Remembering late actor Matthew Perry beyond Friends: 11 of his best film and TV roles, from starring alongside Salma Hayek in Fools Rush In and Bruce Willis in The Whole Nine Yards, to The Odd Couple
- Matthew Perry was found dead last Saturday – we remember the late actor by celebrating his achievements in his decades-long career beyond his iconic role as Chandler Bing in Friends
- The 54-year-old really shone in romcoms like Fools Rush In and Serving Sara, but he also scored two Emmy nominations for his role as Joe Quincy in Aaron Sorkin’s political drama The West Wing
“When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned,” Matthew Perry said on the Q with Tom Power podcast in November 2022.
Above all else, Perry, who died suddenly aged 54 last Saturday, wanted to be remembered as a man who helped people. He dedicated much of the end of his life to helping other addicts get sober. But throughout his decades-long career, he also helped many people by giving us the gift of laughter and entertainment on shows and films, far beyond his iconic role as Chandler Bing on Friends.
Here are 11 stand-out performances in Perry’s career, spanning from 1997 to 2017.
1. Fools Rush In (1997)
Fools Rush In is slightly ahead of its time where representation is concerned, but Perry and Hayek’s chemistry is what really makes this seemingly formulaic story shine.