Janice loves Chandler! Maggie Wheeler revealed she “learn each phrase” of Mates costar Matthew Perry’s memoir — and couldn’t be extra proud.
“I misplaced my brother to drug habit, so I’m no stranger to how tough a journey it’s and a wrestle it’s,” Wheeler, 61, completely informed Us Weekly on Tuesday, January 24, whereas selling her partnership with Worldwide Delight for its new Mates Manhattan Hazelnut Mocha creamer. “I’m so happy with Matthew and the way laborious he’s fought for his life.”
The New York native — who performed Perry’s character Chandler’s on once more, off once more girlfriend Janice on the NBC collection — famous there have been “so many particulars” within the 53-year-old actor’s memoir, Mates, Lovers and the Massive Horrible Factor, that she “wasn’t conscious” came about.
Maggie Wheeler and Matthew Perry. Shutterstock(2)
“He has had struggles which were so darkish and so insufferable and he’s such a survivor to nonetheless be right here and to be out and sharing his story with the world,” Wheeler informed Us. “I feel it’s courageous and extraordinary and I’m sure that he’s serving to individuals by doing it.”
Perry, who portrayed Chandler Bing for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, detailed his battle with habit each on the long-running present and off in his e book, which hit bookshelves in November 2022.
“You possibly can observe the trajectory of my habit for those who gauge my weight from season to season — once I’m carrying weight, it’s alcohol; once I’m skinny, it’s capsules,” he wrote within the memoir. “When I’ve a goatee, it’s a lot of capsules.”
The Fools Rush In actor recalled consuming for the primary time at age 14 and getting hooked on ache capsules following a jet ski accident on a film set in 1997. After a long time of struggles and spending “upward of $7 million attempting to get sober,” Perry got here out triumphant and sober by 2001.
By all of the highs and lows, the Mates forged remained supportive of the Odd Couple alum.
“That forged is a household. Everyone appeared out for one another it doesn’t matter what,” Wheeler informed Us on Tuesday. “They grew to become monumental celebrities collectively.”
She recalled the primary yr of manufacturing with the actors sitting in a “broken-down inexperienced room taking part in poker on some ratty couches.” Nearly in a single day, Wheeler stated there have been “fax machines working and each dressing room [had] presents and brokers and managers” for the celebrities.
Whereas the Addams Household actress hasn’t spoken to Perry since she learn his e book, she has been interested by him usually. “Simply earlier than I left to come back on this journey, I stated, ‘I really want to put in writing to him and let him know the way, how a lot I like him. And that I used to be honored to learn it,’” she defined.
Wheeler remembered studying how a lot Perry struggled as soon as Mates got here to an finish, telling Us she felt one thing comparable. “I keep in mind how unhappy I used to be,” she recalled. “It felt like actually the tip of a unprecedented chapter.”
The Archer star famous that her expertise as a visitor star was “somewhat bit totally different” from the core six stars: Perry, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow.
“It was there on daily basis, 24/7 expertise,” Wheeler stated. “The restoration interval from that’s totally different than it was for me. Nevertheless it additionally felt like an amazing loss to let it go shut the door.”
The brand new FRIENDS Manhattan Hazelnut Mocha creamer. Courtesy Worldwide Delight
The Vacation Hostage actress, nevertheless, continues to be celebrating her time on Mates, most not too long ago teaming up with Worldwide Delight to advertise their new limited-edition creamer, Mates Manhattan Hazelnut Mocha, impressed the hit sitcom.
“It’s scrumptious. It has hazelnut and mocha and it’s so harking back to the present. It’s impressed by the Manhattan Mocha, which is a espresso that’s served at Central Perk,” she informed Us referring to the present’s iconic hangout spot. “It’s on the chalkboard. Followers can have observed in the event that they had been wanting carefully at what was served on that chalkboard.”
Wheeler even recalled capturing her first scene with Perry, saying, “Chandler, he brings me that vast cup of espresso. So [the creamer] actually is simply harking back to my time on Mates.”
Get your fingers on the Mates Manhattan Hazelnut Mocha right here.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
