Matthew Perry was an American-Canadian actor, comedian, and writer who rose to fame for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends. He also starred in several movies and TV shows, such as The Whole Nine Yards, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and The Odd Couple. He was known for his witty humor, sarcastic personality, and charming smile. However, behind his success and fame, he also struggled with addiction, depression, and health issues. He died at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and love.
Bio
Certainly! Here is a table with some information about Matthew Perry:
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew Langford Perry |
| Birth Date | August 19, 1969 |
| Birth Place | Williamstown, Massachusetts, US |
| Death Date | October 28, 2023 |
| Death Place | Los Angeles, California, US |
| Citizenship | United States Canada |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years Active | 1979–2022 |
| Famous For | Starring as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends (1994–2004) |
| Awards and Nominations | Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in The West Wing (2003) and The Ron Clark Story (2006) |
| Other Notable Works | Ally McBeal (2002), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007), Mr. Sunshine (2011), Go On (2012), The Odd Couple (2015–2017), The Kennedys: After Camelot (2017), Friends: The Reunion (2021) |
| Memoir | Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing (2022) |
Age and Height
At the time of his death, Matthew Perry was 54 years old. He was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA. He had a height of 1.83 m (6 ft) and a weight of 82 kg (181 lbs).
Early Life and Education
Matthew Perry was the only child of John Bennett Perry, an American actor and former model, and Suzanne Marie Morrison, a Canadian journalist and former press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His parents divorced when he was one year old, and his mother remarried Canadian broadcast journalist Keith Morrison. He was raised by his mother mostly in Ottawa, Ontario, but he also lived briefly in Toronto and Montreal.
Perry attended Rockcliffe Park Public School and Ashbury College, a boarding school in Ottawa. He was a proficient tennis player and ranked as high as #17 in the national juniors singles category in Canada. He also developed an interest in acting and appeared in several school theater productions.
After graduating from high school, Perry moved to Los Angeles at the age of 15 to live with his father and pursue acting full-time. He enrolled at The Buckley School, a renowned acting school, where he honed his craft.
Matthew Perry’s Career
Perry began his acting career in the late 1980s, appearing in various TV shows and movies, such as Second Chance, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, and She’s Out of Control. However, his breakthrough role came in 1994, when he was cast as Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom Friends. The show, which revolved around the lives of six friends living in New York City, became a cultural phenomenon and one of the most popular and successful TV shows of all time. Perry’s portrayal of the sarcastic and witty Chandler earned him critical acclaim and several awards and nominations, including a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2002.
During his time on Friends, Perry also starred in several movies, such as Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes, Three to Tango, The Whole Nine Yards, and The Whole Ten Yards. He also made guest appearances on other TV shows, such as Ally McBeal, The West Wing, and Scrubs.
After Friends ended in 2004, Perry continued to work in both film and television. He created and starred in his own sitcom, Mr. Sunshine, which ran for one season on ABC in 2011. He also starred as a sportscaster on the NBC sitcom Go On, which ran for one season in 2012-2013. He co-developed and starred in a revival of the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple, portraying Oscar Madison from 2015 to 2017. He had recurring roles in the legal dramas The Good Wife and The Good Fight. He portrayed Ted Kennedy in the miniseries The Kennedys: After Camelot in 2017. He appeared as himself in his final television role, Friends: The Reunion, in 2021. He voiced Benny in the video game Fallout: New Vegas in 2010.
Perry was also a talented writer and producer. He wrote and produced several episodes of Friends and Mr. Sunshine. He also wrote and starred in the play The End of Longing, which debuted in London in 2016 and in New York in 2017.
Net Worth
According to various sources, Matthew Perry had a net worth of $120 million at the time of his death. He earned most of his wealth from his acting career, especially from his role on Friends. He and his co-stars reportedly made $1 million per episode for the last two seasons of the show, making them the highest-paid TV actors at the time. He also made $20 million per year from the show’s syndication and streaming deals. He also earned money from his movie and TV roles, as well as his writing and producing projects.
Relationships
Matthew Perry had several romantic relationships throughout his life, some of which were with famous celebrities. He dated Julia Roberts for two months in 1995-1996, after she guest-starred on an episode of Friends. He also dated Yasmine Bleeth, Neve Campbell, Heather Graham, Lauren Graham, Rachel Dunn, and Lizzy Caplan. He was briefly engaged to Molly Hurwitz, a literary manager, in 2020, but they broke up in 2021. He never married or had any children.
Family
Matthew Perry had five half-siblings from his parents’ later marriages. His father, John Bennett Perry, married Debbie Boyle in 1981 and had a daughter, Maria Perry, in 1986. His mother, Suzanne Marie Morrison, married Keith Morrison in 1981 and had four children: Caitlin Morrison (born in 1981), Emily Morrison (born in 1985), Will Morrison (born in 1987), and Madeline Morrison (born in 1990). Perry was close to his siblings and often attended events with them.
Social Media Presence
Matthew Perry was active on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. He had millions of followers who loved his humorous and candid posts. He often shared photos and videos of himself, his friends, his projects, and his interests. He also used social media to raise awareness and support for various causes, such as addiction recovery, mental health, and animal welfare. His last Instagram post was a photo of himself in a hot tub, captioned “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.”
Interesting Facts About Matthew Perry
- Matthew Perry lost part of his middle finger on his right hand due to an unfortunate door-shutting accident in nursery school.
- Matthew Perry had dual citizenship of the United States and Canada. He also had a green card for the United Kingdom.
- Matthew Perry was a huge fan of the show Lost. He even appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to present an alternate ending for the show’s finale in 2010.
- Matthew Perry had a secret make-out session with Valerie Bertinelli in the 1980s, while her then-husband Eddie Van Halen was passed out nearby. He revealed this in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
- Matthew Perry was the first person to ever say the word “transponster” on TV, when he guessed Rachel’s job title on Friends.
Latest News
- Matthew Perry’s cause of death was revealed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office on December 15, 2023. According to the autopsy report, Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic and hallucinogenic drug. Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects. Perry was found dead in a jacuzzi at his home on October 28, 2023. No drugs were found at the scene, and no foul play was suspected.
- Matthew Perry’s proposal to his ex-girlfriend Molly Hurwitz was reportedly made out of intoxication, when he was high on 1800 milligrams of drugs in Switzerland. Hurwitz accepted his proposal in November 2020, but they broke up in June 2021, after Perry allegedly cheated on her with multiple women. Hurwitz was devastated by Perry’s death and said he was “the love of her life”.
- Matthew Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, was released on November 2, 2021, a year before his death. The book chronicled Perry’s life and career, as well as his struggles with addiction, depression, and health issues. He also opened up about his relationships, his regrets, and his hopes. He dedicated the book to his Friends co-stars, whom he called “the best friends I ever had”
FAQs
Matthew Perry died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54.
Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine and drowning, according to the autopsy report.
Matthew Perry’s most famous role was Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends, which ran from 1994 to 2004.
Matthew Perry had a long history of addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs, such as Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and opioids. He started abusing substances in the late 1990s, when he suffered from pancreatitis and severe weight loss. He went to rehab several times, but relapsed repeatedly. He admitted that he did not remember filming three seasons of Friends due to his addiction. He also suffered from depression and anxiety, which worsened his condition. He tried to cope with his addiction by using humor and self-deprecation, but he also acknowledged that it was a serious and life-threatening issue.
Matthew Perry’s addiction had a negative impact on his physical and mental health. He had several health complications, such as pancreatitis, gastrointestinal perforation, liver damage, kidney failure, and seizures. He also had multiple surgeries, such as a tracheostomy, a gastric bypass, and a liver transplant. He lost and gained a lot of weight over the years, which affected his appearance and self-esteem. He also had difficulty sleeping, eating, and socializing. He suffered from chronic pain, mood swings, and suicidal thoughts. He said that he was “a sick guy” who needed help.
Matthew Perry’s addiction also had a negative impact on his professional career. He missed several episodes and scenes of Friends due to his rehab stints and health issues. He also had trouble remembering his lines and delivering his jokes. He lost some of his roles and opportunities due to his unreliability and erratic behavior. He also faced criticism and mockery from the media and the public for his addiction and appearance. He said that he felt “guilty and ashamed” for letting down his fans and colleagues.
Matthew Perry’s addiction also had a negative impact on his personal relationships. He alienated and hurt many of his friends and family members due to his addiction and depression. He also had difficulty maintaining romantic relationships, as he was often unfaithful, abusive, or distant. He broke up with several of his girlfriends, such as Julia Roberts, Lauren Graham, and Molly Hurwitz, due to his addiction and infidelity. He also had a strained relationship with his Friends co-stars, especially Jennifer Aniston, who was his closest friend on the show. He said that he felt “lonely and isolated” for most of his life.
Matthew Perry never fully overcame his addiction, as he relapsed several times until his death. However, he did make some efforts to recover and help others who were struggling with addiction. He attended various rehab programs and therapy sessions, and he also joined Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. He also opened his own sober living facility, Perry House, in Malibu, California, in 2011, where he offered support and guidance to other recovering addicts. He also spoke publicly and candidly about his addiction and recovery, and he advocated for drug policy reform and addiction awareness. He received several awards and recognition for his humanitarian work, such as the Champion of Recovery Award from the White House in 2013. He said that he was “proud and grateful” for his recovery and activism.
Controversy
Matthew Perry was involved in several controversies throughout his life, some of which were related to his addiction and behavior. Here are some of the most notable ones:
- In 1997, Perry was arrested for drunk driving after he crashed his Porsche into a vacant house in Los Angeles. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two years of probation, a $1,200 fine, and a 90-day alcohol program.
- In 2000, Perry was sued by a former employee, Todd Shemarya, who claimed that Perry owed him $25,000 for services rendered. Shemarya also alleged that Perry was abusive, violent, and addicted to drugs and alcohol. Perry denied the allegations and countersued Shemarya for defamation and breach of contract. The case was settled out of court in 2001.
- In 2002, Perry was accused of sexual harassment by a former assistant, Rachel Ryan, who claimed that Perry made unwanted advances and comments towards her. Ryan also alleged that Perry was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and that he threatened to fire her if she did not comply with his demands. Perry denied the allegations and said that Ryan was lying and extorting him. The case was dismissed in 2003.
- In 2010, Perry was involved in a feud with his former Friends co-star, Jennifer Aniston, who reportedly blamed him for the failure of their planned Friends reunion. Aniston allegedly accused Perry of being selfish, unprofessional, and addicted to drugs and alcohol. Perry allegedly responded by calling Aniston a hypocrite, a diva, and a bad friend. The feud was later resolved, and they reconciled in 2021, when they appeared together on Friends: The Reunion.
- In 2021, Perry was criticized for his appearance and behavior on Friends: The Reunion, where he looked tired, slurred, and disoriented. Many fans expressed their concern and sympathy for his health and well-being, while others mocked and ridiculed him for his addiction and aging. Perry later revealed that he had a dental emergency before the filming, and that he was on painkillers and sedatives. He also said that he was nervous and emotional about the reunion, and that he was grateful for the support and love from his fans and co-stars.
Conclusion
Matthew Perry was a talented and beloved actor, comedian, and writer, who entertained and inspired millions of people with his humor and charisma. He was best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, which made him a household name and a cultural icon. He also had a successful career in film and theater, as well as a passion for writing and producing. A generous and compassionate person, who used his fame and fortune to help others who were suffering from addiction and mental illness. He was a loyal and caring friend, who cherished his relationships with his co-stars and family members.
However, Matthew Perry also had a dark and tragic side, which haunted him for most of his life. He battled with addiction, depression, and health issues, which affected his personal and professional life. He faced many challenges and hardships, such as legal troubles, scandals, and controversies. Also experienced many losses and regrets, such as failed relationships, missed opportunities, and broken dreams. He died at a young age, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and love, but also of pain and sorrow.
Matthew Perry was a complex and conflicted person, who had a remarkable and memorable life. He was a friend, a lover, and a big terrible thing. He was Matthew Perry.
