Perry's Chandler Bing, the lovably sarcastic partner to Monica, is one of the most beloved sitcom characters of all time, especially for his "Can you BE any more [blank]?" catchphrase. But to many viewers, the bigger story from Perry's time on "Friends" is his struggle with substance abuse.
In a 2002 interview with The New York Times, Perry discussed his childhood drive for success. Once a top-ranked junior tennis player, Perry described himself as a "perfectionist" who drove himself to great lengths to achieve his goals. ”I needed to succeed at whatever I was doing so I could feel better about myself,” he said.
This drive continued into adulthood as he pursued acting. Being cast in "Friends" in 1994 was his big break and catapulted him to superstardom. Two years later, Perry was the lead in a rom-com opposite Salma Hayek. But the pressure of maintaining that success soon became unbearable. After the first day of shooting, Perry was being driven home when he asked the driver to pull over. ”I got out of the car and as I stood by the side of the road, I thought I was going to throw up,” he said. ”I thought, 'What have I gotten myself into?'"
