Friends' Creator Urges Fans to Remember Matthew Perry for His Legacy, Not His Death
Matthew Perry’s friends want him to be remembered for his heart and humor.
Though plenty of news and commentary has been made about the untimely October 2023 death of the Friends actor leaves behind a TV and film career worthy of praise and admiration. In fact, in the wake of new information and arrests surrounding Perry’s passing, which was the result of the acute effects of ketamine, Friends cocreator Marta Kauffman has a message for fans.
“Two things come to mind [about how to celebrate him]: one of them is to donate to drug treatment centers — let’s fight the disease,” Kauffman told The Times. “And the second way is to watch Friends and remember him not as a man who died like that but as a man who was hilariously funny and brought joy to everybody.”
David Crane, Kauffman’s cocreator of the show, said that the cast, which included Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, and Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, knew about Perry’s substance abuse struggles while filming the show, which ran from 1994 to 2004.
“By the time we became aware of it, we were already a family on a lot of levels,” Crane told The Times. “There was a point where we said to him: ‘Do you want to stop [being in the show]?’ And he was adamantly like: ‘No, this is really important to me.’”
Authorities recently announced that five people—including two doctors and the assistant who found him in the hot tub—had been charged in connection with Perry’s death.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said the months-long investigation "revealed a broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr. Perry and others," at an Aug. 15 press conference announcing the charges. "This network included a live-in assistant, various go-betweens, two medical doctors and a major source of drug supply known as, quote, the 'Ketamine Queen.'"
As for his life and legacy, Perry received five Emmy nominations throughout his career. In addition to his iconic role as Chandler on Friends, he also had standout roles in Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Good Wife, 17 Again, and much more.
Perry was honored by many of his past costars, including Aniston, who specifically reflected on the actor’s ability to make others laugh in a November 2023 Instagram tribute.
“For Matty, he KNEW he loved to make people laugh. As he said himself, if he didn't hear the ‘laugh’ he thought he was going to die,” she recalled. “His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard.”
Look back at Perry's best episodes on Friends.
It's a tough task to single out any one Chandler moment—he had so many—but I may have to go with the flashback one where he finds out he lost a toe (while rocking that whole Miami Vice, Flock of Seagulls '80s look, bonus points) thanks to Monica. Then she puts a turkey on her head, adds a hat and sunglasses, does a little dance and "I love you" slips out of Chandler's mouth. He may try to take it back, but we all know he means it. And just like that, they've reached the next level of their relationship.—Natalie Finn
Matthew Perry is the reason why I started watching Friends. I grew up with his sister so I heard about the show through our community in the '90s. Friends became my favorite show and is still my favorite of all time. It’s difficult to pick a favorite Chandler moment since they are all soooo good, but “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” is genius. Phoebe finds out about Monica and Chandler and she tests him with flirtation. The writing and comedic delivery is top notch.—Jacqueline Uddo
Could this be any harder? There are so many hilariously funny Chandler Bing one-liners that I still quote on the regular ("Did I just say, 'If I wear a guy?’” "I get my ya-yas from Ikea. You have to put them together yourself, but they cost a little less." "I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?").
But if I had to pick my favorite Chandler-centric episodes, I would say the one where he’s trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre. Because even as I type this I can hear the delivery in my head. And while the one where everyone is late is a Friends classic for many reasons ("I'm breezy!") the Chandler-Joey fight over the chair and the cushions, which are, of course, the essence of the chair stands out. So in the words of A.A. Milne, get out of my chair, dillhole.—Sarah Grossbart
For some reason, it's always stuck with me that Chandler gets the last line in the series, when Rachel, who didn't get on the plane, suggests they all go for coffee. In his signature sarcastic tone, Chandler asks, "Where?"
What made that simple but effective moment land even harder was knowing that Perry himself requested being the friend to have the last word. (Could he be any more of a Chandler?)
"Before that final episode, I’d taken [co-creator/EP] Marta Kauffman to one side,” Perry wrote in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. "‘Nobody else will care about this except me,' I said. 'So, may I please have the last line?' That’s why as we all troop out of the apartment, and Rachel has suggested one last coffee, I got to bring the curtain down on Friends."
If that didn't hit you right in the feels, Perry's next observation is sure to do so.
"I love the look on Schwimmer’s face as I deliver that line— it’s the perfect mixture of affection and amusement," Perry shared, "exactly what the show Friends had always given to the world."—Tierney Bricker
"The One with Mrs. Bing" : Mrs. Bing is a confident sexually adventurous outspoken woman. Her discussion with Jay Leno has Chandler reacting as any child would when a parent is being cringe AF.
"The One with the Baby on the Bus": Shenanigans ensure when Chandler and Joey are left in charge of Ben, Ross' son.
"The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy": Janice and Chandler going strong while the friends all question how to support the relationship. —Renee Lyons
One of my favorite episodes is season five’s "The One Where Everyone Finds Out."
This is an obvious pick but for good reason: it’s outrageously funny trying to see the gang mess with one another over a secret almost all of them are privy to. But amid all the ploys to outwit one another, Chandler lays it all out there by professing his love for Monica, cementing their place as the show’s central couple. (Sorry not sorry Ross and Rachel!)—Meaghan Kirby