Matthew Perry

Playing everyone's favourite friend on '90s sitcom Friends, Matthew Perry knew how to make people laugh. But in the wake of his death at age 54, he leaves behind a legacy that extends way beyond comedy, writes Adrienne Tam

In almost every poll conducted on the ranking of the characters from the ’90s sitcom Friends, the number one spot invariably goes to wisecracking, affable Chandler. While the other five characters – Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey and Ross – are beloved in their own right, it is Chandler who ultimately holds the top spot in the hearts of millions of fans around the world. Put simply, he’s our favourite Friend.

Much of that adoration comes down to the man who played him: Matthew Perry. The actor’s easy comedic wit and natural charm as Chandler Bing made him the standout in a cast of standouts that included Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer. More than any of his Friends co-stars, Perry seemed to embody Chandler in real life. It’s virtually impossible to imagine anyone else playing the role … although that’s very nearly what happened.

When Perry received the script for a new sitcom called Friends Like Us, he was 24, had $11 to his name, and was hungry to make his mark in the acting world. Up until then, he had starred in the low-rating series Boys Will Be Boys (also known as Second Chance), which lasted one season, and guest-starred in television mainstays like Just the Ten of Us, Growing Pains and Who’s the Boss? His film work was small, with a notable appearance in 1988’s A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon opposite River Phoenix.