the News" in 1983, "Charles in Charge" in 1985, and "Silver Spoons" in 1986. He continued his career with roles such as Chazz Russell in the TV series "Second Chance" (later renamed "Boys Will Be Boys") in 1987 and 1988. Perry made his film debut in "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon" in 1988 and even had a three-episode arc on "Growing Pains" in 1989. He was cast as a regular on the 1990 CBS sitcom "Sydney" and made a guest appearance on "Beverly Hills, 90210" in 1991. Perry played the starring role in the ABC sitcom "Home Free," which aired in 1993.
In 1994, Perry's career took a pivotal turn as he was cast as Chandler Bing in the hit series "Friends." The show's immense success catapulted Perry to international celebrity status, and he, along with his co-stars, earned $1 million per episode by 2002. Perry's impressive performance also earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002. During his time on "Friends," he also ventured into film, appearing in movies like "Fools Rush In," "Almost Heroes," "Three to Tango," "The Whole Nine Yards" and its sequel, "The Whole Ten Yards," as well as "Serving Sara." Perry expanded his career further by portraying Joe Quincy in "The West Wing," which resulted in two Emmy nominations. In 2004, he made his directorial debut in an episode of "Scrubs."
Following his "Friends" success, Perry's work included a Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated role in "The Ron Clark Story," as well as starring in Aaron Sorkin's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and other diverse projects like "Numb," stage performances, and various film and TV appearances. In 2022, he released his memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," which became a bestseller.
Matthew Perry, a highly successful actor, had an estimated net worth of $120 million at the time of his passing, primarily stemming from his lucrative career in the entertainment industry. While he took on various small roles throughout his career, the bulk of his wealth can be attributed to his iconic role as Chandler Bing in the hit TV series "Friends."
Alongside the rest of the core cast, he initially earned $22,500 per episode or $540,000 for Season 1, but at the peak of the show's popularity, Perry, along with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, commanded an impressive $1 million per episode. Over the course of the series' ten-season run, their earnings amounted to an astounding estimated total of $90 million each. He lived his life to the fullest.
Matthew Perry, who remained unmarried throughout his life. Thus, he had no wife. His most recently dating was with literary manager Molly Hurwitz in 2018. The couple's relationship led to an engagement in November 2020, but they unfortunately decided to part ways in 2021 after almost three years together. He was single at the time of his death and he had no wife.
In the past, Matthew had a history of dating various individuals, including Christina Sibul and a brief relationship with Julia Roberts, whom he met on the set of "Friends" in 1995. He also dated Yasmine Bleeth in 1996, followed by a four-month relationship with Canadian actress Neve Campbell in 1998. Perry had an encounter with Renee Zellweger in 2002 and was linked to actress Maeve Quinlan from 2002 to 2003. He briefly dated actresses Heather Graham and Lauren Graham in 2003, had a relationship with American netball player Rachel Dunn from 2003 to 2004, and was rumored to have had a romantic involvement with his "Friends" co-star Jennifer Aniston in 2006.
Perry was also rumored to have been involved with actress Piper Perabo in 2006, who he worked with on the NBC sitcom "Go On." He had a more extended relationship with actress Lizzy Caplan from 2006 to 2012, despite their age difference of about 13 years. Additionally, there were rumors of a fling with American actress and producer Meg Ryan in 2007.
Matthew Perry was discovered unconscious in his home's hot tub in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, by his assistant on October 28, 2023. Subsequently, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department declared him deceased. According to LAPD Captain Scot Williams, while the cause of death remains undetermined, foul play is currently not a suspected factor. On October 29, 2023, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office listed the cause of death as "deferred," pending further investigative procedures.
Matthew Perry, the handsome actor, had an average build with a height of 6 feet (183 cm) and a weight of 82 kg (181 lbs). He boasted light brown hair and striking blue eyes, with distinctive features that included a captivating smile and alluring eyes. His shoe size was 10 (US), 9 (UK), or 43 (EU).
In his youth, Matthew Perry exhibited remarkable talent as a tennis prodigy, channeling his dedication into a pursuit of a professional tennis career. His exceptional skills led him to achieve an impressive national ranking of #17 in the Juniors singles category in Canada, showcasing his early promise as a competitive athlete before he ultimately transitioned to a successful career in acting.
Following his 1997 jet ski accident, Perry was prescribed painkillers, which regrettably led to a debilitating addiction. This dependency escalated as he combined the medication with alcohol, exacerbating his struggle. Perry's battle with addiction garnered significant media attention, often portrayed with little empathy.
Matthew Perry, being the humorous and quick-witted member of the "Friends" cast, held the unique privilege of collaborating closely with the show's writers during script discussions, a distinction not afforded to the other five leads. His talent for crafting one-liners and jokes made him an indispensable contributor to the show's narrative, and he played a significant role in shaping the storyline of "Friends."
Matthew Perry was a passionate devotee of the Los Angeles Lakers. His deep and unwavering enthusiasm for the team was evident in his frequent attendance at Lakers games, where he cheered on his beloved team with fervor. This fervent fandom extended to his active participation in discussions about the Lakers, and he often engaged in conversations about the team's performance and players.