Matthew Perry is dead: why Chandler will never be forgotten
30.10.2023
Translation: machine translated
The news of his death shook the acting world: "Friends" star Matthew Perry died at the age of 54. Why he will never be forgotten by fans.
"Chandler is dead!!!" I received this WhatsApp message from my sister on Sunday morning and it made my heart bleed. A world collapsed - not just for my sister and I, but for fans and fellow actors worldwide.
A fan on Instagram probably summed it up best. After Warner Bros, the production company of "Friends", published a touching post about Matthew Perry's death on Instagram, he wrote below it: "The one where a billion hearts just broke." Every "Friends" episode has a name that starts with "The one where...". Because yes, it feels like someone close to you has died.
The boulevard magazine TMZ was the first to report the tragic news. According to the magazine, Matthew Perry was found dead in his hot tub by his assistant on Saturday 28 October 2023. He was 54 years old. There are only five Friends left. Now every episode of "Friends" will always be tinged with sadness and melancholy. One of the best is no longer with us!
One thing is certain: Matthew Perry will remain unforgotten, both in his role as Chandler and as an actor and person. Because his legacy will live on.
No one is funnier than Chandler
Of course, all six Friends are great and make the series what it is: the most successful sitcom of the 90s. But it's Chandler we have to laugh at the most - he's simply the funniest! His little happy dance (we hear Monica: "Don't do the dance!") remains unforgotten, his dry jokes and remarks have long since become cult.
The king of sarcasm
Chandler Bing is not only damn funny, he speaks fluent sarcasm. He taught fans the most important things about sarcasm - such as when is the right time to make a nasty comment. His satirical remarks, his dry humour and his flair for situation comedy - Chandler Bing made sarcasm socially acceptable with "Friends".
Friends jokes
We are not only grateful to Chandler for always making us laugh, but also for the fact that his jokes and comments still work today. Maybe you know the situation: You make a joke from "Friends" and the other person doesn't get it. You immediately dislike each other. But not if the other person responds! Nothing connects more than a shared love of Friends and the best laughs came from Matthew Perry's role. Thank you, Matthew, for all those jokes and innuendos that we love to borrow.
Favourite of the series
Ross is stingy, Monica is fussy, Rachel is a bit spoilt, Joey is planned and Phoebe is quirky ... But what is Chandler anyway? Besides being funny? Chandler remains unrivalled! In his own way, he was the most charming of the six. His character combines so many qualities that we appreciate: Warm-heartedness, honesty, humanity. Although he is so shy, he has great women by his side during the show, even if one of them is called Janice (Maggie Wheeler). In the end, he marries Monica! And his friends mean everything to him: he uses his hard-earned money to look after his best friend Joey, whose acting doesn't earn quite as much. What makes his role so endearing is that Chandler is always working on himself. He works on overcoming his fear of commitment, his shyness, his disappointment in his parents ... And no one could have played this character better than Matthew Perry.
Addiction and career
Aside from his success as an actor, Matthew Perry had many problems to contend with. Among other things, he was addicted to alcohol. While he hid this during his 'Friends' days, he later decided to speak openly about his problems. In an interview with BBC Radio 2 in 2016, he said that he could no longer remember large parts of the filming of "Friends". "I had a big problem with alcohol and pills and couldn't stop," he revealed to the broadcaster. At some point, this became so bad that everyone around him realised it. His biography "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing" was published last year. In it, he gave a detailed and honest account of his years of addiction and his attempts at withdrawal. In interviews later, Perry often said that he wanted to help other people through his revelations.
A note to self: After the news of Matthew Perry's death, the book was ordered from us a lot. Therefore, it may not be available (anymore).
A true local journalist with a secret soft spot for German pop music. Mum of two boys, a dog and about 400 toy cars in all shapes and colours. I always enjoy travelling, reading and go to concerts, too.
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