Actor Tom Selleck recalls a key way in which Friends star Matthew Perry helped him with one specific line during his time on the series. Selleck appeared on Friends as Richard Burke, a recurring ophthalmologist who was in a relationship with Monica for a time. In season 2, episode 20, “The One Where Old Yeller Dies,” Richard begins to emulate Chandler (Perry) and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) as part of an ongoing gag.
Speaking with USA Today, Selleck remembered how, while working with the cast of Friends for that episode, Perry assisted him in delivering a line in a convincingly Chandler-like way. The actor explained the way Perry delivered his lines helped him to imitate them, with listening to the line delivery becoming a key factor in his ability to sarcastically say, “Could that shot be any prettier?” Check out what Selleck had to say below:
We had this role reversal thing going, where (Richard) tried to be like them, and them like me…. Matthew had this speech pattern that I hadn’t been aware of. Matt told me: ‘It’s a joke, Tom. It’s the way he says it.’ But during that whole show, I kept going up to him asking, ‘Can you say it again?’ and he’d do the line. That was his signature.
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Chandler always presents himself with a sarcastic sense of humor, often using it to make fun of the situation at hand. This makes him stand out as a memorable character among his friend group, bouncing off other main characters in hilarious ways. Selleck’s testimony to how helpful Perry’s line delivery was showcases just how perfectly cast the character was.
What Selleck said about how helpful Perry was is made more potent by his death in 2023, a devastating loss for the Friends cast. However, the comedian will always be remembered for his many memorable Chandler moments across Friends, including his interactions with guest characters. By being a core part of episodes where recurring characters took the spotlight, he was able to showcase his comedic talent even beyond bouncing off the core cast.
Without Perry’s talent, Friends would not have felt like the same show, given just how important every character ends up being to the comedy involved. By helping Selleck with his line delivery, the actors were able to craft a memorable episode of the series, one of many throughout its history. It’s clear the star’s legacy will live on for everyone involved with the series, even those who didn’t appear regularly.