In the early 90s, Julia Roberts was offered a guest starring role on Friends.
Although the sitcom is widely considered the most famous show of all time, there was a point in history when big-time movie stars were less inclined to be involved with measly little network TV projects. Back then, it would take a lot more convincing to get major stars like Roberts on board.
So when the producers asked the Pretty Woman star to appear in the season 2 episode “The One After The Super Bowl,” Roberts agreed. But only under one condition: According to Matthew Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing, the Notting Hill actress would only join the show if she got to act in a storyline with Chandler Bing.
“Let me say that again,” Perry wrote in his memoir. “She would only do the show if she could be in my storyline. (Was I having a good year or what?)”
Yet according to the late sitcom star, it wasn’t a done deal just yet. “First, I had to woo her,” he said in his tell-all book. Of course, wooing someone as beautiful and famous as Roberts is no easy feat. It takes thought, effort, and a little bit of creativity. Fortunately, Perry was able to succeed in his advances, but not without the help of Friends writers to guide him along the way.
Matthew Perry exchanged Romantic Poetry and Gifts with Julia Roberts in the Most 90s Way Possible
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According to the Friends star in his tell-all memoir, he and the movie star began to heavily flirt with each other via fax machine. (Does it get more 90s than that?)
After Perry learned Roberts would only guest star on Friends if she got to be in Chandler Bing’s storyline, he responded by sending her 3 dozen roses. The romantic gift came with a note written by Perry, which said, “The only thing more exciting than the prospect of you doing the show is that I finally have an excuse to send you flowers.”
According to Matthew Perry, he even had some of the writers on Friends to thank for helping him come up with witty messages to send to Roberts. The two went on to send each other “feet long faxes of poetry” throughout their courtship, which lasted for approximately 3 months.
They continued to flirt via fax machine, before eventually deciding to move things from telecommunication to real life. (How modern of them!)
Soon enough, Perry and Roberts were a couple. But as sweet as their relationship was, it ultimately crumbled to pieces due to the Friends actor’s internal struggles.
Why did Matthew Perry Break Up With Julia Roberts?
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It’s hard to imagine anyone breaking up with Julia Roberts, especially someone as enamored by her as Matthew Perry once was. But tragically, the Fools Rush In star let his insecurities get the best of him during their short-lived romance.
“Dating Julia Roberts had been too much for me,” Perry revealed in his 2023 memoir. “I had been constantly certain that she was going to break up with me. Why would she not? I was not enough; I could never be enough; I was broken, bent, unlovable. So instead of facing the inevitable agony of losing her, I broke up with the beautiful and brilliant Julia Roberts.”
Matthew Perry Died on Julia Roberts’ Birthday
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To add to the tragedy of the situation, Matthew Perry passed away on October 28th, the same day as Julia Roberts’ birthday. According to reports, the actor passed from an accidental overdose.
When his untimely death was announced, The Notting Hill actress was heartbroken to hear of this news. While speaking in interviews, Roberts expressed how she looks back at her time with the Friends star in a very positive light.
“The sudden passing of anybody so young is heartbreaking,” Roberts said of Perry when sitting down with Entertainment Tonight. “I think that, you know, it just helps all of us just appreciate what we have and to keep going in a positive way as best we can.”
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