Matthew Perry was an actor, comedian and author most famously known for his role as Chandler Bing on the long-running TV show “Friends.” Set in New York City, “Friends” tells the story of six friends in their 20s and 30s trying to navigate adult life and relationships. Due to the impact the show and Perry’s character had on pop culture, Perry’s recent passing has elicited sorrow and remembrance from celebrities and fans alike.
“I have been watching ‘Friends’ for as long as I can remember,” science teacher Ms. Lombardo said. “My parents had all of the ‘Friends’ seasons on VHS tapes. I remember it always being on. I rewatched it a bunch throughout the years, but I most actively watched it in college with my roommates.”
The pilot episode of “Friends” aired in September 1994, and its quick rise to popularity set the stage for it to run for the following ten years. The show has become a pop culture phenomenon that has remained relevant to this day. In addition to Perry’s character Chandler Bing, the main characters are Ross Geller played by David Schwimmer, Monica Geller played by Courteney Cox, Rachel Greene played by Jennifer Aniston, Joey Tribbiani played by Matt LeBlanc and Phoebe Buffay played by Lisa Kudrow.
“Chandler was my favorite character of the six and his humor and sarcasm were just the cherry on top,” freshman Zahra Mazkur said. “Even during hard days, if I turn on ‘Friends,’ I will be in a better mood, and when one of Chandler’s lines [comes up], I would forget why I was upset in the first place.”
Throughout Matthew Perry’s career, many fans have been brought joy by his skillful acting and sense of humor. The humor in “Friends” has made it a longtime favorite for many. Through watching the characters’ relationships develop throughout ten seasons, many fans have grown to adore the cast’s dynamic.
Following Matthew Perry’s passing, all of the main cast members from “Friends” posted messages on social media expressing their gratitude for the years that they got to cherish with him and their sadness at his unexpected death. The actors spent over a decade working on the show together, making their bond closer to that of a family than that of a cast.
On November 14, Matthew LeBlanc (@mleblanc) uploaded a series of screencaps of Joey and Chandler’s funniest moments on “Friends” to Instagram, addressing it to Perry by adding the caption, “It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend.”
The rest of the main cast also posted their favorite photos, videos and anecdotes of their most cherished memories with Matthew Perry.
“I think the actors’ messages on social media were very heartfelt and sweet. They all became very famous together, so their bond was very unique,” junior Oishik Saha said.
Matthew Perry has touched many fans’ hearts with his incredible and unforgettable humor, and fans hold his impactful career close to their hearts during a time of loss. As “Friends” continues to be available on streaming platforms, fans feel torn about rewatching the show as they experience sadness surrounding the actor’s death.
“I plan on watching ‘Friends’ moving forward, but I can never watch it the same way knowing that Matthew Perry is no longer around. However, his character still lives on as his legacy,” seventh grader Leighton Roliz said.
