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Matthew Perry almost missed Friends reunion because of emergency surgery

Home> Film & TV

Published 14:34 31 Oct 2022 GMT

Matthew Perry almost missed Friends reunion because of emergency surgery

The star was almost forced to pull out of the reunion show

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Matthew Perry has revealed that he very nearly missed the Friends reunion show last year after needing to undergo emergency surgery.

Perry played funnyman Chandler Bing for ten years on the hit show and, naturally, was a major part of the Friends: The Reunion show that aired in May last year.

In the special one-off show, hosted by James Corden, we got to catch up with our Friends almost two decades after the series ended.

But Perry almost had to skip the whole thing after he underwent emergency dental surgery that left his mouth feeling 'like fire’ just days before the special was filmed. Ouch.

The surgery also left him struggling to speak, but Perry knew that he had to go along.

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He told ABC's Diane Sawyer: “It sounded like my voice was up... I couldn't not show up. So, what I chose to do was just go and do the best that I could."

Later in the interview, he admitted that watching season three of the show was tough.

Perry starred as Chandler for 10 years in Friends.
Warner Bros.

“It's very hard to watch that, because in this weird way I feel sorry for that guy, because that's a guy that's out of control," said the star. “I didn't know what was going on with me. I weighed 155lb [70kg] on my way to 128lb [58kg].

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“I feel too sorry for that guy, he's going through too much – and it's me, and I remember that, and I didn't understand what was going on.

“But again, I'm sorry, and I'm so grateful to not be that anymore... but it's hard to, it's hard to watch that."

Perry has spoken candidly about his battle with addiction in his new memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.

The actor has said that his addiction began after he suffered an accident on a jet ski and was given Vicodin to help treat the pain; a drug Perry describes as 'like warm honey entering his veins'.

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Matthew Perry almost missed the Friends reunion.
REUTERS/ Alamy Stock Photo

He admitted that if he hadn't taken that first pill, 'none of the next three decades would have gone the way they did'.

Perry told Sawyer that he’s speaking out about his addictions in the hope he can help others who may also be struggling.

He added: "Obviously, because I was on Friends, more people will listen to me. So I've got to take advantage of that, and I've got to help as many people as I can."

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If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week

Featured Image Credit: WENN Rights Ltd / Album / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Film and TV, Friends

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at UNILAD who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats.

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