TMC
01-08-2023, 06:23 AM
https://www.thethings.com/matthew-perry-turned-down-his-role-on-friends/
In 1994 Craig Bierko was touted as the next big thing, TV studios flooding his agents with TV pilots. One was for the role of Chandler on "Friends" - Craig turned it down, and his BEST FRIEND (Matthew Perry) read for the role and was the last person cast after Craig said no.
"Friends" was an immediate hit; the cast was plastered on billboards and magazine covers and raked in big money. Craig didn't speak to Matthew for two years.
Matthew writes in his book (https://www.eonline.com/news/1352566/the-biggest-bombshells-from-matthew-perrys-book-from-near-death-experiences-to-his-friends-crush) how Craig attempted to apologize for ending their friendship over "Friends"
When he got to my apartment, the tension was high. Craig spoke first
"I want you to know that I am very sorry for not speaking to you for two years," he said. "I simply could not handle that you got rich and famous doing a role that I turned down. We were both good enough to get that role, and yeah, so, I just could not handle it ... "
I heard him out, there was silence. I hate what I was actually going to say, but I had to say it
I said "You know what, Craig? It doesn't do what we all thought it would. It doesn't fix anything."
Craig stared at me, I don't think he believed me. I still don't think he believes me. I think you actually have to have all your dreams come true to realize they are the wrong dreams.
Given everything, there is no way I wouldn't change places with Craig, and David Pressman, and the guy in the gas station down the block - I'd change places with all of them in a minute, and forever, if only I could not be who I am, the way I am, bound on this wheel of fire. They don't have a brain that wants them dead. They slept fine at night. I don't expect that would make them feel any better about the choices they made, they way their lives went.
I would give it all up not to feel this way. I think about it all the time; it's no idle thought - it's a coldhearted fact. That Faustian prayer I made was a stupid one, the prayer of a child. It was not based on anything real.
But it became real.
I have the money, the recognizability, and the near-death experience to prove it.
https://i.ibb.co/FWT1rFJ/Untitled1111.jpg
In 1994 Craig Bierko was touted as the next big thing, TV studios flooding his agents with TV pilots. One was for the role of Chandler on "Friends" - Craig turned it down, and his BEST FRIEND (Matthew Perry) read for the role and was the last person cast after Craig said no.
"Friends" was an immediate hit; the cast was plastered on billboards and magazine covers and raked in big money. Craig didn't speak to Matthew for two years.
Matthew writes in his book (https://www.eonline.com/news/1352566/the-biggest-bombshells-from-matthew-perrys-book-from-near-death-experiences-to-his-friends-crush) how Craig attempted to apologize for ending their friendship over "Friends"
When he got to my apartment, the tension was high. Craig spoke first
"I want you to know that I am very sorry for not speaking to you for two years," he said. "I simply could not handle that you got rich and famous doing a role that I turned down. We were both good enough to get that role, and yeah, so, I just could not handle it ... "
I heard him out, there was silence. I hate what I was actually going to say, but I had to say it
I said "You know what, Craig? It doesn't do what we all thought it would. It doesn't fix anything."
Craig stared at me, I don't think he believed me. I still don't think he believes me. I think you actually have to have all your dreams come true to realize they are the wrong dreams.
Given everything, there is no way I wouldn't change places with Craig, and David Pressman, and the guy in the gas station down the block - I'd change places with all of them in a minute, and forever, if only I could not be who I am, the way I am, bound on this wheel of fire. They don't have a brain that wants them dead. They slept fine at night. I don't expect that would make them feel any better about the choices they made, they way their lives went.
I would give it all up not to feel this way. I think about it all the time; it's no idle thought - it's a coldhearted fact. That Faustian prayer I made was a stupid one, the prayer of a child. It was not based on anything real.
But it became real.
I have the money, the recognizability, and the near-death experience to prove it.
https://i.ibb.co/FWT1rFJ/Untitled1111.jpg