Ms. Chanandler Bong, played by Matthew Perry, is the sarcastic awkward comedian of the Friends crew who always knows when to crack a joke to cut through the tension. Fans fell in love with Chandler's relatable insecurities and insane fear of commitment.
They laughed along with his cringe-worthy struggles and grinned from ear to ear when Chandler and Monica finally said "I do." And while most fans feel they know everything there is to know about Chandler, except what his job is, the Chan-Chan man does have a few secrets. Here are the 10 things even diehard fans didn't know about Chandler:
He is Half Scottish
There were many happy moments during Monica and Chandler's wedding planning, but hearing Ross play the bagpipes was not the most uplifting experience. In season 7, episode 15 "The One with Joey's New Brain", fans discovered that Chandler is half Scottish. Ross, thinking he's doing a good deed, attempts to learn the bagpipes to surprise Monica and Chandler at their wedding because of Chandler's family's origin.
Luckily the two are able to convince Ross not to play the bagpipes at their ceremony as he's not a very gifted musician. Unfortunately Chandler did not wear a quilt at his and Monica's wedding.
His Middle Name is Muriel
Chandler Muriel Bing... no wonder this poor character had issues with his parents. Chandler's middle name was kept a secret for most of the series. Fans didn't learn his full name until season 8, episode 5 "The One with Rachel's Date" when Chandler accidentally revealed his middle name to Ross.
Of course the guys gave him a hard time about it which proves he was right to keep it a secret for so long. But Chandler should have a little more pride when it comes to his middle name, after all it is a family name.
His Father's Stage Name is Helena Handbasket
Chandler's estranged father's real name is Charles Bing but when he is up on the stage during his drag show performance, Viva Las Gaygas, his name changes to Helena Handbasket. Another fun fact about Chandler's dad is that the character is actually played by a woman, Kathleen Turner.
Turner's role as a drag queen father is just the tip of the iceberg for her career. She has won two Golden Globes and has been nominated for an Academy Award. Another fun fact, Kathleen Turner is the voice of Jessica Rabbit on Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Chandler should be more proud of his successful father.
Originally Written as a Supporting Character
If the creators had gone with their original plan, fans wouldn't have seen much of the beloved Chan-Chan man. Chandler and Phoebe were supposed to only be supporting characters, popping in only every now and then. This would have meant that the most solid couple of the show would not have happened.
The plan was for Monica and Joey to be the main love interest of the show, but the creators changed their minds when they saw the chemistry between Matthew Perry and Courtney Cox. Luckily the creators had a change of heart and decided to make Phoebe and Chandler just as prominent as the other members of the Friends crew.
Matthew Perry Suggested Chandler be Awkward Around Women
One of Chandler's most endearing qualities is his awkwardness around women. Anytime he's around a woman he is attracted to, he starts fumbling over his words and making uncomfortable jokes. The character was written this way because Matthew Perry himself is awkward around women.
Perry actually told producers this fact about himself which led to the creation of Chandler's embarrassing lack of confidence around women. Fans cringe and laugh at the same time watching Chandler struggle to even flirt with a woman. Chandler's insecurities about dating and relationships is something most fans could relate to which made him all the more cherished.
Chandler Dated Susie Underpants in Real Life
In season 2, episode 13 "The One After the Superbowl, Part 2", fans met the vengeful Susie Moss, also known as Susie Underpants, played by Julia Roberts. Susie was the poor girl who Chandler horribly embarrassed in elementary school when he lifted her skirt in front of the entire auditorium.
When they run into each other on Marcel's movie set, they start dating, or so Chandler thought. Susie was out for revenge the entire time. In real life the pair did actually date after her appearance on the show. Unfortunately the relationship didn't last as the two were only together from 1995 to 1996.
Matthew Perry also Dated Yasmine Bleeth
Many fans of Chandler know he had a major crush on Yasmine Bleeth who starred in Baywatch. He even told the chick once that she's different kind of chick but he loves them both equally. Chandler more than likely would have frozen with shock if Yasmine Bleeth ever talked to him, let alone go out with him.
And he was probably incredibly envious of the men Yasmine dated. But in real life he is one of those men. Matthew Perry and Yasmine dated for a few months in 1996 after his break up with Julia Roberts. Not everything is meant to last, except Monica and Chandler's relationship; that will last forever in the hearts of the fans.
Was the Only One Allowed in the Screenwriting Room
Chandler is the resident comedian on Friends and that's because Matthew Perry really was the resident comedian of the show. He was the only member of the cast who was allowed to sit in on the screenwriting. He would help write the jokes and punchlines for the show since he does have a great sense of humor and a sharp tongue.
Perry started telling jokes and being the class clown when he was kid. Perry has always enjoyed making people laugh. When he was 15 he realized he could make a living off of making people laugh and that's exactly what he did.
His Parents are Divorced in Real Life
While Matthew Perry's dad did not leave his mother for their houseboy on Thanksgiving, his parents are divorced just like Chandler's. Chandler's parents divorced when he was nine years old, but Perry's real parents separated before he was even a one year old leaving him to be raised by a single mother in Ottawa, Canada.
Even though Perry's father, John Bennett Perry, is not a drag queen he is in show business. John Perry was an actor who actually made an appearance on Friends as Joshua's father. Divorced parents are just one more thing Perry has in common with his character.
Chandler Worked in Data Processing
Chandler Bing's job was a mystery to many, including his own best friends. In season 4, episode 12 "The One With The Embryos" Monica and Rachel could not even answer the simple question: What is Chandler Bing's job? Chandler had several jobs throughout Friends '10 season run, with his last job being in advertising. But for most of show Chandler worked in data processing. Data processing involves retrieving, transforming, or classifying information to make it usable.
He started as a temp at a data processing company and was eventually promoted to the data processing supervisor with a specialization in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration. The great mystery about Chandler Bing has been solved.