Who was Matthew Perry when he was not Chandler Bing?

Of course, we know Chandler Bing more than we know Matthew Perry.

But there is always more to a person than just one character.

Matthew Perry, who passed away at the age of 54, will forever be etched in our memories as the beloved Chandler Bing from the iconic TV series "Friends."

The show, even after all these years, remains the OG.

But let's not forget that Matthew Perry's talent extended far beyond the confines of Central Perk's couch.

In his illustrious career, Perry showcased his acting prowess in various forms.

He wasn't just Chandler; he was a versatile actor who dabbled in movies, other TV series, and even the world of theatre.

Matthew Perry's underrated performances

Matthew Perry's first significant movie role was in "Fools Rush In," a romantic comedy in which he takes on the part of a New York developer who is unexpectedly thrust into a wedding with a photographer, portrayed by Salma Hayek.

In "The Whole Nine Yards," Matthew Perry takes on the role of a dentist caught up in a crime story with Bruce Willis, who plays a tough character. The movie also features other well-known actors like Amanda Peet, Rosanna Arquette, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Kevin Pollak.

In this film, Bruce Willis plays Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski, a hitman who moves into a quiet suburban neighborhood, setting off a series of unexpected events. Perry's character, Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky, is Jimmy's next-door neighbor, and he finds himself caught up on both the good and the bad sides of Jimmy's life.

After his time on "Friends," Matthew Perry made guest appearances in well-received TV series like "The West Wing," "Scrubs," "The Good Wife," and "Cougar Town."

In The West Wing, the acclaimed drama series, Perry took on the role of Joe Quincy, a Republican lawyer who was brought in to assist the Democratic Bartlet Administration.

His performance earned him a pair of Emmy nominations, showcasing his ability to transition from comedy to drama.

Perry portrayed Mike Kresteva, a ruthless lawyer and politician in "The Good Wife" and later in its spinoff, "The Good Fight." His portrayal of this complex character added depth to the series.

Reuniting with Aaron Sorkin, the creator of "The West Wing," Perry starred alongside Bradley Whitford in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a show-within-a-show drama.

They played producers tasked with running a late-night TV show reminiscent of "SNL" after their former boss had a very public meltdown.

In this NBC comedy, Go On, Perry portrayed a recently widowed sports-talk host who joins a support group for grief. The show, created by Scott Silveri, a former writer and producer from "Friends," proved to be funnier than its premise might suggest.

Perry and Thomas Lennon decided to remake one of the most famous sitcoms in history, "The Odd Couple." Surprisingly, it worked well, with Perry as Oscar Madison, a disheveled sports-talk show host, and Lennon as Felix Unger, his neat and finicky friend.

Matthew Perry's battle with addiction and redemption

Matthew Perry struggled with addiction throughout his life. He began drinking alcohol at a young age and became addicted to painkillers after a jet ski accident.

His substance abuse escalated during his time on the TV show "Friends." By the end of the series, he was taking up to 55 Vicodin painkillers a day and had a very low body weight.

His drug use continued after "Friends," and he faced near-death experiences, including a burst colon and cardiac arrest.

Perry eventually sought help for his addiction, going through rehab and therapy multiple times. He referred to himself as "pretty healthy" by June 2022 and became an advocate for addiction recovery.

He used his public platform to encourage others to seek help, knowing that his fame could make people more willing to listen.

In recent years, he expressed pride in his work to support addiction recovery and stressed the importance of reaching out to others when having a tough day.

It feels like we all literally lost a friend.