The unprecedented passing of actor Matthew Perry aged 54 has sent shockwaves across the world. His legacy will forever be rooted in his portrayal of the beloved Chandler Bing in hit 2000s TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S, with his timeless one liners that were relatable to us all. Friends has always been a mood-boosting comfort show that I rewatch time and time again and Perryâs eccentric acting played a big part in that.
My top 3 Chandler Bing moments
Chandlerâs encounter with Victoria Secret model Jill Goodacre whilst being stuck in a bank in Season 1âs The One with the Blackout was a personal favourite. Perryâs internal monologue stole the show in this scene, especially when he said: âHey Jill, I saw you with some guy last night, yes he was some guyâ whilst he awkwardly shimmied towards her after she called him âsome guyâ on the phone, before he shyly turned away in embarrassment. Chandlerâs nail bitingly awkward dance moves never failed to make me cackle! Perryâs physical comedy of later choking on the gum he had accepted from Jill still stays glued to my brain to this day. Perry perfectly captured the relatable and entertaining scenario of trying to act âcool’ in front of a crush.
I always found Chandler and Joey the best double act in the show, with their chair fight scene in Season 3âs The one where no oneâs ready, so outrageously brilliant. When Joey proceeded to wear all the clothes Chandler owned after he was convinced Chandler had stolen all his underwear, Chandlerâs disgusted expression when Joey later claimed he was âcommandoâ while lunging in his clothes sent me into tears. Chandlerâs later whip-smart response to Rossâ outburst over their fight of âgeez what a babyâ proved Perryâs natural talent for always getting the last laugh through his endless sarcasm.
Finally, it must be remembered that Chandler had the FINAL line in the FINAL scene of Season 10! This was when the gang agreed to get coffee after leaving all their keys for Monica (and later Chandlerâs) iconic apartment, and Chandler simply responded: âSure. Where?â. This showcased Perryâs multi-talented ability to deliver light and shade in Chandlerâs portrayal and provide this blockbuster of a show the heartwarming ending it deserved. Ah, Iâm reaching for the tissues writing this!
Perryâs battle during and after F.R.I.E.N.D.S
While the show was a time of great warmth for its audience, it was one of trauma for Perry, as he battled with drug addiction and alcoholism throughout the decade-long show. His response in a 2017 interview of âWhen Iâm carrying weight, itâs alcohol; when Iâm skinny, itâs pills; when I have a goatee, itâs a lot of pills.â. The extremity of Perry’s addiction throughout the show was particularly shocking to hear but brave of him, to talk about this difficult time. Perry went on to play a transformative role in helping other people battling addiction, particularly in his 2013 founding of the âPerry Houseâ in Malibu which has since rehabilitated countless people to sobriety.
Perryâs memoir
His memoir âFriends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thingâ captured a raw account of Perryâs life before, during and after his shot to fame. While his in-depth conversations around his addiction were eye-opening, I thought his reference of “It wasn’t that I thought I could play Chandler; I was Chandler” made me fall in love with the character even more. An actor who can bring their humanity and experiences into a role makes them even more ground breaking in my books.
Goodbye but never goodnight
Matthew Perryâs legacy stretched far beyond his brilliant acting portrayal of Chandler Bing, dedicating the rest of his later life to help others escape the destructive lifestyle of addiction. For me though, Perryâs talent as Chandler perfectly captured the joy of my generation and the generations before and to come, of the brilliance of Bing! Goodbye, Matthew Perry but never goodnightâŠ