History of Matthew Perry in Timeline
Matthew Langford Perry was an American and Canadian actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. Perry's television career also included notable appearances on Ally McBeal and The West Wing, for which he received Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He starred in The Ron Clark Story and had a leading role in the NBC series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Perry’s film career featured leading roles in movies such as Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes, Three to Tango, The Whole Nine Yards, Serving Sara, The Whole Ten Yards, and 17 Again.
1995: Dating Yasmine Bleeth and Julia Roberts
In 1995, Matthew Perry dated Yasmine Bleeth and then Julia Roberts from 1995 to 1996.
1997: Addiction to Vicodin
In 1997, Matthew Perry became addicted to Vicodin after a jet ski accident and completed a 28-day rehab program at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
May 2000: Hospitalization for Pancreatitis
In May 2000, Matthew Perry was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with alcohol-induced pancreatitis at the age of 30.
February 2001: In-Patient Rehabilitation
In February 2001, Matthew Perry paused productions of Friends and Serving Sara for two months to enter in-patient rehabilitation for his addictions to Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and alcohol. He later said that he had no memory of three years of his work on Friends due to his substance use disorder.
2002: Struggles with Addiction
In 2002, Matthew Perry revealed that he often arrived on the set of Friends with extreme hangovers and sometimes would shake or sweat excessively. His castmates made efforts to help him, even staging an intervention.
2006: Dating Lizzy Caplan
From 2006 to 2012, Matthew Perry dated Lizzy Caplan.
July 2011: Lobbying for Drug Court Funding
In July 2011, Matthew Perry lobbied the United States Congress as a celebrity spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals in support of funding for drug courts.
May 2013: Champion of Recovery Award
In May 2013, Matthew Perry received a Champion of Recovery award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for opening Perry House, a rehab center in his former mansion in Malibu.
May 1, 2014: British TV Debut in The Dog Thrower
On May 1, 2014, Matthew Perry made his British TV debut in the one-off comedy program The Dog Thrower, which aired as part of Sky Arts' Playhouse Presents. He portrayed 'a charismatic man' who enchanted onlookers by throwing his dog in the air.
2015: Reboot of The Odd Couple
From 2015 to 2017, Matthew Perry starred in, co-wrote, and served as executive producer of a reboot of the sitcom The Odd Couple on CBS. He played Oscar Madison opposite Thomas Lennon as Felix Unger.
2015: Relocation of Perry House Services
In 2015, Matthew Perry sold his mansion and relocated the services of Perry House.
February 11, 2016: World Premiere of The End of Longing
On February 11, 2016, Matthew Perry played the lead role in the world premiere production of his play The End of Longing at the Playhouse Theatre in London. The limited run proved successful despite mixed reviews.
March 2017: Reprised Role in The Good Fight
In March 2017, Matthew Perry reprised his role as attorney Mike Kresteva in The Good Fight, a sequel to the CBS drama The Good Wife. Later that year, he also starred as Ted Kennedy in the mini-series The Kennedys: After Camelot.
June 5, 2017: Off-Broadway Production of The End of Longing
On June 5, 2017, a restructured version of Matthew Perry's play The End of Longing, in which he starred alongside Jennifer Morrison, opened at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York. The production closed on July 1, 2017, after receiving poor reviews.
2017: Conclusion of The Odd Couple
In 2017, the reboot of The Odd Couple, in which Matthew Perry starred, co-wrote, and served as executive producer, concluded its run on CBS.
2017: Purchase of The Century Condo
In 2017, Matthew Perry purchased a condo occupying the top floor of The Century in Los Angeles for $20 million.
2018: Hospitalization for Gastrointestinal Perforation
In 2018, Matthew Perry spent five months in a hospital for a gastrointestinal perforation. During his hospital stay, Perry nearly died after his colon burst from opioid abuse. He spent two weeks in a coma and used a colostomy bag for nine months.
November 2020: Engagement to Molly Hurwitz
In November 2020, Matthew Perry became engaged to literary manager Molly Hurwitz. Their engagement ended in 2021.
2020: Withdrawal from Don't Look Up
In 2020, Matthew Perry was meant to have a role in the film Don't Look Up but withdrew due to CPR-induced broken ribs.
May 2021: Friends: The Reunion
In May 2021, Matthew Perry participated in the special episode Friends: The Reunion.
2021: Sale of The Century Condo
In 2021, Matthew Perry sold his condo at The Century in Los Angeles for $21.6 million.
2021: End of Engagement to Molly Hurwitz
In 2021, Matthew Perry's engagement to literary manager Molly Hurwitz ended.
October 2022: Publication of Memoir
In October 2022, Matthew Perry published his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. It became a bestseller on both Amazon and The New York Times charts.
2022: Revelations in Memoir
In 2022, Matthew Perry revealed in his memoir that he had spent $9 million on his addiction, including 14 stomach surgeries, 15 stays in rehab, and approximately 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He also disclosed that he had faked pain to get a prescription for OxyContin and had a near-death experience due to a combination of drugs.
June 2023: Purchase of Hollywood Hills House
In June 2023, Matthew Perry purchased a mid-century modern house in Hollywood Hills.
November 3, 2023: Funeral and Establishment of Foundation
On November 3, 2023, Matthew Perry's funeral was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, where his family and Friends co-stars attended. The Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song 'Don't Give Up' was played at his funeral. Following his death, the National Philanthropic Trust established the Matthew Perry Foundation to support people suffering from addiction.
December 15, 2023: Cause of Death Revealed
On December 15, 2023, it was revealed that Matthew Perry died due to the acute effects of ketamine, along with buprenorphine, drowning, and coronary artery disease. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner stated that ketamine's cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression were the main lethal effects.