Friends Bombshell: Actor Regrets Turning Down Chandler Role as Matthew Perry Rises to Fame!

The journey to find the perfect actor to portray Chandler in “Friends” was quite a rollercoaster. Initially, Matthew Perry was indeed the first choice of creators Marta Kauffman, David Crane, and Kevin S. Bright. Unfortunately, he was already committed to another series, a science fiction project.

Given this circumstance, the producers then considered Craig Bierko (UnREAL), an actor recommended by Matthew Perry himself. The two had previously collaborated on the show Sydney, and Perry believed that Bierko, with his comedic flair, would be perfect for the role of Chandler.

In an interview with Première (via Purebreak), the creators revealed they had hired Craig Bierko “somewhat by default, even though he’s a great actor”. But ultimately, Bierko turned down the role, drawn to a different, more appealing project.

So, it was back to square one. Attempts to find another Chandler resumed but were unsuccessful: except for one actor who had a promising audition, but his audition tape got lost at customs! It was a true series of missed opportunities.

Fortune finally smiled when the science fiction project that had tied up Matthew Perry was canceled. Now free, he auditioned for the role. His performance immediately convinced the producers: “You can’t imagine the relief we felt; the lines were finally funny when he said them”, recounted David Crane.

A Friendship Tested

And what about Craig Bierko in all this? Seeing Matthew Perry land the role of Chandler in Friends was somewhat tough for him. Perry shared in 2023 that he had to apologize to Bierko, who struggled with jealousy over the fame and success Perry gained from the sitcom.

“He apologized and told me he couldn’t handle watching me become wealthy and popular from a role he had turned down”, Perry explained in 2023 during an interview with Policy & Politics.

Here’s an ironic fact: a series titled “Friends”, which brought together millions of fans worldwide, also led to the end of a real-life friendship.

All episodes of Friends are available for streaming on HBO Max.