Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA. This verified birth date situates his early life in the late 1960s and informs the timeline of his casting as Chandler Bing on Friends (1994–2004), an enduring cultural touchstone that shaped his public profile. Below, we clarify key biographic anchors, distinguish fact from common misremembering, and provide a concise reference for enduring queries about his age, era, and career landmarks.
Birth date and place verification
Biographic records confirm Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Reliable sources, including public birth registration and reputable biographies, corroborate this date. Cross-checking with known production schedules of Friends and other credits further anchors this date. Common confusion sometimes arises from conflating Perry’s timeline with co-stars or projecting later appearances backward; however, the documented birth date remains consistent across authoritative databases.
Formative years and entry into acting
Perry grew up amid a transient childhood connected to his father’s career, moving between the United States and Canada. He began acting in the late 1980s, appearing in Canadian television and early film roles that refined his comedic timing. These years were foundational, preparing him for the ensemble casting process that would eventually link him with Marta Kauffman and David Crane’s Friends.
Friends breakthrough and cultural footprint
Chandler Bing, the wisecracking foil within the six-person friend group, became Perry’s defining role. The show’s syndication and streaming performance have sustained his visibility far beyond original air dates. Understanding his birth year helps contextualize his age on set (late 20s into 30s) and counters misinformation about his timeline in interviews or retrospectives.
Career beyond Friends and professional evolution
After Friends, Perry pursued varied projects in television and film, including recurring and lead roles that tested dramatic range. He balanced creative input with on-screen work, sometimes navigating production challenges. Accurate dating of his milestones allows clearer distinctions between projects and avoids conflation with similarly named figures in entertainment.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Birth date | August 19, 1969 | Public birth records, biographies |
| Birth place | Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA | Official records, reputable biographies |
| Friends tenure | 1994–2004 (main cast) | Production schedules, network archives |
| Notable later work | The Odd Couple III (2010), The House (2017) | Release dates, cast listings |
Common misconceptions and clarification
Misstatements sometimes place Perry’s birth years a few years off, which can ripple into incorrect ages for casting or reunion timelines. Verifying against primary documents avoids these drifts. Cross-referencing interviews, legal records, and studio media kits demonstrates consistency around August 19, 1969, as the accepted date.
Enduring relevance and current search interest
Interest in Matthew Perry’s birth date persists because it anchors timelines for career retrospectives, streaming anniversaries, and documentary productions. An evergreen profile like this supports accurate citations for future reporting and mitigates rumor-driven speculation. Stable facts underpin durable understanding of his professional arc.