For an entire generation, Matthew Perry was the personification of sublime wit and effortless ease with one-liners, thanks to his role as the hapless Chandler Bing on “Friends.”
Among the show’s male stars, Ross (David Schwimmer) was the goofy one and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) was the charming one. But Chandler, he was the witty one. And while ably aided by the NBC hit comedy’s writing, it was Perry’s masterful technique wringing as many laughs as possible out of a punchline that helped elevate the character into TV’s pantheon of all-time greats.
With his sudden death Saturday at age 54 following what appeared to be an accidental drowning, the world mourns the loss of a troubled actor who gave it so much joy and genuine laughter.