Matthew Perry was widely known for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing from the sitcom Friends, but he once revealed he could not watch himself in the show because his appearance reminded him of his vices.
The late actor suffered from alcoholism and opioid addiction, and he even went to rehab at least 15 times. Perry spent almost half of his life struggling to become sober, going back and forth from the habit he tried so hard to break.
Matthew Perry Found It Impossible To Watch Himself On TV Because Of His Addiction
Matthew Perry wrote in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing that he prayed to get cast in Friends. The actor would soon realize that fame won’t solve his personal problem. Perry stated (via Insider):
“Out of nowhere, I found myself getting to my knees, closing my eyes tightly, and praying. I had never done this before. God, you can do whatever you want to me. Just please make me famous. Three weeks later, I got cast in Friends. And God has certainly kept his side of the bargain — but the Almighty, being the Almighty, had not forgotten the first part of that prayer as well.”
Despite getting the part, Perry could not watch himself on the screen because he could see the traces of alcoholism in his appearance. He told Tom Power on CBC Radio:
“I was taking 55 Vicodin a day. I weighed 128 pounds. I was on Friends, getting watched by 30 million people, and that’s why I can’t watch the show. I was, like, brutally thin and being beaten down so badly by the disease.”
Perry lamented how his vices still overpowered him despite finding a way to cope through acting. He added:
“Alcoholism did not care that I was on Friends. Alcoholism wants you alone; it wants you sick; and then it wants to kill you.”
Speaking with Diane Sawyer, the late Friends star made some reflections about his weight and how he was sorry for himself for all he has been through:
“I weighed 155 pounds, on my way to 128 pounds. I feel too sorry for that guy, he’s going through too much, and it’s me. And I remember that, and I didn’t understand what was going on. But again, I’m sorry, and I’m so grateful to not be that anymore.”
Perry passed away last Saturday in his Los Angeles home at the age of 54. The police reported the cause of death was apparent drowning after he was found unresponsive in his hot tub.
Matthew Perry Felt Real Connection With Friends’ Chandler Bing
Matthew Perry revealed in his memoir how he snagged the role of Chandler Bing and how he related to the character with its wise-cracking jokes. He wrote:
“When I read the script for Friends Like Us, it was as if someone had followed me around for a year, stealing my jokes, copying my mannerisms, photocopying my world-weary yet witty view of life.”
Indeed, he found a real connection with Chandler Bing as someone he could play on TV just by being naturally himself. Finally, he claimed the role as his:
“It wasn’t that I thought I could play Chandler, I was Chandler. Everyone, it seemed, decided that the part of Chandler was exactly like me and came to my apartment to ask me to help them with their auditions. A few even went a long way, based on my choices and my choices alone.”
Perry’s friends and fans have shared their tributes on social media to commemorate his legacy as an actor and as the one and only Chandler Bing.
