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Before Bruce Willis became a global star with the action franchiseDie Hardand the horror filmThe Sixth Sense, he was a TV star. He rose to fame as the private detective David Addison inMoonlighting, which also featured Cybill Shepherd. The role even earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe.
While the actor then moved on to films after making the action blockbusterDie Hard, he returned as a guest star onFRIENDS. Willis won his second Emmy for the role of Paul Stevens and the guest role was reportedly a result of a bet between him and hisThe Whole Nine Yardsco-star Matthew Perry.
Matthew Perry Bet Bruce Willis To Guest Star OnFRIENDSWhich Led Him To An Emmy Win
The lateMatthew Perryis best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the legendary sitcomFRIENDS. The actor was a series regular for all ten seasons of the show and garnered millions of fans for playing the sarcastic and self-deprecating role of Bing. His death last year was mourned by the world.
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While he was known for his TV role, Perry also branched out to the movies and starred in a number of romantic comedies likeFools Rush InandServing Sara. However, he finally went into the buddy comedy zone with the Bruce Willis starrerThe Whole Nine Yards. The actor reportedly met and became good friends with Willis on the set of that film.
Perry also wrote in his memoirFriends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thingthat Willis’ guest role as Paul Stevens inFRIENDSwas the result of a bet between the two on the set ofThe Whole Nine Yards. He mentioned that the two bet on the success of the film, which Perry was sure of. He said (viaBusiness Insider),
Bruce hadn’t been sure the film would work at all, and I’d bet him it would — if he lost, he had to do a guest spot on ‘Friends.’
The film ended upearning over $106 millionagainst a $41 million budget and even led to a sequel. Willis kept his word and played a recurring guest role of Paul Stevens in the sitcom and even won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Matthew Perry Mentioned That Bruce Willis Was A Wonderful Guy
One of the greatest tragedies of Hollywood is Matthew Perry, the funniest man on the most popular sitcomFRIENDS, struggling with alcohol and substance abuse problems. The late actor had expressed his tryst with prescription medication and alcohol multiple times and had even spoken up about how it had affected his career.
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Perry wrote in his memoir thatThe Whole Nine Yardsco-starBruce Williswould throw elaborate parties but would not get addicted like him. He wrote that Willis would be able to sober down before working on films likeThe Sixth Sense,a process that eluded himself. He also spoke highly of theDie Hardstar when they used to hang out on the sets. Perry wrote,
Sometimes, at the end of the night, when the sun was just about to come up and everyone else had gone, and the party was over, Bruce and I would just sit and talk,” he said. “That’s when I saw the real Bruce Willis — a good-hearted man, a caring man, selfless. A wonderful parent. And a wonderful actor. And most important, a good guy.
Perry also mentioned that their paths never crossed after the sequelThe Whole Ten Yards. Willis would go on to have a tragedy of his own when he was reportedly diagnosed with dementia and announced that he would be retiring from acting (viaCNN).
The Whole Nine Yardsis currently available to stream on Pluto TV.FRIENDSis available to stream on Max.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
