“I am in like tuxedo and my underwear…”: Matthew Perry’s Unbelievable Chandler Bing Moment in Real-life Was Like a FRIENDS Script Come to Life

Friends is still one of television’s most beloved sitcoms, with Matthew Perry standing out with his fun-loving and sarcastically hilarious character of Chandler Bing. Perry’s way of performing the commitment-phobic friend made the role iconic, which otherwise might have been a simple comedic relief character.

Behind the scenes, Perry’s real-life closely resembled the misadventures of Bing. From funny one-liners to unexpected solutions to wardrobe malfunctions, Perry’s real life was also full of Chandler-esque moments that fans might find quite familiar.

Matthew Perry’s Real-Life Chandler Bing Moment

Chandler Bing had his fair share of some strange and funny incidents. He used his sarcasm as his defense mechanism, as he often had to go through awkward mishaps. The character was as close to Matthew Perry as it could be, thanks to his sarcastic humor and relatable flaws.

Perry’s one incident from his real life depicted Bing’s essence at its best when he was stuck in one very embarrassing situation before the 1995 People’s Choice Awards. On the Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Perry revealed how he ended up wearing only a tuxedo and underwear.

It was exciting and really scary for me though because I don’t have a tuxedo. So I had to rent the tuxedo and I called in and gave my measurements and all that stuff. I didn’t really think about it until about an hour before the actual show and I put on the Tuxedo that had been sent to me and I was wearing Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s pants…freakishly different-sized pants. And I have to be like on stage in a half an hour.

Perry credited a dry cleaning guy named Cheich to come up for his rescue. He said,

I was thinking staples. I had no idea what to do and I finally found this one guy who worked at this small like dry cleaners. I believe his name was Cheich who agreed to fix this. About a half an hour before I was on stage of The People’s Choice Awards, I’m in like tuxedo and my underwear while this guy is going frantically..Cheich took care of everything. Thank you Cheich wherever you are!

This hilarious incident was a perfect fit for Chandler’s on-screen mishap stories, like his several awkward naked stories in Friends. Much like Chandler, Perry also made sure to laugh off even the most embarrassing situations.

Perry was able to perfectly portray this through his body language and comic timing, making moments like the tuxedo story hilarious, and that’s the reason fans still recall Chandler’s one-liners and Perry’s equally unforgettable persona.

Matthew Perry’s Legacy and How He Wanted to Be Remembered

Although the world loved Perry’s comic talent, he had to struggle with some serious personal issues for most of his early career. His struggle with addiction had been well known among fans. However, instead of getting trapped, Perry decided to turn his experience into a mission to help others.

In an interview on Q With Tom Power podcast, Perry confessed he would much rather be remembered for helping and supporting people and their struggles against addiction instead of just Friends. He said,

When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.

The actor’s promise was not limited to words when it came to this cause. From 2013 to 2015, he turned his Malibu beach house into a sobriety facility for men fighting addiction. Perry shared his hopes for his legacy,

I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, and was a seeker. And his paramount thing is that he wants to help people. That’s what I want.

Perry died on October 28, 2023. However, his impact can still be felt to this date. His memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing detailed his journey of addiction and his sobriety journey, showing how he used his platform as a beacon of hope for others.

All seasons of Friends are available to stream on Max.