As we all know him as the sarcastic quick-witted Chandler Bing, Matthew Perry said he almost didn’t play the iconic character.
Perry, who died at age 54 on Saturday (October 28), was found dead at his California home in his hot tub by the Los Angeles police department. Authorities have so far said there are no signs of foul play in his death.
Following the news of his death, fans around the world have been paying tribute to the actor. Some have gone as far to search out for stories and lesser-known details about the actor.
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One notable story is Perry’s explanation as to why he almost didn’t play the Friend’s cast member as he was positioned to star in another TV show.
Speaking on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2015, Perry said at one point he was forced to take any role available to him as his manager in 1994 called him to tell him he has 'no money'.
“This happened to be the year that Friends was shot, but I was off the market because I had taken a job on a pilot called LAX 2194 that was about baggage handlers at L.A. Airport in the year 2194,” Perry said to laughter from the host and the crowd.
“So, I was wearing a futuristic shirt and little people played the aliens in which I had to sort out the aliens’ luggage and that was basically the show.”
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Despite this commitment, Perry said he got his hands on the Friends script, which at the time was called 'Friends Like Us’, and found it 'hilarious'.
He added that he found that the Chandler Bing character was perfect for him to play.
Raising his fist in frustration, he said he ‘was losing [his] mind’ he couldn’t have the part because of his commitment to the futuristic baggage handler show.
Thankfully, Perry became available when a FOX executive saw the LAX 2194 show and was convinced it was the worst thing they had ever seen.
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Good call in my books.
Perry recalled the FOX executives telling the show runners: “He is available. You can hire him for your little show called Friends Like Us that then became Friends.”
10 seasons and one reunion later, TV history was made and Perry was cemented as one of the 1990s greatest television characters, alongside his co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.
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