10 Best Matthew Perry Roles That Aren’t Chandler Bing

The late Matthew Perry charmed the world as Chandler Bing for ten seasons, but the actor also shined in multiple roles outside of Friends in film and television. Although Perry began his acting career as a child, it was his breakout role on Friends, widely considered one of the best TV shows of all time, that catapulted him to worldwide fame. Perry was also recognized for his courageous public battle with addiction, which he openly shared in the hope of aiding others during his successful career.

For his portrayal of Friends’ Chandler Bing, arguably one of the best TV characters ever created, Perry received multiple award nominations, including an Emmy nod in 2002. While the actor became best known for his role as Chandler, he brought his dry wit and vulnerability to several other memorable roles in his career. From Emmy-nominated guest appearances to leading roles in other outstanding sitcoms, Matthew Perry’s career beyond Friends showcased his acting skills in different genres.

Related: “Always The Funniest Person In The Room”: Matthew Perry Remembered By Friends Creators, Co-Stars & Celebrities

10 Growing Pains

Sandy

Growing Pains is a 1980s sitcom that follows the life of the Seaver family, specifically the family’s growing children. Pre-Friends Perry had a three-episode stint on Growing Pains season 4as Sandy, an honor roll college student who becomes romantically involved with Carol, the Seaver’s eldest daughter. To the role, Perry brought his signature comedic timing and proved his early charm as a romantic interest. In one of the series many after-school specials, which viewers of the show will certainly remember, Sandy hits a tree while driving drunk and later dies from the injuries. It was an incredibly moving episode of the show and one of Perry’s first great roles.

9 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Matt Albie

Created by Aaron Sorkin, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip explores the behind-the-scenes workings of a live sketch comedy show. Matthew Perry starred alongside Bradley Whitford as the show’s head writer and one of its executive producers. Perry adeptly delivered Sorkin’s fast-paced dialogue, skillfully balancing the show’s comedic and dramatic elements while infusing real depth into the character of the stressed-out and intelligent over-achiever.

8 The Good Wife

Mike Kresteva

Perry had a guest role in seasons 3 and 4 of The Good Wife as Mike Kresteva, a role he also reprised in the show’s spinoff series The Good Fight. Perry’s lawyer character was memorable for his sneaky tactics and antagonistic ways, which included blackmailing Alicia, the show’s main character. He later becomes Peter’s rival as the Republican candidate for Illinois governor. Perry’s performance as the morally gray attorney demonstrated his versatility as an actor, showcasing his ability to convincingly portray complex and unlikable characters.

7 The West Wing

Joe Quincy

Before working with Aaron Sorkin on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Matthew Perry had a recurring guest role on Sorkin’s hit White House set political drama series The West Wing. In the show, Perry demonstrated his remarkable dramatic skills while portraying the character Joe Quincy, an Associate White House Counsel known for his quiet and diligent work ethic. Quincy’s efforts led to the exposure of a scandal, resulting in the Vice President’s resignation. For his role in the series and one of the best performances in his career, Perry earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

6 Mr. Sunshine

Ben Donovan

Another short-lived sitcom starring the actor, Mr. Sunshine featured Perry as Ben Donovan, the manager of a struggling sports arena in San Diego. The show hilariously explored the many strong personalities he worked with, as well as Ben’s own existential crisis as he turned 40. The show featured comically frustrating situations which resulted in the staff’s hilarious and zany antics as they attempted to fix them. Perry, who also co-created the show, skillfully tapped into his vulnerable side as an actor while expertly milking his trademark sardonic sense of humor for hearty laughs.

5 Numb

Hudson Milbank

In Numb, Perry plays a successful Hollywood screenwriter who seeks out the help of several doctors after experiencing depression and depersonalization. While the movie incorporates a romantic plot, it also provides a highly accurate portrayal of mental health struggles which made for several moving scenes. Perry’s performance in the film is nothing short of phenomenal, as he delivers a brave and very naturalistic portrayal of the struggling screenwriter.

4 The Whole Nine Yards

Nick “Oz” Oseransk

In the crime comedy The Whole Nine Yards, Perry stars opposite Bruce Willis as mild-mannered and unhappily married dentist Nick “Oz” Oseransk. When Oz recognizes his new next-door neighbor as a former hitman for the mob, he travels to Chicago to inform a mob boss of his whereabouts in order to claim the much-needed reward. Perry aces the film’s physical comedy and convincingly portrays the character’s constant nerves. Darkly comedic yet lighthearted fun, The Whole Nine Yards is filled with witty dialogue, colorful characters, and hilarious misunderstandings.

3 The Ron Clark Story

Ron Clark

Perry received his 4th Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role as an idealistic teacher in this television movie. Based on a true story, the film follows Perry in the title role as he moves from North Carolina to New York in the hopes of helping inner-city school students. As the story unfolds, he soon realizes it won’t be easy. Inspirational and uplifting, The Ron Clark Story is a beautiful film about the lasting impact a great teacher can have, led by Perry in one of his best performances, characterized by his passionate and emotionally complex portrayal of the character.

2 Go On

Ryan King

Perry led the NBC sitcom Go On which, despite being generally well-received, was canceled after one brief season. Perry portrayed Ryan King, a sports talk radio host coping with the recent loss of his wife. In an attempt to deal with his grief, he decides to join a support group, however, the support group is populated by quirky individuals, each grappling with their own personal issues. The series skillfully combined comedy with themes of grief, providing Perry with an opportunity to showcase his dramatic acting skills while still applying his distinctive comedic timing.

1 The Odd Couple

Oscar

Perry and comedian Thomas Lennon co-starred for three seasons as unlikely roommates in the seventh adaptation of Neil Simon’s play of the same name. The two portrayed old friends who move in together after their divorces, with Lennon portraying the cleanliness-obsessed Felix, and Perry playing the messy Oscar. The show delivered consistent laughs over its three seasons and gave Matthew Perry the opportunity to showcase another side of his comedy chops after Friends.