Did Matthew Perry almost miss his chance as Chandler Bing in 'Friends'? All you need to know
Matthew Perry, the iconic Chandler Bing of "Friends" fame, nearly missed his ticket to sitcom stardom. The beloved actor, who passed away at the age of 54, revealed this fascinating tidbit during a 2015 appearance on 'Late Night With Seth Meyers.'
In 1994, Perry found himself at a turning point in his career.
Perry recalled becoming desperate for work after his «terrible» manager told him he had «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,» he explained.
Recounting that particular occasion, he said, «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.»
Meanwhile, Perry received a script for 'Friends,' and it was love at first read.
He found the script hilarious, with a role that seemed tailor-made for him. However, frustration crept in as he realised that his commitment to the baggage handlers' pilot prevented him from auditioning for the 'Friends' role, leading him to exclaim that he was «losing [his] mind.»
Then, an unexpected twist took place.
An executive at Fox watched 'LAX 2194' and delivered a scathing critique, deeming it «the worst thing we've ever seen in our lives.» At that very moment, Perry's fortunes changed. The executive proclaimed, «He is available.
Read more on economictimes.indiatimes.com
