Matthew Perry\u2019s passing has prompted a reflection on the life and career of the late comedian, best known to audiences for his role as Chandler Bing on NBC\u2019s \u201cFriends.\u201d Interestingly, he wasn\u2019t the first Perry to leave a mark on Hollywood.<\/p>\n
Born on August 19, 1969, Matthew Perry was the son of Canadian journalist Suzanne Marie Langford and actor John Bennett Perry. John Bennett Perry\u2019s name may ring a bell for those familiar with his extensive film and television credits spanning over five decades. While he made notable appearances in films like 1976\u2019s \u201cMidway\u201d and 1996\u2019s \u201cIndependence Day,\u201d his career was predominantly on the small screen. His early work included a role in a 1972 television movie called \u201cBobby Jo and the Good Time Band,\u201d followed by brief appearances in popular TV shows like \u201cPolice Story,\u201d \u201cKung Fu,\u201d and \u201cLittle House on the Prairie.\u201d He later led series such as 1979\u2019s \u201c240-Robert,\u201d 1984\u2019s \u201cPaper Dolls,\u201d and 1985\u2019s \u201cFalcon Crest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although John Bennett Perry hasn\u2019t worked as an actor since 2011, he remained actively involved in his son\u2019s life. Recently, the late actor even shared a photo of himself with his father on Instagram, a touching testament to their bond.<\/p>\n
Fans of \u201cFriends\u201d might recall John Bennett Perry\u2019s appearance in Season 4, Episode 18, where he portrayed the father of Rachel\u2019s boyfriend, Joshua. While the comedic circumstances led to amusing misunderstandings, the two Perrys didn\u2019t actually share any scenes in this episode.<\/p>\n
However, this wasn\u2019t the only time the father-son duo graced screens together. They first appeared together in a 1979 episode of \u201c240-Robert,\u201d where the elder Perry played Deputy Theodore Roosevelt \u201cTrap\u201d Applegate III, leading the series. Young Matthew made his television debut at the age of 9, portraying a character named Arthur in the same episode. They collaborated again in 1993 on the third episode of \u201cHome Free,\u201d a short-lived sitcom, with Matthew taking on the role of a young journalist named Matt Bailey, confronting a judge played by John Bennett Perry.<\/p>\n
In 1997, they both featured in the romantic comedy \u201cFools Rush In,\u201d starring Matthew and Salma Hayek. Seven years later, they reunited on the small screen, appearing in an episode of \u201cScrubs.\u201d Their final shared TV appearance occurred in the last episode of Matthew\u2019s short-lived 2011 sitcom, \u201cMr. Sunshine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adding to the familial Hollywood connections, Matthew Perry\u2019s stepfather was Keith Morrison, a well-known correspondent for Dateline NBC, famous for his distinctive deep voice in narrating the long-running series. Morrison entered Perry\u2019s life when Perry\u2019s mother married him in 1981, when Perry was just 12 years old, a decade before his fame on \u201cFriends.\u201d Morrison quickly recognized Perry\u2019s natural ability to command a room, particularly evident in his performance on the hockey team. Their relationship was evidently close, with Morrison sharing positive sentiments about Perry, even mentioning a memorable gift of a Porsche 911 from Matthew.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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