You’ve seen the face. Even if you can’t place the name, you’ve definitely seen the face.
For a whole generation of TV addicts, he was the guy in the Old Spice commercials—the suave, rugged sailor with the blue eyes who looked like he could navigate a storm and still smell like a gentleman. For others, he was the tall, authoritative figure playing a sheriff, a senator, or a captain on basically every procedural drama between 1970 and 2000.
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But for Matthew Perry, he was something much more complicated. He was the man who left, the man on the screen, and eventually, the man who stayed.
John Bennett Perry isn't just a footnote in a tragic Hollywood story. He’s a veteran actor with a resume longer than most people’s grocery lists. Yet, his legacy is now inextricably tied to his son’s. It's a relationship that went from distance and "abandonment issues"—Matthew’s own words—to a quiet, steady bond that lasted until the Friends star’s untimely death in late 2023.
The Sailor on the Screen
Born in 1941 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, John Bennett Perry didn't start out as a "celebrity dad." He was a working actor. Honestly, he was the definition of a "journeyman." He did it all: singing in the Serendipity Singers, performing on Broadway, and eventually becoming the face of one of the most iconic ad campaigns in history.
If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, John was the Old Spice guy. It’s hard to overstate how much that commercial defined his public image. He was the "suave sailor."
While John was building a career in Los Angeles, his young son was growing up in Ottawa, Canada. This is where the narrative usually gets a bit messy. John and Matthew’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, divorced when Matthew was less than a year old.
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Matthew Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, doesn't hold back on how this felt. He talked about being an "unaccompanied minor" at five years old, flying between Montreal and Los Angeles. He would see his father on TV—often "crashing through a door" in some action scene—and that was his primary connection to the man.
Imagine that for a second. Your dad isn’t in the kitchen making breakfast; he’s a guest star on Little House on the Prairie or 240-Robert. He’s a flickering image on a tube TV.
When the Two Perrys Shared the Spotlight
Eventually, the distance closed. At sixteen, Matthew moved to L.A. to live with John and try his hand at acting. It’s kinda poetic that the very thing that kept them apart—the industry—is what finally brought them into the same zip code.
They didn't just share a last name; they shared the screen. Multiple times.
- Fools Rush In (1997): In this rom-com, John played Matthew’s father. It wasn't a stretch. You can see the physical similarities—the height, the jawline—but the comedic timing was different. John was the "straight man," the grounded foil to Matthew’s frantic energy.
- Friends (Season 4): This is the one everyone remembers. In "The One with Rachel's New Dress," John Bennett Perry pops up as Mr. Burgin, the father of Joshua (Rachel’s boyfriend). He doesn't play Matthew’s dad here; he’s just a guest star. But the meta-wink to the audience was delicious.
- Scrubs: They appeared together again in the episode "My Unicorn," where John (predictably) played Matthew’s father.
There was a real sense of "making up for lost time" in these collaborations. By the time Matthew was the biggest sitcom star on the planet, his father was a constant, supportive presence.
Beyond the "Friends" Shadow
It’s easy to reduce John Bennett Perry to "the guy who sired Chandler Bing," but that does a disservice to his own grind. The man has over 90 acting credits.
He was in Independence Day (playing a secret service agent). He was in George of the Jungle. He had a recurring role on Falcon Crest as Sheriff Floyd Gilmore. He was a staple of 1980s television. If there was a show with a badge or a suit, John was probably in the casting call.
He also stayed active in music, performing with the Ojai Valley Boys. He wasn't just chasing fame; he was a performer through and through.
The Final Years and a Quiet Grief
In the weeks before Matthew Perry died, he posted a photo on Instagram with his father. They were both smiling. Matthew captioned it, "Here is me, and my father John, both holding a beverage."
It was a simple, normal moment. No Hollywood glitz. No "Old Spice" swagger. Just an 82-year-old man and his 54-year-old son.
When the news broke in October 2023 that Matthew had passed away, the world looked to his family. John, along with Matthew’s mother and his stepfather Keith Morrison, released a statement to People magazine: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend."
There is something particularly heavy about a father outliving his son. Especially a father who spent the first half of that son's life being a ghost on a screen, only to spend the second half becoming his closest confidant and "best friend."
What We Can Actually Learn From This
Looking at the life of John Bennett Perry, you see a story of reconciliation. It’s a reminder that the "beginning" of a relationship doesn't have to dictate the "end."
- Physical presence matters: Matthew’s early "abandonment issues" stemmed from the physical distance, even if the love was there.
- Forgiveness is a process: It took years of living in the same city and working in the same industry for the two Perrys to truly sync up.
- Shared passions bridge gaps: Acting was the language they both spoke. It gave them a reason to be together, a way to communicate that felt safe.
If you’re looking for more than just celebrity trivia, take a look at your own family dynamics. The Perry story shows that even deep-seated childhood wounds can be healed with time and a bit of "straight talk."
For those interested in the deeper history of the Perry family or the specific filmography of John Bennett Perry, you can find his extensive archive of work on IMDb or through the American Film Institute (AFI) records. His transition from a 1970s commercial icon to a respected character actor remains a masterclass in career longevity.
The story of Matthew Perry's father isn't just a Hollywood bio. It's a messy, real-world example of how fame, distance, and eventually, deep-rooted love, play out over eight decades.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Check out the 1997 film Fools Rush In to see the natural chemistry between John and Matthew.
- Read Matthew Perry’s memoir for a firsthand account of their relationship's evolution.
- Browse vintage Old Spice ads on YouTube to see John Bennett Perry at the height of his "suave sailor" fame.