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October 28, 2024 at 2:06pm EDT
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It always felt like Matthew Perry was there for us. When we needed a laugh, or a ray of hope, we’d turn to something he was in. While his iconic character Chandler Bing on Friends got us through some of the hardest times of our lives, he was always so open, so brave, with how hard life can be (and how you can find hope, and help, if you need to find it).
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When the news broke on Oct 28, 2023, that Perry passed away, the world seemed to stop. Sadly, Perry died at the age of 54, but he left behind an incredible legacy.
Along with playing one of the most iconic comedic characters to hit our televisions, Perry did so many cool things in his life. He wrote a memoir detailing his addictions, advocated for people getting help with theirs, wrote a stunning play, and directed a poignant Scrubs episode. There was a lot more to him than the Friends character we all know and love.
He was a writer, a director, an incredible tennis player, and truly, he was a friend.
To honor his all-too-short life, and the amazing impact he had on so many, we’re going to take a look through it all. Here’s Perry’s incredible life and career in photos below:
This post contains mention of addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can get help by calling the Drug Addiction Hotline at 1-877-813-5721.
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He Was Born on Aug 19, 1969 in Massachusetts
Image Credit: Getty Images
Matthew Perry was born on Aug 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, to parents Suzanne Marie Morrison, a well-known journalist, and John Bennett Perry, an actor.
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He Had Dual Citizenship & a Unique Childhood
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While he was born in Massachusetts, he was raised mainly in Canada. Because his parents divorced and his mother remarried, she relocated to Canada, where he lived in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal. He then got dual citizenship in the US and Canada, per TIME.
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He Focused On His Two Biggest Passions
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Growing up, he focused on his two biggest passions: acting and tennis. While we know he ended up pursuing acting professionally, his love for tennis never stopped. Per Tennis365, he was a top-ranked junior player, and in a 2012 interview, he said, “Giving up tennis wasn’t really a decision I had to make.”
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He Started Acting & Improv at Only 15
Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
At only 15 years old, Matthew Perry moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. During the early years of pursuing his acting career, he attended improv classes at the LA Connection, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
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He Dove Straight Into Numerous TV Roles
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While Matthew Perry got his first official role in 1979 on an episode of 240-Robert, he started to get consistent work starting in 1985 with some guest-starring roles in shows such as Growing Pains, Who’s the Boss, and Just the Ten of Us.
He also starred in short-lived shows such as Boys Will Be Boys and Home Free.
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He Found Major Success on ‘Friends’
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While he was originally set to star in the show LAX 2194, the pilot fell through, and he got the chance to read for Chandler Bing, the snarky and fan-favorite friend of the group in Friends. He starred alongside his castmates from 1994 to 2004, becoming one of the most successful and beloved shows in history (and plunging them right into superstardom).
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He Won Numerous Awards for His Iconic Role
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Matthew Perry received numerous accolades for his role on Friends, including a Screen Actor Guild award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. He was nominated for multiple SAG Awards, Primetime Emmys, and more.
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He & the ‘Friends’ Cast Fought for Pay Equality
Image Credit: Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Per the News, the Friends cast fought for equal pay when they found out they were getting paid not the same amount!
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His Friendships From ‘Friends’ Lasted Throughout the Rest of His Life
Image Credit: Ron Davis/Getty Images
The cast of Friends were truly best friends. Matthew Perry knew and was friends with Jennifer Aniston before the sitcom, and they continued to be best friends until his death. He noted how Courteney Cox was there for him throughout his addiction struggles, Lisa Kudrow lovingly wrote the forward for his memoir, Matt Le Blanc supported his playwrighting debut, and David Schwimmer and he kept their friendship more on the private side.
But this was all just the tip of the iceberg with the gang’s friendship!
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He Made His Directorial Debut in 2004
Image Credit: Mitch Haddad/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
In 2004, Matthew Perry made his directorial debut in the episode of Scrubs entitled “My Unicorn” (which was season four, episode 11)!
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He Worked In Poignant & Eclectic Projects
Image Credit: Steve Mack/Everett Collection
After Friends, he continued to work in films and television alike for years after. He starred in the 2006 film Numb, a film based on a man suffering from depersonalization disorder, along with films like 17 Again and The Ron Clark Story. As for shows, he starred in shows like Go On, Mr. Sunshine, and The Odd Couple.
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He Later Made His British Debut in 2014 After His Successful Film Projects
Image Credit: ©New Line/courtesy Everett Collection
After his success in film and TV, he transitioned to British stage plays. He made his debut in 2014 when he appeared in The Dog Thrower.
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He Continued His Work in the World of Theater
Image Credit: Dave Bennett/Getty Images
In 2016 and 2017, he starred in Matthew Perry’s The End of Longing, his playwriting debut that was a dark comedy that followed a group of people in their forties who are searching for the meaning of life.
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He Bravely Opened Up About His Addiction Struggles
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Even before his bestselling memoir, Matthew Perry was quite open about his battle with addiction. In a 2022 interview, he said he wanted to be remembered for helping people with addiction, who were struggling like he was.
“The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it,” he said. “When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that.”
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He Delighted Fans by Joining in on the Friends Reunion Special
Image Credit: Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images
Many speculated that Matthew Perry would be the only cast member not returning for the HBO Reunion, but he did!
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He Had Some Seriously Cool Hobbies & Interests
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Along with his love for tennis and Batman, Matthew Perry’s reported favorite song is ‘Don’t Give Up’ by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, he loved the show Lost, his favorite movie is Groundhog Day, and he also adored the game Fallout 3 (and he later got a voice gig for the franchise)!
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His Long-Awaited Memoir Became an Instant Bestseller
Image Credit: Flatiron Books
Described as both intimate and eye-opening, Matthew Perry’s memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir discusses everything from finding fame in the 1990s, to addiction, recovery, and everything in between. (And it has a foreword by BFF and former co-star Lisa Kudrow!) It became an instant bestseller across the board.
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He Seemed So Happy Before His Sudden Death
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When you take a peek at Matthew Perry’s socials, he seemed to be quite happy, making silly Batman posts and playing Pickleball.
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He Suddenly Died on Oct 2023 & the World Has Been Mourning
Image Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
The world was shocked, and horrified, to discover that Matthew Perry suddenly died on Oct 28, 2023 after reportedly drowning in a jacuzzi. The world has been mourning since, because the world truly lost a friend.
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