Matthew Langford Perry, born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, was a revered actor known for his humor and versatility across both the small and big screens. His parents, Suzanne Marie Morrison, a Canadian journalist, and John Bennett Perry, an American actor, separated when he was one year old. Perry was primarily raised by his mother in Ottawa, Ontario, although he also briefly lived in Toronto and Montreal. He attended Rockcliffe Park Public School and Ashbury College, a boarding school in Ottawa1.From a young age, Perry showed signs of rebellion; by 10, he was misbehaving, and by 14, he had begun drinking alcohol. Initially, he pursued tennis with vigor, becoming a top-ranked junior player in Canada. However, at 15, he moved to Los Angeles to live with his father, where the competition in tennis was stiffer. It was also at this age that he began studying acting at Buckley School, graduating in 19871.Perry's acting career took off with his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom "Friends" from 1994 to 2004, a role that endeared him to audiences worldwide. Besides "Friends," Perry had a flourishing career with appearances in "Ally McBeal" (2002) and significant roles in "The West Wing" (2003) and "The Ron Clark Story" (2006), both of which earned him Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He also starred in the NBC series "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" from 2006 to 2007 and had notable film roles in "Fools Rush In" (1997), "Almost Heroes" (1998), "Three to Tango" (1999), "The Whole Nine Yards" (2000), and "17 Again" (2009) among others21.Perry further displayed his creative prowess as the co-creator, co-writer, executive producer, and star of the ABC sitcom "Mr. Sunshine" (2011). He starred as sportscaster Ryan King on the NBC sitcom "Go On" (2012), and portrayed Oscar Madison in a revival of the CBS sitcom "The Odd Couple" from 2015 to 2017. Perry also had recurring roles in legal dramas "The Good Wife" (2012–2013) and "The Good Fight" (2017), and portrayed Ted Kennedy in "The Kennedys: After Camelot" (2017)1.Despite his successful career, Perry battled severe addictions to drugs and alcohol. Through his recovery journey, he became an advocate for rehabilitation and a spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. His advocacy earned him the Champion of Recovery Award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2013. In 2022, he released a memoir titled "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," providing a deeper insight into his life's trials and triumphs1.Matthew Perry's diverse ancestry includes English, Irish, German, Swiss-German, and French-Canadian roots. His mixed heritage, coupled with a blend of American and Canadian upbringing, contributed to his unique perspective and versatile acting style that resonated with a global audience3.Tragically, Matthew Perry passed away on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54 in Los Angeles, California. His untimely demise left a void in the entertainment industry, but his legacy continues to live on through the memorable characters he portrayed and the lives he touched both on and off-screen21.

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