Matthew Perry almost passed on auditioning for 'Friends' because he was going to play a baggage handler for aliens in the year 2194
- Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing on "Friends," died aged 54 on Saturday.
- Perry almost passed on auditioning for the character that made him a household name.
Matthew Perry almost passed on auditioning as Chandler Bing on "Friends."
Perry, who starred as Bing in all 10 seasons of the hit TV show between 1994 and 2004, died on Saturday aged 54.
During an appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" in 2015, Perry recalled almost missing the chance to audition for "Friends" because of a pre-existing commitment.
"I was off the market because I had taken a job on a pilot called 'LAX 2194' that was about baggage handlers at Los Angeles airport in the year 2194," Perry said.
"So I was wearing a futuristic shirt," he added. "And little people played the aliens in which I had to sort out the aliens' luggage and that was basically the show."
While committed to "LAX 2194," Perry recalled receiving a script for "Friends."
"There was this part that was perfect for me and it was making me crazy that I couldn't go up for it because of the baggage handlers show," he said.
Fortunately for Perry, he was later given the greenlight to audition for the show after Fox decided to can "LAX 2194."
"Somebody at Fox at the time said, 'We've seen this, it's the worst thing we've ever seen in our lives. He is available. You can hire him for your little show called 'Friends Like Us' that then became 'Friends'," Perry recalled.
Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his Los Angeles-area home by law enforcement at around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
TMZ, the outlet that first reported the news, said that authorities did not find drugs at the scene. In his later years, Perry was vocal about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
Perry's family shared a statement with People on Sunday.
"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother," the statement said. "Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend."
"You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love," the statement continued.