Matthew Perry Death, Biography, Age, Wife, FRIENDS, Salary, and Net Worth

Matthew Perry Biography Information

Matthew Perry, whose full name is Matthew Langford Perry, was a versatile American and Canadian figure in the entertainment industry, known for his roles as an actor, comedian, and producer.

He achieved widespread fame during the 1990s for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends (1994–2004), a performance that earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Perry also showcased his talent in other television ventures, such as his role in the series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and in various films, including Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes, The Whole Nine Yards, The Whole Ten Yards, The Ron Clark Story, and 17 Again. Additionally, in 2010, he lent his voice to the character Benny in the video game Fallout: New Vegas.

Beyond his acting career, Perry displayed his creative prowess as the co-creator, co-writer, executive producer, and lead actor in the ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine, which ran from February to April 2011.

He also took on the role of sportscaster Ryan King in the NBC sitcom Go On in August 2012. Notably, Perry was involved in the revival of the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple, co-developing and starring as Oscar Madison from 2015 to 2017.

Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His mother, Suzanne Marie Morrison (née Langford, born in 1948), was a Canadian journalist who had served as the press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His father, John Bennett Perry (born in 1941), was an American actor and former model.

Perry’s parents went through a divorce before his first birthday, and his mother later married Canadian-born broadcast journalist Keith Morrison. His upbringing was primarily overseen by his mother, mainly in Ottawa, Ontario, although he also had short stints in Toronto and Montreal.

Matthew Perry Education Background

He received his education at both the Rockcliffe Park Public School, where he attended classes alongside future Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and at Ashbury College. During his formative years, he developed a strong passion for tennis and even achieved recognition as a top-ranked junior player in the sport.

Matthew Perry FRIENDS

Perry’s prior commitment to a pilot project prevented him from being in the running for a role in another pilot, initially titled “Six of One,” which eventually became known as “Friends.”

However, when he had the chance to audition for a role in “Six of One,” he secured the part of Chandler Bing. Notably, at the age of 24, he was the youngest among the primary cast members.

As of 2002, Perry, alongside the six main cast members, was commanding a remarkable $1 million per episode. His involvement in the show resulted in an Emmy nomination in 2002, particularly in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Matthew Perry Career

At the age of 15, Perry relocated from Ottawa to Los Angeles, where he resided with his father and began pursuing an acting career. He completed his high school education at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks in 1987.

While still in high school, he explored improvisational comedy at the LA Connection in Sherman Oaks. Following his graduation, Perry took on the role of Chazz Russell in the TV series “Second Chance,” which later evolved into “Boys Will Be Boys” after 13 episodes, focusing on the escapades of Chazz and his friends.

Perry’s debut in the world of cinema came in the 1988 film “A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.” He also had a three-episode stint on the series “Growing Pains” in 1989, playing the character of Sandy, who meets a tragic end in a hospital following a drunk-driving accident.

In 1990, he became a regular cast member on the CBS sitcom “Sydney,” portraying the younger brother of Valerie Bertinelli’s character. Perry made a guest appearance on “Beverly Hills, 90210” in 1991 as Roger Azarian.

In the spring of 1993, he starred in the ABC sitcom “Home Free,” which ran for 11 episodes. Perry’s presence extended to various films, including “Fools Rush In,” “Almost Heroes,” “Three to Tango,” “The Whole Nine Yards” and its sequel, “The Whole Ten Yards,” as well as “Serving Sara.”

He also played Associate White House Counsel Joe Quincy in Aaron Sorkin’s “The West Wing,” earning two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2003 and 2004. Perry had a brief stint as attorney Todd Merrick in two episodes of “Ally McBeal.”

Perry made his directorial debut and acted in an episode of the fourth season of the comedy-drama series “Scrubs,” which featured his father. He took on the role of the lead character in the TNT movie “The Ron Clark Story,” premiering on August 13, 2006, a performance that earned him a Golden Globe nomination and an Emmy nomination.

From 2006 to 2007, he appeared in Aaron Sorkin’s drama series “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” playing Matt Albie alongside Bradley Whitford’s Danny Tripp. Perry’s character was widely regarded as based on Sorkin’s own experiences in television.

In 2006, Perry began work on the film “Numb,” centered on a man with depersonalization disorder. The film’s release was delayed but was eventually released on DVD on May 13, 2008. Perry also ventured into stage acting in London, featuring in David Mamet’s “Sexual Perversity in Chicago.” He starred in the offbeat film “Birds of America” in 2008, playing the role of Morrie Tanager, an uptight character dealing with his siblings.

In the television domain, Perry was involved in a pilot titled “The End of Steve,” a dark comedy that he co-wrote, produced, and starred in, alongside Peter Tolan, but it was not picked up by Showtime. In 2009, he appeared in the film “17 Again,” assuming the role of the older Mike O’Donnell.

Perry’s comedy pilot, “Mr. Sunshine,” based on his original concept for the show, was acquired by ABC. Perry was set to play a middle-aged man grappling with an identity crisis. However, the series was canceled by ABC after just nine episodes.

On March 1, 2012, it was reported that Perry signed on to star in the NBC comedy pilot “Go On,” created and produced by former “Friends” writer/producer Scott Silveri. The project was greenlit as a series in May 2012, featuring Perry as Ryan King, a sportscaster striving to cope with his wife’s death through mandatory therapy sessions.

The pilot episode aired on August 8, 2012, as a “sneak preview” after the 2012 Summer Olympics, with the series officially premiering on September 11, 2012. In October 2012, NBC ordered a full season of 22 episodes. However, “Go On” was canceled by NBC in May 2013, shortly after the completion of its first season.

In 2012, Perry made a guest appearance on the CBS drama “The Good Wife” as attorney Mike Kresteva, a role he reprised in the show’s fourth season in 2013. In 2014, he made his British TV debut in the one-off comedy program “The Dog Thrower,” airing on May 1 as part of Sky Arts’ Playhouse Presents. Perry played a charismatic man known for throwing his dog into the air, captivating onlookers.

From 2015 to 2017, Perry took on the roles of starring, co-writing, and executive producing a revival of the sitcom “The Odd Couple” on CBS, where he portrayed Oscar Madison alongside Thomas Lennon’s Felix Unger.

Perry was also involved in the world premiere production of his play “The End of Longing,” which opened on February 11, 2016, at the Playhouse Theatre in London. The play later moved to Off-Broadway and premiered at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on June 5, 2017, featuring Jennifer Morrison. Unfortunately, it received unfavorable reviews and concluded on July 1.

In March 2017, Perry once again reprised his role as attorney Mike Kresteva in “The Good Fight,” a sequel show to the CBS drama “The Good Wife.” Later that year, he assumed the role of Ted Kennedy in the mini-series “The Kennedys: After Camelot.”

By 2018, Business Insider reported Perry’s net worth to be around $80 million. In October 2022, Perry released a memoir titled “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” which achieved bestseller status on both Amazon and The New York Times charts.

Matthew Perry Addiction | Matthew Perry Drug Use

Perry grappled with a Vicodin addiction stemming from a jet-ski accident in 1997, eventually seeking help through a 28-day rehab program in that same year. His weight experienced fluctuations in the following years, dropping to 145 pounds (66 kg) due to pancreatitis.

In February 2001, Perry entered rehab again, this time for struggles with Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and alcohol. While working on the film “Serving Sara” in Texas, he was plagued by severe stomach pain that necessitated a hospital visit to Marina del Rey’s Daniel Freeman Hospital. He later estimated that he had expended $9 million on his journey to sobriety.

Perry disclosed that his addiction issues caused him to have no recollection of three years during his time on “Friends,” specifically spanning seasons three through six.

In 2011, Perry took on the role of a celebrity spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, lobbying the U.S. Congress in support of funding for drug courts.

His efforts in this area earned him a Champion of Recovery award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in May 2013. He also established Perry House, a rehab center located in his former mansion in Malibu, California, before relocating it in 2015.

Matthew Perry Death

Matthew Perry, renowned for his role on “Friends,” was discovered deceased in a hot tub at his Los Angeles residence on Saturday, according to law enforcement insiders. He was 54 years old. Authorities were called to his home at around 4 p.m. and found him unresponsive.

While the sources, who preferred to remain anonymous because the inquiry was ongoing, did not specify the cause of death, they confirmed that no drugs were located at the scene. Additionally, law enforcement sources indicated that there were no indications of foul play.

A representative for Perry did not respond immediately to The Times’ request for a statement. The Los Angeles Police Department’s robbery-homicide detectives have initiated an investigation into his death. The exact cause of death will be determined later by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Both Warner Bros. Television Group, the producer of “Friends,” and NBC, the network that aired the series for all 10 seasons, expressed their profound sorrow over Perry’s untimely passing. They hailed his remarkable comedic talent and the joy he brought to countless fans worldwide.

As evening fell, LAPD crime scene tape cordoned off the entrance to Blue Sail Drive, the location of Perry’s residence, with helicopters circling overhead. Perry’s mother, Suzanne, and her husband, broadcaster Keith Morrison, arrived at the scene, but they declined to comment.

Neighbors, who expressed shock and sadness over Perry’s passing, described him as a pleasant and friendly individual. They shared their fond memories of his work and described the tragedy as deeply saddening, especially considering his relatively young age.

Matthew Perry Age

Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He died on October 28, 2023. He was 54 years old at the time of his death.

Matthew Perry Wife | Matthew Perry Family

In 1995, he was in a relationship with Yasmine Bleeth, followed by dating Julia Roberts from 1995 to 1996. Later, he was romantically involved with Lizzy Caplan from 2006 to 2012.

In November 2020, Perry got engaged to literary manager Molly Hurwitz. However, their engagement concluded in 2021. One year prior to his unfortunate passing, Perry openly expressed his desire to discover enduring love and experience fatherhood.

Matthew Perry Salary

In the initial season of “Friends,” each cast member received a payment of $22,500 per episode, amounting to a total of $540,000 for the entire season. Their earnings increased to $40,000 per episode in the second season, totaling $960,000 for that season.

In anticipation of the third season, as their contracts were up for renewal, the cast collectively negotiated for better terms. This resulted in a deal that paid them $75,000 per episode for season three (equivalent to $1.875 million for the season), $85,000 for season four ($2.04 million), $100,000 for season five ($2.5 million), and $125,000 for season six ($3.125 million).

As they approached the seventh season, the cast successfully negotiated for a substantial raise, each earning $750,000 per episode in seasons seven and eight, which equated to $18 million per season. During seasons nine and ten, each cast member received $1 million per episode, totaling $24 million for season nine and $18 million for season ten.

When considering their base salaries alone, each member of the “Friends” cast earned approximately $90 million from the show. In addition to these earnings, as part of their 2000 contract negotiations, they secured backend points, which entitled them to royalties from the show’s syndication sales.

This has been a significant source of income, as “Friends” continues to generate over $1 billion annually from syndication royalties and streaming deals. Some reports suggest that each cast member can earn between $10-20 million in royalties alone in certain years.

Matthew Perry Net Worth

As of October 2023, Matthew Perry’s estimated wealth stands at around $120 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. This substantial net worth has been accumulated not only from his acting career but also from his involvement as an executive producer and screenwriter.

Matthew Perry Movies and TV Shows

Movies

• A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon
• She’s Out of Control
• Fat Man and Little Boy
• Getting In
• Fools Rush In
• Almost Heroes
• Three to Tango
• The Whole Nine Yards
• The Kid
• Serving Sara
• The Whole Ten Yards
• Numb
• Birds of America
• 17 Again

TV Shows

• 240-Robert
• Not Necessarily the News
• Charles in Charge
• Silver Spoons
• Morning Maggie
• Boys Will Be Boys
• Dance ’til Dawn
• Just the Ten of Us
• Highway to Heaven
• Empty Nest
• Growing Pains
• Sydney
• Who’s the Boss?
• Call Me Anna
• Beverly Hills, 90210
• Dream On
• Sibs
• Deadly Relations
• Home Free
• Parallel Lives
• L.A.X. 2194
• Friends
• Caroline in the City
• The John Larroquette Show
• Saturday Night Live
• The Simpsons
• Ally McBeal
• The West Wing
• Scrubs
• Friday Night Lights Short Scene
• The Ron Clark Story
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
• Childrens Hospital
• Mr. Sunshine
• The Good Wife
• Go On
• Cougar Town
• Playhouse Presents
• Web Therapy
• The Odd Couple
• The Good Fight
• The Kennedys: After Camelot
• Friends: The Reunion

Matthew Perry Body Measurements