One of the most profound impact players in the ten-year-long run of Friends was Matthew Perry. The late actor not only landed himself into pop culture’s hall of fame but also made the show last forever thanks to his comedic chops. The sarcastic wisecracker had a stellar run on the show and was paired with a number of guest stars throughout the story. Among the many was Kathleen Turner who portrayed Chandler Bing’s father, Charles Bing. As to how she felt while helming the role of a trans-woman, the actress once spilled the beans.

It is undoubtedly a task to get into someone’s shoes and be asked to fill it in. In the case of Turner, her stint on the show was no walk in the park.

Kathleen Turner once opened up about playing Chandler Bing’s father on Friends

The two-time Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee had a brief stay on Friends. Debuting in the 2001 episode, The One with Chandler’s Dad, Turner essayed the role of Helena Handbasket, Chandler Bing’s father who also happened to be a drag artist in Las Vegas. In January 2023, the actress revealed to The Guardian that playing the role of a transgender “was a challenge!” Although never explicitly mentioned in the show, the character was confirmed to be a trans-woman by the show’s co-creator, Marta Kauffman.

Appearing in about a total of four episodes, Turner did leave audiences enthralled with her performance. The nonchalant bickering with on-screen separated partner, Nora Tyler Bing played by Morgan Fairchild was a crucial comedic sub-plot. However, she believed the role should have been ideally given to a person of the same gender identity. “It never crossed my mind that I was taking a role from someone,” she said. Regardless, if she were offered the very role today, she would “probably not” take it up.

In the subsequent years, a lot has changed. Turner’s on-screen son faced a sudden demise and she expressed her feelings for the same.

The actress knew about “the pressure” Matthew Perry felt

One afternoon in October, the history of Friends forever changed as the youngest member of the main six cast, Matthew Perry passed away in his Los Angeles home. The 54-year-old’s sudden demise shocked the fandom and the entertainment industry as a whole including Kathleen Turner. In her message, the actress acknowledged Perry as a “brilliant talent” while also admitting excessive grief for the same.

The Serial Mom actress also said that she “can’t imagine the pressure those guys lived under being a worldwide phenomenon”. The troubles with addiction were one of the reasons behind the actor’s untimely death. It becomes even more haunting to realize that Perry was en route to sobriety when he faced his fate. Regardless, the cast and fans all over will forever cherish him as a true icon of the comedic slate.

What are your thoughts on Kathleen Turner’s remarks about playing Chandler Bing’s father? Let us know in the comments below.