Matthew Perry (actor)

Matthew Langford Perry (born August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA) is an American-Canadian actor who is best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the American television sitcom Friends, a part he played for 10 years.

Family and early life

Matthew Perry was born to actor John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Perry Morrison (a former press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau), who divorced before his first birthday. Perry was raised by his mother in Ottawa. While growing up in Ontario, Perry took a keen interest in tennis and soon became a top-ranked junior player.

He was enrolled at Rockcliffe Park Public School and Ashbury College, where he got his first acting role in a school production in the seventh grade.

At the age of 15, Perry moved from Ottawa to Los Angeles to live with his father and start an acting career. After some forgettable guest appearances in late 1980s television, it was his intention to enroll at the University of Southern California, but when he was offered the lead role of Chazz Russell in Second Chances he became noticed on the acting scene.

Career

Second Chances ran for one season and soon Perry was back to making one-off appearances.

In the early 1990's he attempted to secure an audition for a pilot Six of One by Marta Kauffman and David Crane, both of whom he had worked with on Dream On. However, due to previous commitments to the pilot LAX 2194, he was not considered for an audition. When he did eventually get a reading, he secured his most famous role of Chandler Bing.

As well as his successful career on Friends, Perry has appeared alongside big Hollywood names in films such as Three to Tango, The Whole Nine Yards (alongside Bruce Willis), The Whole Ten Yards, and Serving Sara.

While known primarily for his comedic (almost slapstick) acting, Perry has carved out a career in drama as well, particularly in his portrayal as Associate White House Counsel Joe Quincy in Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing. His three appearances in that series (twice in the fourth season and once in the fifth) earned him two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2003 and 2004.

After Friends wrapped up, Perry made his directorial debut in an episode of Bill Lawrence's sitcom Scrubs (which he also guest starred in, alongside his father).

Future

On January 26, 2006, Variety announced Perry had been cast in Aaron Sorkin's new hour-long drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, premiering on NBC in Fall 2006. Perry will play Matt Albie alongside Bradley Whitford's Danny Tripp, two writers brought in to help save a failing SNL-esque show.

In 2006 he began filming Numb, a comedy drama about a chronically depressed writer. The film has a tentative release date of 2007.

Trivia

Is missing part of his right middle finger due to a door-shutting accident in nursery school.
Is one of two actors to both star on The West Wing and to be mentioned by their real name onscreen, the other being Jimmy Smits.
Began acting at age 15.
Maintains dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship.
Struggled for years with prescription-drug and alcohol addiction.
A huge hockey fan. His favorite NHL team is the Ottawa Senators and he often attends their playoff games.
Perry hosted the 2005 ESPY Awards, which took place on July 13 in Los Angeles.
Dated actress Yasmine Bleeth.
His image has appeared in every episode of the Friends spin-off Joey. Joey has a picture of himself and Chandler in his new apartment.
An avid tennis player.
Was the youngest cast member of Friends.
Mentioned in the December 2005 short film Lazy Sunday, starring Saturday Night Live cast members Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg, as the answer to the movie trivia question, "What Friends alum starred in films with Bruce Willis?" (The Whole Nine Yards, The Whole Ten Yards, and The Kid)
Received more Emmy nominations for his guest appearance in three episodes of The West Wing than for his entire career on Friends.
Turned down the role of Captain Jimmy Wilder in the movie Independence Day. It later went to Harry Connick, Jr.
Recorded the abridged audiobook version of Microserfs, a book by Douglas Coupland.
Stepson of Dateline NBC correspondent Keith Morrison.

Major film roles

External links