Matthew Perry Retrospective: The One Where We Tell His Story

It’s impossible to think of Matthew Perry without thinking of hit ’90s sitcom “Friends,” the show that gave him his breakout role, made him millions, and introduced him to five life-long friends. But taking a look beyond the doors of Central Perk and into Matthew Perry’s life and career reveals a talented and varied actor, a powerful story of resilience through addiction, and a striking fascination with Batman.

Before acting, there was tennis. Born in Williamstown, Mass., and raised mostly in Ottawa, Ontario, Perry practiced 10 hours a day and became a top-ranked junior tennis player in Canada. According to Perry himself, his almost-superhuman drive bled into his acting career, which became an outlet for his obsessive behavior. At 15 years old, Perry moved in with his father in Los Angeles, and began to audition.

His path to stardom kicked off with a leading role in the television series “Boys Will Be Boys” (1987) — originally titled “Second Chance” — in which Charles Russell (Kiel Martin) is given the post-mortem chance to go back in time and steer his younger self, Chazz (Matthew Perry), on a better path. But this was not his first accredited role — that honor goes to “240-Robert” (1979), where he, at 10 years old, had a short speaking role alongside his father. During this early stage of his career, he also found his film debut in a supporting role in “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon” (1988), and made appearances as both a regular cast member and a guest in notable television series such as “Sydney” (1990) alongside Valerie Bertinelli and “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990). In 1993, he starred in the sitcom “Home Free” for its one-season run — the very next year, he would come face-to-face with his defining role.

Of course, his breakthrough came from his time as the loveable jester Chandler Bing in “Friends.” This iconic, sarcastic, non-committal character epitomizes Matthew Perry’s humor and relatability as an actor. As Chandler Bing, Perry is both hilarious and touching — in each of his humor-deflected insecurities is an opportunity to connect with the audience. From Perry’s first on-set interview in 1994, it was clear that his wit, charm, and friendly nature transcended the show, as the interview with ET shows him bantering with castmates in a manner not unlike his character. In addition to becoming a household name, Perry found in the cast of “Friends” a caring group of actual friends. During the first season, co-star David Schwimmer leveraged his limelight when the six of them banded together in negotiations to ensure they were paid the same. Similarly, the cast was patient and supportive throughout his ongoing battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

This period of his career was marked by incredible success in film and television. In films like “Fools Rush In” (1997), “Three To Tango” (1999), “The Whole Nine Yards” (2000), and “Serving Sara” (2002), Perry acted alongside stars such as Salma Hayek, Neve Campbell, and Bruce Willis, rising to new levels of movie stardom as he settled into a rom-com typecast similar to his other work.

Perry’s comedic genius on “Friends” got the attention of critics, earning him a 2002 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy and two nominations for the American Comedy Awards. As a testament to his skill and flexibility as an actor, he received two more Emmy nominations for his dramatic work on “The West Wing” (1999). He, like many Hollywood stars, endeavored to break out of his comedic, sardonic typecast with roles like Joe Quincy in The West Wing, which was well received by fans. This recognition by critics and audiences serves as evidence of his success in being seen as a talented actor.

Part of Perry’s talent for acting can be attributed to his pursuit of honesty in his roles. In an interview with Men’s Health, he said “I certainly wear my heart on my sleeve, and I think that comes out in the characters that I play. There's a yearning, or something, that comes out of me that people relate to.” Whether in a comedic or dramatic role, this earnesty comes across on screen.

His later career brought more television and film success, most notably a Golden Globe nomination and another Emmy nomination for his lead role in “The Ron Clark Story” in 2006, where he played the titular lead role of a skilled teacher who tries to make a difference in students’ lives after leaving his job in North Carolina to work at Inner Harlem Elementary School. During this time, his film and television career continued in projects such as cult classic “17 Again,” which, despite initially mixed reception, is arguably one of his biggest and most beloved films.

This era of Perry brought a diversification of his career, as he took to the stage for several projects such as David Mamet's play “Sexual Perversity in Chicago.” His fame brought him greater agency with his career, reflected by Perry originating the premise of ABC’s sitcom “Mr. Sunshine.” He also dabbled in playwriting around this time. Perry’s original dark comedy play, “The End of Longing” (2016), was met with success in its West End and world premiere at the Playhouse Theatre, and later in its American off-broadway run. His leading role in this play — the drunk loner Jack struggling to cope with middle-age — marked yet another installation of Perry’s raw and honest portrayals of characters struggling with the relatable and somewhat-gritty realities of life.

Most recently, Perry publicly reflected on his journey through the release of his book, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir,” in which he tells all about his near-lifelong struggle with addiction, his relationships, and his career. Notably, Perry did not use a ghostwriter. Despite the memoir’s negative reception, its honesty and dark humor immortalizes him as a resilient, outspoken voice for those struggling with addiction.

In a 2022 feature with GQ for their “Men of the Year” issue, Perry delved into his Batman obsession. He built a dedicated Batman room — which he called a “Matt cave” — in his house to store all of the Batman memorabilia he has stockpiled over the years — he is a true superfan, and projects himself onto the marauder. In the same interview, he likened the superhero to how he strives to educate people about addiction through his memoir, and make those who struggle with it feel less alone, saying “I am Batman,” and “I don’t solve crime, but I’ve saved people’s lives.”

His legacy is more than just comedic genius and dramatic talent, but one that helps to create a platform for those struggling with addiction through his own bravery in sharing his journey toward recovery. To those that read his book and watch his movies and television series, he will be remembered by his talent as an artist, his brave honesty, and his consistent devotion to making people smile.

—Staff writer Aiden J. Bowers can be reached at aiden.bowers@thecrimson.com.