It has been a somber week for those who knew Matthew Perry, from near and afar. Brett, Jimmy Connors’ son, stayed quiet while listening to his father describe their beautiful friendship on the popular podcast Advantage Connors. Perry was undoubtedly one of the biggest TV stars of the 90s. And his death would’ve felt like a personal loss to Connors for he had known and worked closely with one of his most ardent yet celebrity fans, Perry.

Unlike some of his other co-stars from F.R.I.E.N.D.S., Perry’s career didn’t really see the sunny side instantly. Shortly after the series ended, Connors made a guest appearance on an American television sitcom called Mr. Sunshine (2011) alongside Perry, whose ratings were the highest of any new ABC series that season. In other words, Connors became a part of what turned out to be a break for Perry. Knowing him from up close, naturally, the tennis legend turned quite emotional upon the untimely demise of his close friend. 

Jimmy Connors pays tribute to Matthew Perry’s everlasting aura

Connors, in this heartfelt episode, shared his thoughts on the enduring legacy of Matthew Perry. He particularly focused on his iconic role as Chandler in the TV series ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S.’ His emotional reflection on Perry’s tragic passing shed light on the profound impact the show continues to have on many people’s lives. 

Amid their conversation, Connors mused, “The impact that show that he was on where he played Chandler, FRIENDS, the impact that that has had, I mean, even today, you know, the amount that you know, you turn on TV and you go from channel to channel, you see FRIENDS.”

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His words resonated with the millions who still find comfort in revisiting the beloved sitcom. Connors, while expressing his disbelief at the news of Perry’s passing, eloquently captured the sentiment. He stated, “He was only I think 54 years old or so, and you know, it’s amazing everything that he has done and accomplished. Even, maybe being a tortured soul, with a lot of things he had been through but to only be 54, it’s sad, but you know, when I heard that, I almost couldn’t believe it.”

Perry and Connors’ friendship was built on their common love for tennis. Matthew Perry’s simple invitation for Jimmy Connors to be on his show, Mr. Sunshine, kick-started their unique bond. Since then, their off-screen activities and personal encounters allowed their friendship to blossom even further. In fact, Connors meant a lot more than just a co-star.

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From the sets of Mr. Sunshine, Connors and Perry gave a sneak peek into their prized relationship

Perry admitted, “I have been a fan of Jimmy’s for a long long time. So, I have basically begged and wept openly and he felt bad enough for me that he said, ‘yeah.'”
To this, the interviewer promptly reacted, “Did you pick up the phone yourself?”
Perry heartily responded, “I didn’t. Because I didn’t want him to just hang up on me.”

On a different occasion, in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011, Perry admitted that Connors was his childhood idol. He shared a relatively unknown anecdote about his fondness for the tennis legend, “I was, like, a 12-year-old kid in Canada and I had his haircut. A couple of weeks later I got a message from him and he asked me to play in a real charity tennis event with him…and then we’ve become sort of text buddies…I want this to be a relationship in my life.”

Connors’ story about Perry shows that relationships can extend beyond work. The shared laughter and moments became treasured memories of their time together. 

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