Matthew Perry

Matthew Langford Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. His parents separated when he was young, and he was primarily raised by his mother, Suzanne Morrison, in Ottawa, Canada. His father, John Bennett Perry, was an actor. Perry attended school in Ottawa before moving to Los Angeles as a teenager to live with his father. He graduated from the Buckley School in 1987.

Perry developed an interest in acting during his teenage years. He appeared in school productions and began obtaining professional acting roles while still young. His early television work included Second Chance, Boys Will Be Boys, Growing Pains, and Sydney. He also appeared in the 1988 film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.

His breakthrough came in 1994 when he was cast as Chandler Bing in Friends. Alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, Perry became part of one of television's most recognizable ensembles. The series ran for ten seasons and 236 episodes, ending in 2004. Perry's sarcastic humor, comic timing, and portrayal of Chandler made the character one of his defining roles.

While working on Friends, Perry also developed a film career. His movie credits included Fools Rush In (1997), Almost Heroes (1998), Three to Tango (1999), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), Serving Sara (2002), The Whole Ten Yards (2004), and 17 Again (2009).

Perry continued working in television after Friends. He starred in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Mr. Sunshine, Go On, and The Odd Couple, while also making guest appearances in programs such as The West Wing, The Good Wife, and The Good Fight. His performances earned five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including nominations for Friends, The West Wing, The Ron Clark Story, and Friends: The Reunion.

Perry also spoke publicly about his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction and his efforts toward recovery. His experiences eventually led him to advocate for people dealing with addiction and recovery. In 2013, he received the Champion of Recovery Award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He also opened Perry House, a sober-living facility for men, in his former Malibu home.

In 2022, Perry published his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he discussed his life, career, relationships, addiction, and recovery. The book brought further attention to his advocacy for people struggling with substance-use disorders.

Matthew Perry died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine and classified the death as an accident.

Following his death, the Matthew Perry Foundation was established to continue his work supporting people affected by addiction. The foundation focuses on reducing stigma, expanding access to treatment, and supporting recovery programs.