Today marks one year since we lost beloved actor Matthew Perry.
The Friends star passed away at his home on October 28, 2023, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office listing “the acute effects of ketamine” as his primary cause of death.
It came after the actor’s long and public battle with addiction. He was 54 at the time of his death.
Perry’s death led led to a police investigation being launched in May, which authorities say uncovered a “broad underground criminal network” of drug suppliers who distributed large quantities of ketamine, per BBC News.
Five people were arrested and charged in relation to Perry’s death, including two doctors, the actor’s personal assistant, a Hollywood acquaintance, and a woman known as the “Ketamine Queen”. Three of the five have already pleaded guilty to charges against them.
But today, we celebrate the actor who not only made us laugh as the sarcastic and hapless Chandler Bing during his time on Friends between 1994 and 2004 – but who continues to make us smile, as the sitcom continues to be one of the most treasured and popular shows in TV history.
Here are out picks for Chandler Bing’s best moments from the show…
Being trapped… in an ATM vestibule… with Jill Goodacre (Season 1, Episode 7: The One With the Blackout)
Separated from the rest of his friends during a blackout in New York City, Chandler finds himself trapped in an ATM vestibule with stunning model Jill Goodacre. As we hear his internal monologue attempt to win over the model, hilarious ensues when he accidentally starts choking on somebody else’s gum – leading to the model to rescue him.
“Nice going, Imp!”
“15 Yemen Road, Yemen” (Season 4, Episode 15: The One with All the Rugby)
It’s hard to pick between all of the incredible scenes Chandler shares with irritating on/off girlfriend Janice, but him literally leaving the country to avoid her is our pick.
After cowardly refusing to just break up with Janice, Bing instead tells her that he is being transferred to Yemen through work. However, Janice insists on seeing him off at the airport, leading to Chandler actually purchasing a ticket to Yemen in order to keep up his ruse.
Despite Chandler hoping Janice would leave, she insists on watching him go through the departure gate. Chandler, feeling trapped by his own lie, has no choice but to board the plane to Yemen – defeatedly yelling out: “I’m going to Yemen!”
“I did break up with her, she just took it really, really well!” (Season 4 Episode 3: The One with the Cuffs)
After once again sparking up a fling with Rachel’s boss, Joanna, Chandler finds himself half-naked in her office. However, when Joanna is called away, she handcuffs Chandler to a chair in an effort to keep him around.
Desperate to escape, Chandler must turn to Rachel for help, who – after using a secret key to her boss’ office – must then do anything she can to convince Chandler to remain handcuffed.
The scene has a number of hilarious one-liners, such as Chandler’s: “I’m good at lying, I actually did borrow your Walkman.”
Dealing with Eddie (Season 2, Episode 17: The One Where Eddie Moves In/ Season 2, Episode 18: The One Where Dr. Ramoray Dies)
Without a doubt one of the best characters in Friends who deserved to return in a later season was Eddie, played by Adam Goldberg.
After moving in with Chandler when Joey moved out, Bing quickly realizes that Annie Wilkes from Misery would have been a better choice of roommate.
From watching him sleep to having a goldfish cracker as a pet to accusing Chandler of sleeping with his ex, Bing must go to extraordinary lengths to finally get rid of Eddie.
They don’t know that we know they know we know (Season 5, Episode 14: The One Where Everybody Finds Out)
Taking place in arguably the best episode of the show, Chandler must play an elaborate game of Chicken with Phoebe, as the Friends one-by-one learn about his secret relationship with Monica.
The games culminate in a “rendezvous” between Chandler and Phoebe, each doing their best to get the other to admit they know the truth. From awkward dancing, incredible one-liners, and perhaps the funniest kiss in the show, Chandler eventually gives in and admits he’s in love with Monica.
Toby. (Season 8, Episode 4: The One with Rachel’s Date)
There are many episodes that delve into Chandler’s hatred for his boring office job, but perhaps none encapsulates his lack of passion than this one.
Following a visit from Ross, we learn that one of Chandler’s co-workers thinks his name is Toby after an innocent mistake that Bing refused to correct because he wanted a donut five years prior.
This wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but when the co-worker learns that his promotion was blackballed by some guy named “Chandler”, Bing is forced to keep us his lie.
The King of Cups (Season 6, Episode 6: The One on the Last Night)
Joey and Chandler as roommates led to perhaps the most beloved sitcom friendship in TV history. And their final night together made for some hilarious moments.
In an attempt to make sure Joey would be able to financially support himself when he’s gone, Chandler comes up with a fake game called Cups – making up the rules as he goes so Joey eventually wins $1,500.
However, Chandler’s plan falls apart when Ross gets involved, and Joey somehow loses all the money he had “won”.
The best one-liner? (Season 2, Episode 1: The One with Ross’s New Girlfriend)
Chandler Bing was synonymous with sarcasm and quick one-liners – so much so that it’s hard to actually pick the best joke from the 10 seasons of Friends.
However, one of our favorites comes in season two – and it just so happened to be one of Perry’s, as he revealed on Good Morning America back in 2017.
The Proposal (Season 6, Episode 25: The One with the Proposal: Part 2)
Looking back on the show after all these years, Monica and Chandler’s relationship should arguably be more celebrated that the “Will they? Won’t they?” phenomenon that was Ross and Rachel.
After watching Chandler struggle with women for four seasons, he finally find love with one of his closest friends.
It is impossible to pick just one “Mondler” moment, but we’re going to go with the emotional climax to season six, when they both propose to each other.
The final goodbye (Season 10, Episode 18: The Last One: Part 2)
After 10 years of being on the air and making us laugh, it was time for Chandler, Monica, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey to say goodbye.
In one of the greatest sitcom finales in history, it’s up to Matthew Perry to deliver the final line and joke of the show – something that he said in his book was incredibly meaningful to him.
As the gang leave Monica’s apartment one final time, agree to go and grab a cup of coffee before they inevitability all move on with their lives.
That’s when Chandler – with Perry’s perfect comedic timing – asks the most obvious question going: “Where?”
Thank you for all the laughs, Matthew.
