Matthew Perry

Biography

Born in the U.S. but raised in Canada, this handsome actor began appearing on TV as a teen and had already survived a number of short-lived series when he shot to stardom on the seminal sitcom Friends. During the show's 10-year run, Perry perfected his signature shtick—a combination of sarcasm and slapstick—and earned three Emmy nods for his work. He also launched a big-screen career, starring in a string of unfunny comedies (Serving Sara, Almost Heroes, Fools Rush In) and one amusing blockbuster, The Whole Nine Yards, which spawned a laughless sequel. Off screen, Perry was linked to a bevy of lovely ladies (Yasmine Bleeth, Julia Roberts) and publicly battled drug addiction and questions about his fluctuating frame. After Friends ended in 2004, he was back cracking wise as a cheeky late-night sketch-show writer in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. But the series only lasted one season—bad luck that seems to be happening a lot for Perry and nearly all of his Friends costars, who have yet to find box-office or small-screen gold.

Fast Facts

• His mother, Suzanne Perry Morrison, was a press secretary for Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau; Perry also attended elementary school with Trudeau's son, future prime minister Justin Trudeau.
• Before moving to L.A., was a top-ranked junior tennis player in Canada.
• Appeared in '80s sitcoms Charles in Charge, Silver Spoons and Growing Pains before finding stardom with Friends.
• Costarred with his father, actor John Bennett Perry, in the 1997 movie Fools Rush In and in a 2004 episode of Scrubs that Matthew also directed. 
• In 2003, was featured with Hank Azaria and Minnie Driver in a London stage production of David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago.
• Portrayed inspirational educator Ron Clark in the 2006 TV-movie The Ron Clark Story and is a board member of the Ron Clark Academy, an alternative Atlanta middle school for low-income children.

Awards

• 2007, Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: Nominee
• 2003, Emmy — Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Nominee
• 2004, Emmy — Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Nominee
• 2007, Emmy — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Nominee
• 2003, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Nominee
• 2000, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Nominee
• 1999, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Nominee
• 1998, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Nominee
• 2006, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Nominee
• 1995, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Winner
• 2001, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Nominee
• 2002, Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Nominee
• 2002, Emmy — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Nominee

Relationships

• Caitlin Morrison — Half Sister
• Marie Perry — Half Sister
• Elizabeth Hurley — Ex-significant Other
• Madeleine Morrison — Half Sister
• Suzanne Perry Morrison — Mother
• Emily Morrison — Half Sister
• John Bennett Perry — Father
• Debbie Perry — Stepmother
• Yasmine Bleeth — Ex-significant Other
• Julia Roberts — Ex-significant Other
• Keith Morrison — Stepfather
• Willy Morrison — Half Brother