He built his career on versatility, proving he could be everything from a leading man to a supporting character and even a scene-stealing guest star. He also shared the screen with several other talented actors, including hisFriendscostars —Jennifer Aniston,Courteney Cox,Lisa Kudrow,Matt LeBlancandDavid Schwimmer—Salma Hayek,Bruce WillisandZac Efron, to name a few.
Second Chance/Boys Will Be Boys(1987-1988)
Kiel Martin and Matthew Perry in ‘Second Chance’.20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Everett Collection
20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Everett Collection
After airing half a season, the show went on a winter hiatus, returning early in 1988 under the new titleBoys Will Be Boys. In the new format, the show eliminated the time-traveling ghost element and focused solely on Chazz as he lived out his teen years and matured.
Unfortunately, the FOX comedy is currently not available to stream, rent or buy.
Friends(1994-2004)
Matt Le Blanc, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, and Courteney Cox in ‘Friends’.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004, followed the daily lives of a group of friends living in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The show became so popular as viewers lived vicariously through Monica (Cox), Ross (Schwimmer), Rachel (Aniston), Phoebe (Kudrow), Joey (Le Blanc) and Chandler (Perry).
Perry’s witty yet sarcastic character Chandler always brought jokes to every scene. Chandler also hit several milestones throughout the show’s run, from quitting his high-paying job to work at an ad agency to marrying Monica and even adopting twins.Friendsran for an entire decade, airing 10 seasons and receiving a hefty 62 Emmy nominations.
WatchFriendson Max
Fools Rush In(1997)
Jon Tenny, Matthew Perry, and Salma Hayek in ‘Fools Rush In’.Frank Masi/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
Frank Masi/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
Perry starred alongsideSalma Hayekin the 1997 rom-comFools Rush In. In the movie, Perry plays Alex, a businessman working on a project in Las Vegas. There, he meets Isabel (Hayek), and the two quickly hit it off, leading to a passionate one-night stand. Months later, Alex gets a call that Isabel is pregnant and he’s the father. The two decide to throw caution to the wind and get married on a whim, leading to a whirlwind of emotions. Perry’s real-life father,John Bennett Perry, also played his character’s dad in the film.
Upon his death,Hayek shared a touching messageon Instagram about Perry and the special time they shared while filming the movie. The actress wrote, “Throughout the years, he and I found ourselves reminiscing about that meaningful time in our lives with a deep sense of nostalgia and gratitude.”
Hayek continued, “My friend, you are gone much too soon, but I will continue to cherish your silliness, your perseverance, and your lovely heart.”
WatchFools Rush Inon Amazon Prime Video
The Whole Nine Yards(2000)
Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis in ‘The Whole Nine Yards’.Pierre Vinet/Morgan Creek/Kobal/Shutterstock
Pierre Vinet/Morgan Creek/Kobal/Shutterstock
Earning over $106 million at the box office,The Whole Nine Yardswas Perry’s highest-grossing starring role. In the movie, he plays Oz, a dull, mild-mannered dentist. But his life is turned upside down when a notorious hitman (Bruce Willis) moves in next door. Oz decides to reveal the killer’s identity and collect the reward, but doing so brings on a tidal wave of consequences — both good and bad. Perry also starred in the film’s 2004 sequel,The Whole Ten Yards.
WatchThe Whole Nine Yardson Amazon Prime Video
Serving Sara(2002)
Elizabeth Hurley and Matthew Perry in ‘Serving Sara’.Ftm Production/Manadaly/Kobal/Shutterstock
Ftm Production/Manadaly/Kobal/Shutterstock
In 2002’sServing Sara, Perry stars as Joe Tyler, a process server tasked with serving divorce papers to party-hard European socialite Sara Moore (Elizabeth Hurley). But once Joe meets Sara, a plan is hatched to serve a counter-divorce to Sara’s husband instead. Like all good rom-coms, antics ensue, wild times are had, and Joe and Sara realize they might be falling for each other.
WatchServing Saraon Starz
The West Wing(2003-2004)
Amy Stewart, Matthew Perry, Richard Schiff and Milo O’Shea during a season 5 episode of ‘The West Wing.'.ALAMAY
ALAMAY
Perry had a guest role during seasons 4 and 5 of the political dramaThe West Wing. He played Republican attorney Joe Quincy, and his performance earned him two Emmy nominations for outstanding guest actor in a drama series in 2003 and 2004.
WatchThe West Wingon Max
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip(2007)
Matthew Perry and Kari Matchett in ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’.Mike Ansell/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
Mike Ansell/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
Perry’s costarWhitford shared a message on Instagramafter the star’s death, writing, “Matt was full of contradictions. He was hilariously self deprecating and insecure and wildly self confident. He was a fountain of light with a huge capacity for darkness. He was profoundly blessed and terribly cursed.”
He continued, “I want his parents to know that Matt was kind. Not just to his costar. To everyone.”
WatchStudio 60 on the Sunset Stripon Amazon Prime Video
17 Again(2009)
Matthew Perry in ‘17 Again’.Offspring Ent/Kobal/Shutterstock
Offspring Ent/Kobal/Shutterstock
Watch17 Againon Amazon Prime Video
Mr. Sunshine(2011)
Matthew Perry and Nate Torrence in ‘Mr. Sunshine’.Adam Larkey/Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
Adam Larkey/Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
WatchMr. Sunshineon Amazon Prime Video
The Good Wife(2012) &The Good Fight(2017)
Matthew Perry and John Cullum in ‘The Good Wife’.Jeffrey Neira/CBS/Getty
Jeffrey Neira/CBS/Getty
Perry held a recurring role onThe Good Wifeand its sister series,The Good Fight. In both shows, Perry played Mike Kresteva, the cunning, conniving and lying politician and lawyer who would do anything to succeed. He became a character that fans of both shows loved to hate because of how downright ruthless he could be.
“He wanted to play a villain, because he wanted to stretch himself as an actor. He took his work, but not himself, very seriously," the show’s creators, Michelle and Robert King told PEOPLE in a statement. “But off the set, he was anything but villainous. Kind, menschy, honest about his issues.”
WatchThe Good WifeandThe Good Fighton Paramount+
The Odd Couple(2015-2017)
Thomas Lennon and Matthew Perry in ‘The Odd Couple’.Sonja Flemming/CBS/Getty
Sonja Flemming/CBS/Getty
WatchThe Odd Coupleon Paramount+
source: people.com
