Most people saw him on Friends and thought they knew everything about his life. But if you were paying close attention to the commercials and guest spots on 1970s and 80s television, you probably saw John Bennett Perry long before his son became a household name. He was the guy in the Old Spice commercials. You know the one. He had that rugged, classic leading-man look that defined an era of masculine advertising.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip to look back at their dynamic. While Matthew became a global icon for his quick wit and self-deprecating charm, his father was already a seasoned veteran of the industry. John wasn't just some guy who happened to have a famous kid; he was a legitimate working actor with a filmography that spans decades.
The man behind the name: Who was Matthew Perry’s father really?
John Bennett Perry was born in 1941 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He didn't just stumble into acting. He worked for it. He was a singer first, part of a folk group called the Serendipity Singers, which actually had some decent success in the 1960s. Think about that for a second. The patriarch of the Perry family started out harmonizing on stage before he ever stepped in front of a camera for a scripted drama.
He married Suzanne Marie Morrison—who, interestingly enough, served as a press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau—and they had Matthew in 1969. The marriage didn't last. They split when Matthew was just a baby, and John headed to California to chase the Hollywood dream while Matthew stayed in Canada with his mom.
That distance defined much of Matthew's early life. He talked about it quite a bit in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. He felt that "unaccompanied minor" vibe deep in his soul. Seeing his dad on TV was a strange way to grow up. Imagine sitting in your living room in Ottawa and seeing your father sell aftershave to millions of people while you're just trying to figure out your homework. It creates a weird kind of hero worship mixed with a sense of abandonment that Matthew spent years unpacking.
A career built on steady work
John Bennett Perry was the definition of a "hey, it's that guy" actor. He starred in the series 240-Robert in the late 70s, playing Deputy Theodore Roosevelt "Trap" Applegate III. It was a classic emergency response show. Later, he landed a role on the soap opera Falcon Crest as Sheriff Gilmore.
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If you're a fan of The West Wing, you might remember him playing Representative Franklin Russell. He had this innate ability to play authority figures—cops, pilots, politicians. He had the jawline for it. He had the voice. He possessed a certain gravitas that felt very "Old Hollywood," which stood in stark contrast to Matthew’s frantic, anxious energy on screen.
That one time they shared the screen on Friends
One of the coolest bits of trivia for fans is the episode "The One with Rachel's New Dress." You remember the one where Rachel is trying to romance Joshua, and his parents walk in while she’s wearing a negligee? The guy playing Joshua's father? That was John Bennett Perry.
It wasn't a huge role. It was a cameo. But seeing them together was a "meta" moment for the audience. They actually played father and son again in the 1997 rom-com Fools Rush In. In that movie, the chemistry is much more apparent. You can see the physical resemblance—the way they carry themselves, the shared smirk. John plays a somewhat stiff, judgmental father, which supposedly mirrored some of the real-life tension they had to work through over the years.
Navigating the complex father-son bond
Relationships are messy. Celebrity relationships are messier. Matthew was very open about the fact that he spent a lot of time trying to earn his father's approval. In his book, he recalls a moment where he realized he had become more famous than his dad. That’s a heavy realization for any kid.
But here’s the thing: John was there for him when things got dark.
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When Matthew was battling his well-documented addictions, John was part of the support system. There is a very famous photo Matthew shared on Instagram just weeks before he passed away. It was a simple shot of him and his dad, both smiling, with Matthew captioning it about spending time with his "pops." It felt like a full-circle moment. After years of distance, career competition, and health struggles, they seemed to have found a genuine peace.
What most people get wrong about their dynamic
People often assume that because Matthew grew up in Canada and John was in LA, they had no relationship. That’s not quite right. While there was physical distance, John was always a looming figure of inspiration. Matthew didn't just fall into acting by accident; he was chasing the ghost of his father's career. He wanted to be good because his dad was good.
John also remarried and had more children, including Matthew's half-sister Mia Perry. This created a blended family dynamic that was sometimes complicated but ultimately loving. John wasn't a villain in Matthew's story; he was a human being navigating his own career while trying to figure out how to be a father from a thousand miles away.
The legacy of John Bennett Perry today
At 82 years old, John Bennett Perry has outlived his son—a tragedy no parent should have to endure. Since Matthew's passing in October 2023, John has remained largely out of the public eye, grieving privately.
His body of work stands as a testament to the "working actor." In an industry that often only celebrates the superstars, John represented the backbone of television for decades. He was reliable. He was talented. And he was the man who gave the world one of its favorite comedians.
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If you want to truly understand Matthew Perry, you have to look at John. You see the source of the talent, but you also see the source of the drive. Matthew didn't just want to be funny; he wanted to be respected in the way his father was.
Next Steps for Fans and Researchers
If you are looking to explore the work of John Bennett Perry further to see the influence he had on Matthew’s style, start with these specific performances:
- Watch "Fools Rush In" (1997): This is the best example of their on-screen chemistry. It captures a specific era of their relationship where they were both at the top of their game.
- Check out "240-Robert": If you can find clips of this 1979 series, you’ll see the "action star" version of John that Matthew grew up watching on TV.
- Read Matthew Perry’s Memoir: Specifically, look for the chapters regarding his childhood move to Montreal. It provides the most honest, raw perspective on how his father’s absence and career shaped his psyche.
- Support the Matthew Perry Foundation: The family, including John, has been supportive of this initiative to help those struggling with addiction, which is the most meaningful way to honor the family legacy today.
Understanding the man behind the star gives a lot more weight to those reruns of Friends we all keep on loop. It wasn't just about the jokes; it was about a kid who finally made it to the same stage as his dad.