Where did Matthew Perry and Justin Trudeau go to school?
YEARS after Friends concluded, Matthew Perry remained close with the show's cast.
Before the Emmy Award nominee experienced his breakthrough, he and his family had ties to Justin Trudeau.
Where did Matthew Perry and Justin Trudeau go to school?
During their grade school years, Matthew Perry and Justin Trudeau attended Rockcliffe Park Public School in Ottawa, Canada.
Perry was older than Trudeau by three years and their families were well-acquainted with each other.
"I have a story about him that I'm not proud of," the late Friends actor told .
During the interview, he recalled: "He reminded me we actually beat up Justin Trudeau.
"We both beat him up. I think he was excelling in a sport that we weren't. So, it was pure jealousy.
"I'm not bragging about this, it was terrible, I was a stupid kid.
"I think it was rather instrumental in him becoming, you know, going to such great heights and becoming the prime minister.
Perry jokingly added: "I think he said 'I'm going to rise above this.'
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"I feel shame, I don't want to think about it. His dad was the prime minister but I don’t think that’s the reason we beat him up.
"I think he was the only kid in school we could beat up."
At the time, Trudeau responded via Twitter: "How about a rematch?
"I've been giving it some thought, and you know what, who hasn't wanted to punch Chandler?"
Perry comically tweeted back: "I think I will pass at your request for a rematch kind sir (given that you currently have an army at your disposal)."
How did Perry's family know Trudeau's family?
Aside from being schoolmates, Perry's mother Suzanne Langford was a press secretary to Justin's father Pierre Trudeau.
From 1968 to 1984, Pierre served as Canada's 15th Prime Minister.
Justin continued his family's political legacy when he became the country's 23rd Prime Minister; he assumed office on November 4, 2015.
The cast of Friends
The sitcom Friends took the world by storm when it aired in 1994. The show not only launched the careers of the cast members but became one of the popular shows in television history. Here is the cast of Friends:
- Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green
- Courteney Cox as Monica Geller
- Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing
- Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani
- David Schwimmer as Ross Geller
- Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay
What did Trudeau say about Perry's death?
On October 28, 2023, 54-year-old Perry died from a drowning incident at his home in Los Angeles.
While paying tribute to his late schoolmate, Trudeau tweeted: "Matthew Perry's passing is shocking and saddening.
"I'll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them.
"Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed."
In a statement to , Perry's family shared: "Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend.
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"You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.
"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother."