RaveBlog

Highlights

• Matthew Perry's off-screen work and efforts to help others were important to him, and he hoped to be remembered for them, not just for his role in Friends.
• Matthew Perry's career showcased his talent and versatility as an actor, with notable roles beyond Chandler Bing.
• Matthew Perry had over 50 film and television projects credited to his name since his career began in 1979.

The world was left in shock when news broke on October 28, 2023, that Matthew Perry, the beloved star from Friends, had been discovered dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles residence at the age of 54. While many instantly remember him for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing in the famous NBC sitcom, there was much more to the actor than just this single role. In his 2022 memoir, Perry candidly expressed his hopes for how he would be remembered. He wrote, “When I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments go, it would be nice if Friends were listed far behind the things I did to try to help other people.”

This Is How Much Money Matthew Perry Made From His Poorly-Received Memoir

Matthew Perry's memoir was long-awaited and somewhat poorly received at first, but it still made him a ton of money.

Yet as much as Matthew Perry valued his off-screen endeavors, his on-screen work beyond Friends cannot be ignored, either. The myriad of other roles that he took on over the years showcased his talent and versatility as an actor. The following is an exploration of Matthew Perry’s most significant roles, putting the spotlight on his professional achievements beyond playing Chandler Bing.

9 A Night In The Life of Jimmy Reardon

Matthew Perry's Character: Fred Roberts (Credited as Matthew L. Perry)

In A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, Matthew Perry took on the role of Fred Roberts, the affluent best friend to the film’s central character. The story revolves around Jimmy Reardon (portrayed by River Phoenix), a self-assured charmer with a mission. His aim? To collect $80, the sum he needs to elope to Hawaii with the woman he loves. The alternative is a future at his father’s preferred business school.

The relationship between Perry’s character, Fred, and Reardon becomes complex when the latter becomes romantically entangled with Fred’s sophisticated girlfriend, Denise Hunter (played by Ione Skye).

Financially, the film faced challenges. With a budget of $5 million, it only managed to earn a touch above $6.2 million at the box office. Critically, the reception was also mixed, with A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon garnering a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on six reviews.

8 Sydney

Matthew Perry's Character: Billy Kells

One of Matthew Perry’s first ever major roles on TV was in the CBS sitcom Sydney. He played the role of Billy, the younger brother of the series’ titular character, Sydney Kells. Portrayed by Valerie Bertinelli, Sydney decides to relocate her New York detective agency back to her hometown. As she makes this move, Billy, eager and fresh in the role of a rookie officer, accompanies her. His protective nature is evident as he often steps in to assist his sister in her investigative endeavors.

While the premise held potential and Perry was featured prominently in all 13 episodes of the first season, the series unfortunately didn’t find enough traction for a second-season renewal.

7 Fools Rush In

Matthew Perry's Character: Alex Whitman

Fools Rush In takes audiences on a journey through the unexpected love story of Alex Whitman and Isabel Fuentes, portrayed by Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek, respectively. After a spontaneous night together, Isabel, a vibrant Mexican-American photographer, discovers she’s pregnant. The duo decides to take the leap into marriage, navigating the ensuing challenges of blending their unique cultural traditions.

Commercially, the film garnered success, collecting $29.5 million in the United States and Canada. This figure was further boosted by an additional $13 million from other regions, taking the worldwide box office total to $42 million. Critical response to the film was generally positive. Notably, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the movie three out of four stars. He appreciated Fools Rush In for its charming take on a familiar story, lauding it for its notable performances, and its keen sense of “human comedy.”

The One Celeb That Refused To Star In A Rom-Com With Matthew Perry Despite Getting A Personal Offer From The Actor

Matthew Perry had a former co-star in mind for a new rom/com, but was instantly rejected.

6 Home Free

Matthew Perry's Character: Matt Bailey

Home Free featured Matthew Perry as Matt Bailey, a carefree, 22-year-old freelance journalist. Relishing the comfort of his mother Grace’s home (played by Marian Mercer), Matt enjoyed a relaxed existence, devoid of rush or ambition, until life took an unexpected turn. His older sister Vanessa (portrayed by Diana Canova), returns home post-divorce, along with her two children. With her life in disarray, Vanessa seeks to rebuild from scratch, prompting Matt to suddenly step into a more responsible role.

Although Home Free had a full order of 13 episodes, only 11 were broadcast. The final two episodes remained unaired. Like Sydney, the series was never renewed, and concluded after its first season.

5 The Whole Nine Yards

Matthew Perry's Character: Dr. Nicholas “Oz” Oseransky

In what many consider Matthew Perry’s standout performance on the big screen, The Whole Nine Yards saw him step into the shoes of Dr. Nicholas “Oz” Oseransky. This affable dentist from Chicago, settled in Montreal, is not quite adored in a similar way by his wife Sophie (played by Rosanna Arquette). Bruce Willis stars as James Stefan “Jimmy The Tulip” Tudeski, a renowned contract killer from Chicago with a hefty bounty on his head.

Financially, the film made quite an impression. From a budget of $41.3 million, The Whole Nine Yards raked in $57.3 million in the United States and Canada, and an additional $49.1 million from international markets, culminating in a worldwide total of $106.4 million. The film’s success led to a sequel titled The Whole Ten Yards, released on April 9, 2004. Although it reunited much of the original cast, including Perry as Dr. Oseransky, it didn’t garner the same critical acclaim as its predecessor.

4 Studio 60 On The Sunset STrip

Matthew Perry's Character: Matt Albie

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was a comedy-drama TV series crafted by the renowned Aaron Sorkin. The show presented a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a live comedy series akin to Saturday Night Live.Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip took its bow on NBC and was broadcasted for 22 episodes, spanning from September 18, 2006, to June 28, 2007.

However, on May 14, 2007, NBC decided not to renew it for a second season, making it the sole show created by Sorkin to not stretch beyond its inaugural year.At the core of this series-within-a-series, were executive producers Matt Albie and Danny Tripp, portrayed by Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford respectively. Perry’s character, Matt, wore the dual hats of the head writer, while Danny took on the mantle of producing the show.

Fans Can't Get Enough Of Clips Showing Matthew Perry Going Off Script And Trolling His Friends Co-Stars

During his time on Friends, Matthew Perry loved going off-script and trolling his fellow cast members, especially Matt LeBlanc and Jennifer Aniston.

3 Numb

Matthew Perry's Character: Hudson Milbank

In 2007, the dark romantic comedy Numb graced the screens, with Matthew Perry in the lead. The film was written and directed by Harris Goldberg, with a storyline that was deeply personal for him. Perry took on the role of Hudson Milbank, a screenwriter entrenched in the clutches of chronic depression. As he navigates the labyrinth of his mind, a glimmer of hope emerges when he meets his dream girl.

Numb received a limited theatrical release in Canada on April 18, 2008. Wally Hammond of Time Out shared his thoughts on the movie, awarding it three out of five stars. He pointed out that despite moments where the narrative felt repetitive and wavering, it regained its vigor as it transitioned into familiar romantic grounds.

2 Mr. Sunshine

Matthew Perry's Character: Ben Donovan

Matthew Perry took on the role of Ben Donovan in Mr. Sunshine, portraying the manager of the Sunshine Center, a second-tier sports arena in San Diego. Ben often found himself grappling with the quirky demands of his position, made even more challenging by his unpredictable boss, Crystal Cohen (played by Allison Janney).

Perry was deeply involved behind the scenes of this project. Mr. Sunshine was in fact based on an idea he conceptualized, and he wore multiple hats: co-writer, lead actor, and executive producer. Such was the appeal of the project that multiple networks vied for its rights, but it was ABC that secured the comedy in October 2009. However, by May 13, 2011, the network made the decision to discontinue Mr. Sunshine. The show’s run was short-lived, with only one season that comprised 13 episodes, four of which never made it to air.

Matthew Perry's Thoughts On Fatherhood Are That Much More Heartbreaking Following His Death

Matthew Perry passed away without leaving any children behind, but his thoughts on fatherhood were positive and optimistic.

1 17 Again

Matthew Perry's Character: Adult Mike O'Donnell

Matthew Perry was initially slated to star in Don’t Look Up (2021) alongside Meryl Streep, and other major names in a star-studded cast. This would have been the actor’s final film role, but having missed out due to a health scare on set, instead, that distinct honor of being the final movie role Matthew Perry played remains with 17 Again. The 2009 American teen fantasy comedy film was directed by Burr Steers, and starred Perry in the role of Mike O’Donnell.

Filled with regret about his life choices, a twist of fate offers Mike a unique opportunity to redo his life when he plunges into a time-altering vortex. 17 Again was produced on a budget of $40 million, and garnered significant success at the box office, accumulating $139.5 million worldwide.

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