Matthew Perry (1969

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Biography

Matthew Langford Perry was an American and Canadian actor. He gained international fame for starring as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends (1994–2004). Perry also appeared on Ally McBeal (2002) and received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in The West Wing (2003) and The Ron Clark Story (2006). He played a leading role in the NBC series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007), and also became known for his leading film roles in Fools Rush In (1997), Almost Heroes (1998), Three to Tango (1999), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), Serving Sara (2002), The Whole Ten Yards (2004), and 17 Again (2009).

In Their Own Words (1)

The best way I can describe it is: after the show was over, at a party or any — any kind social gathering, if one of us bumped into each other, that was it, that was the end of the night. We just sat with the person all night long — and that was it. You apologized to the people that you were with, but they had to understand you had met somebody special to you, and you were going to talk to that person for the rest of the night. And that's the way it worked. It's certainly the way it worked with all of us. It's just the way it is. … Now, I'm gonna cry now.

Closing remarks at the end of Friends: The Reunion (2021) , 2021

Timeline

The story of Matthew Perry, told in moments.

1994 Event

Friends premiered on NBC. Perry played Chandler Bing. The show ran for 10 seasons and became one of the most-watched sitcoms in television history. By the end, the six leads each earned $1 million per episode.

Chandler Bing and $1 million per episode. Did the money match the pain? One of the most-watched sitcoms ever. Were you aware during filming?

2000 Life

His addiction to Vicodin and alcohol became severe during Friends' peak years. He's said he doesn't remember filming three entire seasons. He went to rehab multiple times. Kept working through it.

Not remembering three entire seasons. Does that terrify you? Rehab multiple times while the world watched. Was fame the worst drug?

2022 Event

Published his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. It detailed decades of addiction, 15 stomach surgeries, and a brief period where his heart stopped for five minutes. It became a bestseller.

Your heart stopping for five minutes. What did you see? A bestselling memoir about decades of addiction. Was writing it cathartic?

2023 Death

Died at 54 in his Los Angeles home. Cause of death: acute effects of ketamine, with drowning as a contributing factor. Five people were charged for supplying him the drug. He'd spent his final years as an advocate for addiction recovery.

Ketamine and drowning at fifty-four. Was recovery ever within reach? Spending your final years advocating for others. Was that purpose enough?

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