Friends star Matthew Perry’s dramatic transformation since meteoric rise to fame

Friends star Matthew Perry’s dramatic transformation since meteoric rise to fame

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Friends star Matthew Perry’s dramatic transformation since meteoric rise to fame

The actor, who starred as Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom, turns 51 today and has changed a lot over the years since we first got to know him

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Friends star Matthew Perry was propelled to huge worldwide fame when he landed the role of Chandler Bing.

The actor, who turns 51 today, has changed a lot over the years, and he’s shocked fans with his appearance lately.

Back in July, Matthew was spotted out in Beverly Hills, after his split from girlfriend Molly Hurwitz, looking very different to how we all remember him.

The star looked exhausted as he was pictured leaning on a wall and puffing on a cigarette with a face mask pulled down underneath his chin.

Fans worried that Matthew, who is worth an estimated $80 million, looked a little under the weather.

But after splitting from his girlfriend and adjusting to life during a global pandemic, who could blame him.

Of course it’s also worth noting that it’s been 26 years since Friends first aired on September 22, 1994, so of course the stars are all looking very different these days.

Fans noticed a big change in Matthew back in 2000 too, when Friends returned for its seventh season.

One fan took to a forum to ask: “What happened to Chandler Bing in between the last episode of the 6th season and the 1st episode of the 7th season of Friends?”

The change in his appearance is thought to be down to his health and addiction battles.

In 1997, the star entered rehab for an addiction to prescription pain killers.

His weight fluctuated and he dropped down to 145 pounds.

But in 2000, he lost another 20 pounds due to pancreatitis.

One fan on the forum suggested: “During that summer he lost 20 pounds, appearing noticeably thinner during the 7th season premiere of Friends, in a scene that continued directly from the 6th season finale.”

As he’s got older, Matthew has embraced his greying hair, rocking a salt and pepper look rather than turning to the Just For Men.

And rather than clean-shaven Chandler, Matthew likes to let his stubble grow in just a smidge.

Matthew is currently gearing up to reunite with his co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow.

The stars had planned to get together to mark the anniversary of the show, which came to an end in May 2004.

The coronavirus pandemic saw the special episode postponed until May 2021, but Jennifer, who plays Rachel Green, has vowed it’ll be “even more exciting and more fun” than fans anticipated.

She told Deadline : “It’s going to be super. You know what? This has also given us more time to make it even more exciting and more fun than it would have been.