Matthew Perry, who is best known for the iconic role of Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends from 1994 until 2004, has had a life filled with everything you could imagine.
From star-studded love interests to addiction troubles, Matt has had a fruitful past since appearing on our screens as Chandler.
Due to the immense popularity of the sitcom, Matt and the rest of the cast of Friends were each making around $1 million per episode by 2002.
Since the show came to an end, Matthew has has been through addiction issues as well enjoying a successful film career.
Turbulent love life
(Image: Getty Images)
Like many Hollywood actors, Matt has had a rather turbulent love life and has been involved with many famous ladies.
He dated Yasmine Bleeth in 1995, and from 1995 to 1996 Matt even dated Julia Roberts, the star of Pretty Woman.
While dating the stunning star, Matt had to write and submit a paper on quantum physics to Julia in order for her to appear on Friends, and fans know the rest after her iconic stint on the show.
(Image: Getty Images for Roadside Attrac)
He later dated Lizzy Caplan from 2006 to 2012, before being rumoured to be dating Molly Hurwitz, a literary manager, in December 2019.
A source told The Sun in 2019, “Molly has been seeing Matthew for months, they mix in the same circles and she’s originally from New York where they have spent time together. She has a very quirky sense of humour and they hit it off immediately.”
(Image: Uptomyknees/Youtube)
The source also added, “Molly is not interested in fame and she rarely parties, she’s been great for Matthew.”
The couple became engaged in in November 2020, when they had reportedly spent Christmas together.
In June 2021, Matt announced he had called off the engagement to Molly, telling People magazine, “Sometimes things just don’t work out and this is one of them. I wish Molly the best.”
Career after Friends
(Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
After he starred in Friends alongside the likes of Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry starred in films like The Ron Clark Story, Numb and Birds of America.
When it comes to television, his credits include a starring role in The Odd Couple, recurring role in The Good Wife, Mr. Sunshine, among others.
Other credits include: Fools Rush In in 1997, Almost Heroes in 1998, The Whole Nine Yards in 2000, and 17 Again in 2009.
In 2010, he expanded his resume to include both video games and voice-over work when he voiced Benny in the video game Fallout: New Vegas.
Drug addiction troubles
(Image: Getty Images)
One thing you may not know about Matthew Perry’s life is that he has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, and it actually significantly impacted his time on Friends.
Matt was once addicted to Vicodin and in 1997 he completed a 28-day detox programme.
He again entered rehab in February 2001 for addiction to Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and alcohol.
Vulture reported that the star revealed that he had little to no memory of shooting a chunk of the show due to his drug use.
When asked about details of the show while appearing on BBC Radio 2, he said: “I think the answer is, I don’t remember three years of it,” he shared. “So none of those … Somewhere between season three and six … I was a little out of it.”
Health problems
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
In August 2018, it was reported that the Chandler Bing star had abdominal surgery to repair a gastrointestinal perforation.
Later that year in September, he revealed in a tweet that he had spent three months recovering in the hospital, suggesting the surgery took place in June 2018.
His weight fluctuated drastically over the next few years and once dropped down to 145 pounds.
He lost 20 pounds in 2000 due to pancreatitis.
Helping those with addiction problems
(Image: Getty Images)
As we have already mentioned, Matthew Perry has had struggles with addiction throughout his life.
He told People that after “a harrowing, years-long battle,” he finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Something clicked,” he explained. “You have to want the help.”
And after he found the help he was looking for, Matt turned to advocacy and began a lifelong dedication to helping those struggling with similar substance use problems.
Friends reunion revelations
In the preview of the Friends Reunion, Matthew Perry’s speech appeared to be a little “slurred”, which sparked fear and worry among fans.
After the video was released, which teased the cast’s first televised reunion since the show ended in 2004, viewers highlighted that Matt didn’t sound right and appeared to be ‘slurring’.
At one point, he also seemed to be falling asleep in the clip too and the Independent reported that a source later revealed the reason behind his behaviour.
According to a source close to the star, he needed emergency dental surgery hours before the interview was due to take place.
“Matthew turned up to the reunion [in April] and members of his team said that he had an emergency tooth procedure that day,” they told The Sun.
“That was said to impact his wellbeing and also how he was feeling. [Matthew] had been in pain from what we understand, which caused the slurred speech.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
