SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) — Matthew Perry, well known for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic TV series “Friends,” died at 54, just days before Halloween. The news came as a shock to many, leaving fans devastated at his passing.
In honor of his career, here are a few movies you may not remember Matthew Perry starred in.
17 Again (2009)
Perry played the role of Mike O’Donnell in the comedy “17 Again.” It switches between young Mike O’Donnell, played by Zac Efron, and the older version played by Perry.
A movie description by Warner Bros. said that Mike is “miraculously transformed” into his 17-year-old life again, but with the perspective of his older self. The movie was among Perry’s more recent, as much of his career success centered on the turn of the century.
The Ron Clark Story (2006)
Perry also starred as the main character in the 2006 film “The Ron Clark Story,” playing the character of a suburban elementary school teacher who transfers to an inner-city school in Harlem. The drama strayed from his usual comedic roles and earned Perry a Golden Globe nomination, according to IMDb.
The Whole Nine Yards (2000)
Perry played Oz Oseransky in the comedic crime film “The Whole Nine Yards.” As IMDb explains, he learns that his new neighbor, Jimmy “The Tulip” Tudeski—Bruce Willis—is a “former mob-contract-killer-turned-police-informant upon whose head the Hungarian mob has put a steep price.” The movie was followed by a sequel, “The Whole Ten Yards,” in 2004.
Almost Heroes (1998)
In a Western comedy, Perry played opposite Chris Farley as two explorers who rival Lewis and Clark. The fictional characters, Bartholomew Hunt and Leslie Edwards, try crossing the western frontier to reach the Pacific Ocean first, according to the IMDb summary. This was the last lead role for Farley before he died, IMDb says.
Fools Rush In (1997)
In the romantic dramedy “Fools Rush In,” Perry and Salma Hayek played lead roles Alex and Isabel. The film, called “underrated” and “under-appreciated” by IMDb reviewers, tells the tale of a one-night stand that leads to a pregnancy, and then to marriage. Perry and Hayek were both nominated for the American Latino Media Arts Awards for their performances.
Television
While Perry starred as a lead in several films, he was best known for and preferred his roles in television. He told the Associated Press in 2015, “My performance never got better than when there was an audience there.”
Perry received Emmy nominations for “Friends” and his appearances in “The West Wing,” according to the Associated Press. He was in several other TV series, like “The Odd Couple,” “Growing Pains,” “Scrubs,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Cougar Town,” “Go On,” “The Good Wife,” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”