With his iconic one-liners and perfect comedic timing, Matthew Perry has given Friends some of its best moments over the years.
And since news broke of his tragic death at the age of 54, fans around the world have been reminiscing about his best moments.
Season One – The One with the Blackout
Victoria Secret model Jill Goodacre starred alongside Perry in a hilarious episode from the show’s first season
From his first appearance on the hit sitcom, Perry established the mannerisms and way he delivered lines that would later become Chandler Bing’s trademark.
And never was his awkward charm more evident than when he was face to face with a beautiful woman.
In this episode, Perry manages to get the laughs with not much more than a stick of gum and some voiceover narrating his state of mind while stuck in an ATM with Victoria’s Secret model Jill Goodacre after a power outage.
When the stunning actress offers him some gum, Perry turns the situation into a meal – by accidentally spitting it across the room.
While secretly trying to hide the fact, he picks up someone else’s old gum and begins chewing before realizing his mistake and starting to choke.
At this point, any pretense of being cool is lost, and Goodacre performs a Heimlich maneuver that sends the gum flying.
But the ice breaks and the two spend the rest of the time playing until the lights come back on and Goodacre plants a kiss on Chandler’s cheek.
As Perry quips in his voiceover, “Mental note: If Jill Goodacre offers you gum, you take it. ‘If she offers you a mangled animal carcass, you take it!’
The episode was also reportedly Perry’s favorite.
Season Two – The One with the Super Bowl: Part Two
Julia Roberts’ cameo as Susy “Underpants” Moss in the second season was a highlight of the season
As the show became more popular, it attracted more and more high-profile guest appearances.
But once again Perry showed off his acting chops when he took on rom-com heavyweight Julia Roberts.
In the episode, Roberts, as Chandler’s scorned classmate Susy “Underpants” Moss, exacted her revenge for the unflattering nickname Chandler gave her to hilarious effect.
After exposing her underwear as a schoolboy, Chandler finally got his punishment decades later when Roberts’ character went on a date with him, only to leave him trapped in a bathroom stall wearing only her panties.
It’s another tour de force of Perry’s ability to convey humor even when most of his body is obscured.
Season Three – The one with the hypnosis tape
Hilarity ensued when Chandler began listening to a hypnosis tape to quit smoking, not realizing it was aimed at women
Both Perry and his on-screen character have had their vices, but in this episode, Chandler desperately tries to quit smoking.
He enlists the help of a hypnosis tape without knowing that it is intended for women.
As the episode progresses, he begins to absorb more and more of the messages of female empowerment and becomes a “strong, confident woman.”
This then affects his waking life and leads to laughable consequences.
Season 4 – The one with all the rugby
Before there was Chandler and Monica, there was Chandler and Janice, the character’s nasal ex-girlfriend played by Maggie Wheeler
Some of Perry’s most memorable moments come alongside Maggie Wheeler, the actress behind annoying ex-girlfriend Janice.
She’s at her most nasal in this episode, which leads Chandler to come up with an elaborate lie to explain why they can’t be together – he’s moving to Yemen.
The clueless Janice then helps him pack for the upcoming trip and Perry increases Chandler’s panic until he finds himself at the airport after buying a ticket and pretending to board a flight.
The episode delivers one of the show’s loudest lines when the goofy Janice fails to grasp the absurdity and promises to write to him at the address “15 Yemen Road, Yemen.”
Season Five – The One with the Cop
A simple sequence involving trying to move a sofa up a flight of stairs became the series’ most iconic in the hands of Perry and his co-stars David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston
A sofa. Stairs. Five minutes of comedy gold.
The iconic scene in which Perry, along with his co-stars David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston as Ross and Rachel attempt to push a couch up a stairwell, has become one of the series’ most iconic moments.
While most remember Ross’s goofy “pivot, pivot, pivot” calls, many forget the hilarious moment when Chandler gets trapped under the massive weight of the furniture.
His frustration also gives Perry the chance to really let go and reply: “Shut up!” Shut up! Keep your mouth shut!’
Season Six – The One with Last Night
Many of Chandler’s best roles star his screen best friend Matt LeBlanc
While Monica and Chandler’s emotional proposal is a fan favorite, the night before the couple moves in provides some of the biggest laughs of the season.
Concerned about his best friend Joey’s finances, Chandler invents the fictional game “Cups” to give him money.
He ends up “losing” $1,500 to Joey – who in turn loses the money to Ross when he outplays him in the made-up game.
The episode not only showcases Perry’s comedic chops, but also the sweet dynamic between him and his on-screen best friend, Joey Tribbiani.
Season 7 – The one with Phoebe’s cookies
Much of Chandler’s humor came from the awkward scenarios he seemed to end up in and Perry’s masterful use of physical comedy
A lot of Chandler’s humor comes from the awkwardness that Perry brings to his character.
And there’s nothing more embarrassing than accidentally sitting naked on your in-laws’ lap.
After a game of racquetball with Monica’s father Jack, played by Elliott Gould, the two decide to take a steam bath after the game.
However, the heat causes Chandler’s glasses to fog up, causing him to take them off. Then, in the confusion, he stumbles into Jack’s lap with mortifying results.
Season 8 – The one where Chandler takes a bath
Perry was keen to contain the laughs and admitted he felt like he would “die” if the audience didn’t laugh
Although Chandler Bing often comes into contact with his feminine side, he doesn’t always manage to admit it.
Therefore, it is not surprising that when he becomes addicted to bubble baths, he feels the need to hide it.
But it doesn’t last long and he’s soon caught by the entire Friends cast, who catch him bathing with candles and bubble bath.
The episode also features the touching moment when Ross and Rachel reveal that they are expecting a girl.
Season 9 – The one with the robbery
Matthew Perry died on Saturday at the age of 54 at his home in Los Angeles
Desperate for a career change, Chandler lands an internship at an advertising agency. But he quickly realizes that he is one of the oldest of his new colleagues.
However, he manages to transcend generations with his trademark wit and comes up with the only good idea for one of his company’s most eye-catching shoes – adding rollerblades.
The episode is also a nod to a long-running joke on the show about how no one really knows what Chandler’s job is.
When simple-minded Joey offers $500 for the shoes, he realizes who his target audience should be: children.
Perry once revealed the immense pressure he felt to contain the laughs.
“I felt like I would die if the live audience didn’t laugh,” he admitted at the 2021 reunion show.
“And I was sweating and getting cramps. ‘That’s how I felt every night.’
Season 10 – The One With Ross’s Grant
In Season 10, Perry wore glittery blue lipstick – another classic example of the visual comedy for which he became so known
The friendship between Chandler and Matt LeBlanc’s Joey is one of the most charming in the series.
But when Chandler lies and claims he saw his actor friend’s commercial for a Japanese men’s lipstick, he is hilariously punished.
Joey forces him to wear the product called Ichiban and call himself a “pretty little girl.”
The episode is an absolute fan favorite and regularly appears in top ten lists.