Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Matthew Perry
#10: Co-Starring with His Father on “Scrubs”
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A singer-turned-actor, John Bennett Perry appeared in several movies and TV shows, occasionally crossing paths with his son. He fittingly played Mathew’s dad in “Fools Rush In” and Joshua’s father on “Friends.” Most notably, Matthew directed his father in an episode of “Scrubs,” “My Unicorn.” He also starred as Murray Marks, a cynical air traffic control operator who’s reluctant to give a kidney to his adoptive father, played by his biological father. J.D. takes a special interest, having recently lost his dad, who was played by John Ritter. This connection is especially poignant considering that Perry and Ritter both passed away suddenly at age 54. In typical “Scrubs” fashion, the episode balances humor and heart with Murray coming to understand the meaning of family.
#9: The One Where He Hosted “SNL”
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On the heels of three other “Friends” cast members, Perry hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 1997. The sketch comedy took full advantage of Perry’s expertise in sarcasm, having him teach a course on it. “SNL” also provided Perry with an opportunity to showcase several impressions, including Michael Keaton on “Celebrity Jeopardy!,” Woody Allen, and even Matt LeBlanc. In the episode’s most meta sketch, Perry impersonated Joey while Colin Quinn adopted the Chandler role. Breaking the fourth wall, Perry isn’t pleased with Quinn’s portrayal, leading to him doing an impression of Quinn’s impression. Perry only hosted once, but Studio H8 wouldn’t forget about him. The day Perry passed, “SNL” honored the actor with his headshot and a moment of silence.
#8: The Alternate Reality Where He Did “L.A.X. 2194” Instead of “Friends”
“Friends” provided Perry’s big break, but in another universe, he would’ve starred in another sitcom with a much shorter lifespan. Willing to take just about any gig, Perry was cast as a baggage handler at LAX. The twist? It was set in the year 2194! As bad timing would have it, the “Friends” audition came along shortly after Perry committed to “L.A.X. 2194.” Once the pilot was shot, though, the network quickly determined that “L.A.X. 2194” had no future, allowing Perry to pursue the Chandler Bing role. Thankfully, Perry was cast on “Friends” and “L.A.X. 2194” simply became a funny story he could recount years later. Listening to Perry talk about the pilot, we’ll always wonder what might’ve been.
#7: His Rom-Com Roles
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Having become major TV stars, it only made sense for Perry and the rest of the “Friends” cast to explore feature films. The rom-com “Fools Rush In” marked Perry’s first leading role. Starring opposite Salma Hayek, Perry plays a driven businessman whose priorities change after a one-night stand. Hayek and Perry share a natural chemistry in a surprisingly mature romance about culture clash and unplanned pregnancy. While “Three to Tango” and “Serving Sara” didn’t receive the best reviews, both benefited from Perry’s charming dynamics with Neve Campbell and Elizabeth Hurley, respectively. 2007’s “Numb” may be Perry’s most unique rom-com role. Playing a man with depersonalization disorder, Perry’s Hudson must learn to love himself while also declaring his feelings for a woman played by Lynn Collins.
#6: Teaming With Chris Farley in “Almost Heroes”
Underappreciated upon release yet gaining more of a cult following in recent years, “Almost Heroes” stars Perry and Chris Farley as two underdog explorers hoping to give Lewis and Clark a run for their money. The two work off each other wonderfully with Farley as a sloppy yet seasoned outdoorsman and Perry as the sophisticated yet inexperienced aristocrat taken out of his element. They’re like the frontier versions of Felix and Oscar, which is appropriate since Perry later starred in an “Odd Couple” reboot. While their comedy styles differed, Perry and Farley were facing similar struggles off-camera with the latter tragically not living to see the film’s premiere. Looking back at their chemistry, we’re reminded why both stars are heroes of comedy.
#5: His Dramatic Turns
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While Perry excelled in comedic roles, he could be underrated as a dramatic performer. His guest spot on “Ally McBeal” was something of a stepping stone to more serious roles. A year later, he delivered an Emmy-nominated guest appearance on “The West Wing.” This set the stage for Perry to reteam with Aaron Sorkin on “Studio 60” as a lead. While that dramatic exploration of sketch comedy only lasted a season, Perry was praised for some of his most charismatic work to date. Perry also exemplified his range portraying real-life figures like teacher Ron Clark and Ted Kennedy. Whether playing a fast-talking lawyer on “The Good Wife” or a melancholy brother in “Birds of America,” Perry had numerous layers as an actor.
#4: Teaching Us a Painful Life Lesson on “Growing Pains”
Before “Friends,” Perry popped up on sitcoms like “Charles in Charge” and “Silver Spoons.” He was also a regular on the short-lived “Second Chance.” That title foreshadowed Perry’s guest spot on “Growing Pains.” Appearing in three episodes, Perry played Sandy, Carol’s boyfriend. Sandy’s arc culminates in a drunk driving accident that leaves him with a new lease on life. Although Sandy is seemingly given a second chance, Carol later learns that he died in the hospital. Where some very special episodes wrap up life lessons in a tidy bow, Sandy’s sudden exit serves as a harsh yet honest reminder about how fleeting life can be. Perry helped get this message across in an episode that would hit close to home in unforeseeable ways.
#3: Making a Bet with Bruce Willis on “The Whole Nine Yards”
Many consider “The Whole Nine Yards” to be Perry’s best movie thanks to his hilarious rapport with Bruce Willis. Both actors were brilliantly cast with Perry as a neurotic dentist who gets roped into a crime plot involving Willis’ Jimmy the Tulip. Making their team-up even better, the film led to Willis accepting a guest gig on “Friends.” Willis wasn’t sure how the dark comedy would turn out. Perry was more confident, betting Willis that if the film became a hit, he had to appear on “Friends.” Reigning
#1 at the box office for three weekends and ultimately grossing over $100 million, Perry won that bet. Of course, we wouldn’t say that Willis lost since his guest spot as Paul Stevens won him an Emmy.
#2: His Dedication to Helping Others
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For all the laughs that Perry gave us, he had substance use disorder for much of his life. His 1997 jet-ski accident commenced an especially dark period. Perry’s road to sobriety was full of surgeries, stays at rehab, and setbacks. Realizing how important it was to ask for help, Perry extended a hand to others in need. Sharing his experiences through interviews and his memoir, Perry painted a personal portrait of substance use disorder. He aided others by reaching out to fellow AA members and converting his Malibu home into a sober living facility, which he sold in 2015. Barely a year before his passing, Perry affirmed his commitment to helping others, declaring that it’s what he wanted to be remembered for. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Playing a Grown-Up Zac Efron in “17 Again” A Slam Dunk Combo, Even If We Don’t See the Resemblance How He Got a “Fallout: New Vegas” Role Perry Was Cast as Benny After Gifting Ellen DeGeneres “Fallout 3” and an Xbox 360 Returning to TV in “Mr. Sunshine” Sometimes, Even a One-Season Sitcom Can Provide a Ray of Light Playing a Historic Character in “The Odd Couple” Following in the Footsteps of Walter Matthau & Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison Exploring Grief in “Go On” A Short-Lived Show About Loss That Deserves a Reevaluation
#1: Always Being There For Us as Chandler Bing
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Perry sadly couldn’t remember shooting nearly three seasons of “Friends,” but we’ll never forget Chandler. Not just for the one-liners that sounded so natural coming from Perry. Of the six Friends, Chandler perhaps went through the most significant evolution, going from awkward wisecracker who fears commitment to dedicated family man. Although Perry didn’t make a practice of rewatching “Friends,” he did participate in the reunion. Even years later, there was clearly love among the cast, which extended to viewers at home. Like Monica, Joey, Ross, Phoebe, and Rachel, Chandler was always there for us. Perry and his iconic character will stay with us every time we bathe with a boat, eat cheesecake off a floor, or get stuck at an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre. What are your fondest memories of Matthew Perry? Feel free to share in the comments below.
