Does Matthew Perry Have Any Kids? His Gargantuan Yearly ‘Friends’ Residual Payment Hangs in the Balance
Matthew Perry started acting in 1979 when he made his debut as a child actor in the American drama series 240-Robert. He made guest appearances in several shows and was supposed to star in the pilot LAX 2194, but that fell through. Perhaps LAX 2194 did not happen for the best because what followed was the immensely popular NBC sitcom Friends, in which Perry played the role of Chandler Bing.
Matthew Perry’s untimely demise left behind a legion of fans who were absolutely heartbroken to hear of the actor’s passing. However, that was not the only thing that the actor left behind. He also left behind a great estate and will continue to get residuals from Friends. However, it is uncertain as to who will get the residuals after his passing.
Matthew Perry’s Parents Might Get His Residuals from Friends
Matthew Perry and his other Friends castmates were being paid $1M per episode for the tenth and final season of Friends. This had made them the highest-paid TV actors at the time. Even after the show ended, the cast continued to get $20M each per year as residuals from syndication and streaming revenue.
Perry raked in residuals from Friends before he passed away. This, however, has raised the question that who will get the residuals after his passing since he was neither married nor had any kids. As of now, Warner Bros. or the actor’s representatives have made no comments on this matter.
After an actor’s demise, his residuals are considered his personal property which would mean that Perry’s estate will own the residuals. According to NBC News, there are three ways this can go. If Perry had named a beneficiary in the SAG-AFTRA contract regarding these residuals, the beneficiary would receive the money.
There is also a chance that The West Wing actor named a trust as his beneficiary. In this case, the residual cash flow stream will received by the trust which can choose to not reveal who the person on the receiving end is. If neither of these things happens, Perry’s parents, who have both divorced and remarried, will be entitled to the money but can choose to give up their rights to the money. In this case, the money will go to his half-siblings.
Matthew Perry Was Ready to Get Married and Have Kids
Matthew Perry had several high-profile relationships even though he never got married. He dated numerous actresses such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Lizzy Caplan, and Neve Campbell. He got engaged to literary manager Molly Hurwitz in 2020, but the engagement ended in 2021.
In October 2022, Perry revealed to People that he was open to settling down and having kids:
“I think I’d be great [as a dad]. I really do. I grew up with a lot of little kids around me, and that’s probably why, but I can’t wait.”
The Mr. Sunshine actor had even said that he had gotten over his fear of love and settling down. The fear had rooted in him due to his struggles with addiction. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to raise his own family.
