Originally published: October 28th, 2023.
When Matthew Perry walked into the casting room to meet Marta Kauffman and David Crane for one of six primary characters in the Friends Like Us ensemble, he came in without a script—and dazzled the creators with his unusual cadence that became a joke within the jokes. While Perry had other jobs lined up during pilot season, he had rehearsed the character so often with best friend Hank Azaria that he had memorized the entire script, seeing Chandler Bing as a larger-than-life version of himself.
Becoming a Sitcom Icon
For Perry, the show-that-would-become Friends on NBC launched him into the stratosphere, making him the face of arguably the most well-known show on television. Friends is the highest-grossing sitcom of all time, with the six stars earning over $1M per episode toward the end of the series.
The sitcom transcended generations. Less than twenty years after its Super Bowl episode drew over 52 million live viewers, it remained the most successful sitcom in both syndication and streaming—introducing its charm to another audience, despite serving primarily as a time capsule into young adult life in the 1990s.
While all six stars (Perry, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc) contributed intangible qualities crucial to the show’s comedic execution, Perry stole the spotlight. The Chandler Bing character worked because Perry was just as much Chandler as Chandler was Perry.
Comedy as a Defense Mechanism
Matthew Perry, while successful, never stopped reeling from a traumatic childhood that forced him to use humor as an escape. Much like Chandler notes in late season three, his parents’ divorce was the moment he started “using humor as a defensive mechanism.”
Perry’s comedic style leaned heavily into linguistics, delivering jokes with unusual emphases that created bigger laughs. His distinct cadence became iconic, moving television comedy away from dated, artificial punchline setups.
But it wasn’t just the cadence—it was the tone, timing, and physicality. His voice, facial expressions, and body language elevated every joke. Raising and lowering his tone, changing pace mid-line, and allowing emotions to filter through—all of it came across authentic, never forced.
Nuance in Chandler Bing
For all the criticism that Friends gets for its logic gaps and inconsistent character arcs, Perry walked a perfect line as Chandler.
Chandler was sarcastic, brutally honest, awkward, and desperate for love—all at once. He could bounce off any of the five other characters and maximize the punchline. Perry’s timing was impeccable: quick with wit, yet patient enough to let jokes breathe.
His sarcasm never felt mean-spirited. Instead, it carried a self-awareness that often made him the butt of the joke as much as anyone else. What could have been an arrogant, unlikable character instead became lovable because Perry infused Chandler with humanity.
Chandler embodied both confidence and anxiety, a paradox so inherently human it’s nearly impossible to recreate without seeming forced. Perry’s performance allowed audiences to laugh at Chandler, sympathize with him, and ultimately care about him.
Beyond Friends
Chandler Bing still brings comfort and familiarity to millions every day. Friends worked because it captured that transition in life when friends become your family—an experience almost everyone can relate to.
But Perry’s career extended beyond Central Perk. He delivered layered performances in Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and shined in projects like Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, 17 Again, and a memorable hosting stint on SNL.
A Life of Highs and Struggles
Perry’s life was extraordinary: he grew up around the Canadian Prime Minister, was once a top-ranked junior tennis player, starred in the #1 show on TV while simultaneously headlining a #1 box office film with Bruce Willis, and dated Julia Roberts at the height of her fame.
Yet, his biggest story was his battle with addiction. In his later years, he opened up about rehab, relapse, and recovery. His memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing sought to normalize conversations about drug abuse and mental health while maintaining his trademark humor.
Paget Brewster, who played Chandler’s season four love interest, reflected on his legacy after his passing:
“He was lovely to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades after. Please read his book. It was his legacy to help.”
Legacy of Laughter
When asked by the LA Times how he wanted to be remembered, Perry replied:
“As a guy who lived life, loved well, lived well, and helped people. That running into me was a good thing, and not something bad.”
Perry will indeed be remembered for all of that—and more. He brought joy to millions of people in moments when they needed it most. For 30 years, audiences have turned to his work to laugh, to find comfort, and to escape life for a little while.
Friends remains timeless in a meme-filled, streaming-dominated world, and its popularity today is still fueled by Matthew Perry’s comedic brilliance.
