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 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.
Fools rush in is still one of my favorite romcoms. Mathew Perry will be missed ….RIP 😣 pic.twitter.com/6EWzUp3M1E
— 🛢️ (@sadofilms) October 29, 2023
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.
The Whole Nine Yards is a very fun movie that's incredibly underrated #MatthewPerry pic.twitter.com/WIIVYAoxdW
— 🐶 🌐 Anto_ 📸 🎥 (@AntoMaylin) October 30, 2023
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.
I know Everyone will post something from #Friends when it comes to the late great Matthew Perry, But this scene from The West Wing with @BradleyWhitford will always be one of my favorites. #RIP #MatthewPerry #RIPMatthewPerry #TheWestWing pic.twitter.com/4TtdKjbjCF
— MOVIEDEATHS (@MOVIEDEATHBLOWS) October 29, 2023
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.
Some thoughts on how Matthew Perry as Mike Kresteva in The Good Wife was a stroke of brilliance and a thank you to my favorite "Friend" for his contribution in 2 of my favorite shows ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ca2kUO2gNh
— wil (@bogposting) October 29, 2023
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.
Matthew Perry's underrated role was in Studio 60 (2006-2007) where Sarah Paulson played his love interest. RIP Matthew Perry. pic.twitter.com/qk0p1seMHA
— sarah’s pr (@sarahpaulsbean) October 29, 2023
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.
Everyone knows Matthew Perry from Friends, but my favorite show of his was Go On. It was about someone going through a tough time in their life while grieving the loss of a loved one and it came out while I was doing the same thing. It truly deserved more than one season❤️ pic.twitter.com/CTMMb99yM8
— Cyn (@Cyntizzle) October 29, 2023
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.
🧵I once spent a few afternoons at Matthew Perry’s house, co-rewriting the Odd Couple pilot after his first draft was nixed by CBS. At one point I said that when I was stuck on a story problem, a walk often helped me solve it. Matthew said, “I can’t really do that.”
— Joe Keenan (@MrJoeKeenan) October 29, 2023
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/2TxSmMKIPk
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.
“I want to be remembered as someone who lived well, loved well, was a Seeker and whose paramount thing is that he wants to help people.” You are missed & helped so many with your comedic genius & beautiful heart🙏💜#matthewperry #friends #ChandlerBing https://t.co/7WIxeh0KnF
— Carolyn Hidalgo, CPCC (@carolynjhidalgo) October 29, 2023
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.