A Letter to you From…

Bandaranayake Central College – Gampaha

The Commerce section of the college emerged the champion at the LUCA’ 17 organized by the Commerce Association of Ananda College on October 24 at the Kularathne Hall/ To all the 90’s kids, I am usually awkward in social situations. I would fill in silences in the most human way possible. I’m not that great in giving advices, but I can interest you with maybe a sarcastic comment! To be a comedian, you have to have some darkness behind it. I certainly draw on my past, and it helps. There are two ways to go when you hit that crossroads in your life: There is the bad way, when you sort of give up and then there is the really hard way, when you fight back. I went the hard way and came out of it okay. Now, I’m sitting here and doing great.

I was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. My father was an actor, John Bennett Perry; he split up with my mother, Suzanne, while I was an infant. I then went to live with my mother in Ottawa, Canada. Growing up, I loved playing tennis and acting. I soon became a top- ranked junior player. I was enrolled at Rockcliffe Park Public School, Lisgar Collegiate Institute, and Ashbury College.

I moved to Los Angeles around the age of 15 to live with my dad. In LA, I was still in high school when I got my first film part. In ‘A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon’ (1988), I had a supporting role opposite star River Phoenix who was playing the title character. Unfortunately, the film came and went without much notice.

In September 1987, I got an opportunity to act in my first sitcom Second Chance. The show had a bizarre plot with Kiel Martin starring as a man who dies and gets a chance to go back to mentor a younger version of him; which was played me. The show was later retooled, dropping Martin and focusing on the teenage misadventures of my character. Despite its new direction and new title, Boys Will Be Boys, the sitcom failed to attract enough of an audience to stay on the air.

After the series ended, I landed a series of small parts and guest spots on such as Empty Nest and Growing Pains. I also had a supporting role on the short-lived Valerie Bertinelli comedic vehicle Sydney in 1990. This same year, I was able to give a strong performance as Desi Arnaz Jr. in the television biopic Call Me Anna about the life of actress Patty Duke.

Three years later, I tried again for sitcom success with Home Free. I starred in it as a young reporter who lives at home with his mother and his sister and her two kids. After a few months, the series was cancelled. Then I was cast in a pilot called LAX 2194, which was a futuristic look at an airport. It never aired. With some luck in my life I won a leading role in a new sitcom about a group of young men and women in New York City. Debuting in September 1994, F. R. I. E. N. D. S became one of the most popular television sitcoms of all time. I played the witty and sarcastic Chandler Bing who shared an apartment with an aspiring actor named Joey, played by Matt LeBlanc, and was a longtime friend of Ross, played by David Schwimmer. Completing the cast, Courteney Cox played Monica, Ross’s sister, Jennifer Aniston played Rachel, Monica’s roommate and Ross’s love interest, and Lisa Kudrow played Phoebe, the kooky, offbeat friend to all. It was amazing because we were a tight group both on- and off- screen. We banded together to renegotiate our contracts after Friends became a huge hit, which was a must-watch show for many Americans on Thursday nights. “I’m really similar to Chandler in that I’m most comfortable in a world that’s kind of funny. If there’s an awkward pause at all in a conversation, I’ll fill it as fast as I can with a joke.”

During the run of the show, however, I encountered some personal challenges. I battled addictions to alcohol and prescription medications. A lot of people think that addiction is a choice. A lot of people think it’s a matter of will. That has not been my experience. I don’t find it to have anything to do with strength. But I’ve battled it through, and now I’m doing just fine. There was a period in friends where my weight would range from being utterly skinny to somewhat fat. It was because of my personal struggle. I even got addicted to the prescribed drugs given for an accident faced.

Also during Friends, I tackled several film projects. I starred in several comedies, including Fools Rush In ( 1997) with Salma Hayek, Almost Heroes ( 1998) with Chris Farley and Three to Tango (1999) with Neve Campbell. While none of these films struck a chord with audiences or critics, I found some commercial success with The Whole Nine Yards ( 2000) with Bruce Willis and Amanda Peet. The film earned more than $ 57 million and spawning the 2004 sequel The Whole Ten Yards.

My film career wasn’t the best, but our series remained one of the top shows on television. During the later seasons of Friends, Chandler Bing developed a romantic relationship with Monica. The characters eventually married, adopted twins, and planned a move to the suburbs as the series came to an end in May 2004 after a decade on the air. My journey as Chandler Bing was memorable and I found bunch friends who were always there for me.

There will be hard times in your life, but the most important thing is to have people in your life to share it with. I grew up acting in friends and one thing the show taught me was that friends who become family are a valuable asset anyone can ever have. When you’re jobs a joke, you’re broke and your love life is non-existent you need to have friends to share your story with. You’ll be in bed at ten even though work begins at eight, that’s a part of learning to grow up. Find people to share your day with and make through all the rest with. No one will ever know you better than them. I’ll be there for you,

Matthew Perry Written by Devuni Goonewardene Email any criticisms, comments or feedback

to devuni@gmail.com