LEILA FADEL, HOST:
The LA County coroner's office hasn't yet said what caused the death of 54-year-old "Friends" actor Matthew Perry. Colleagues and friends have been sharing memories. Here's NPR's Andrew Limbong.
ANDREW LIMBONG, BYLINE: There's a scene in the second season of "Friends" that really shows off Matthew Perry's range as Chandler. He's in the hall talking to Rachel, whose parents are newly divorced.
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MATTHEW PERRY: (As Chandler) How are you holding up there, tiger?
(LAUGHTER)
PERRY: (As Chandler) Oh, sorry. When my parents were getting divorced, I got a lot of tigers.
(LAUGHTER)
LIMBONG: And, of course, he can't resist a self-deprecating joke.
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JENNIFER ANISTON: (As Rachel) How did you get through this?
PERRY: (As Chandler) Well, I relied on a carefully regimented program of denial and wetting the bed.
(LAUGHTER)
LIMBONG: But he also knew when to just shut up and go in for a hug.
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PERRY: (As Chandler) Yeah, I know.
LIMBONG: "Friends" co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane and executive producer Kevin Bright issued a statement to NPR calling him a brilliant talent. Quote, "it's a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew's case, there are no truer words. From the first day we heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us." In 2007, Perry told WHYY's Fresh Air that even before "Friends," he got auditions for funny, witty roles.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)
PERRY: I think that's largely due to growing up in Canada around a bunch of kind of goofy, funny people, and I just learned all these kind of comedic rhythms to make kids laugh or make girls laugh in school. And I would use those in my auditions.
LIMBONG: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went to elementary school with Perry, and he posted on X, formerly Twitter, I'll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Actors who have done stints on "Friends" also paid tribute to him on social media. Maggie Wheeler, who played Chandler's on-again, off-again girlfriend Janice, wrote on Instagram, the world will miss you, Matthew Perry.
Andrew Limbong, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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