Brooke Shields recently shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes story from her guest appearance on *Friends* back in 1996,
where she played Erika Ford, a fan-turned-love interest of Joey Tribbiani’s (Matt LeBlanc) character, Dr. Drake Ramoray.
On *The View* this week, Shields reflected on what it was like stepping into the world of *Friends*, and how she tried to make Matthew Perry laugh during filming.
Shields, who had always been a fan of the show, admitted that when she joined the *Friends* cast, she felt like an outsider in the tight-knit group of actors.
“You go onto a show that’s so well-oiled and so successful, and I was such a fan, all I wanted was for them to like me,” she said on *The View*.
“I just wanted to be funny. But I wasn’t in the group. They were very tight, they had all these inside jokes.”
Despite feeling like a bit of an outsider, Shields was determined to fit in and make the most of her time on the show, especially with the legendary Matthew Perry, who portrayed Chandler Bing. According to Shields, Perry had a specific gag that he would perform on set that, while hilarious at the time, would likely be deemed inappropriate in today’s cultural climate.
“You couldn’t do it now, you’d get canceled,” Shields recalled. “He would run and throw himself on the floor in front of a girl and pretend to look up her skirt. Again, you’d get canceled today.” While the gag may have been funny during that era, Shields acknowledged how different things would be if such a joke were attempted in modern times.
Not one to back down from a challenge, Shields decided to pull a fast one on Perry to get him to laugh. “I ran so fast from one end of the stage all the way to the other, threw myself on the ground, and pretended to look up his pant leg,” she said with a smile. The move had everyone in the room in complete silence, and for a moment, Shields began to doubt herself. “And everybody was quiet and I’m on the floor and I’m like, ‘I just suck. I look like a crazy person.’”
It wasn’t long, however, before Perry’s iconic laugh filled the room. “All of a sudden he started laughing and they all started laughing,” Shields recalled. Perry, with his signature wit, remarked, “How did you know to do that?”
Shields, ever the pro, responded with a smile, saying, “I’ve just been watching you and I just wanted to say thank you for giving us such humor.” It was a sweet moment between the two actors, and it showed just how much Shields had been paying attention to Perry’s comedic timing.
The actress, who has long been known for her role in films and TV, added that the physical comedy stunt left her with some unexpected consequences. “I had rug burns all over [my] knees,” she laughed, reflecting on the effort she put into her attempt to make Perry laugh.
Sadly, Perry passed away in October 2023 from a ketamine overdose, and Shields’ heartwarming recollection of their time together on set serves as a loving tribute to the actor’s humor and generosity. While they may have had an unconventional moment of comedy on set, Shields’ story is a reminder of Perry’s warmth and the camaraderie that existed among the *Friends* cast.
Looking back, it’s clear that Shields’ appearance on *Friends* wasn’t just about her character’s interactions with Joey Tribbiani, but also about the fun she had with the entire cast, particularly Matthew Perry. The experience of working alongside Perry and the *Friends* cast seems to have made a lasting impact on Shields, as she fondly remembers their time together with a sense of gratitude and respect.
Perry’s legacy, both on and off screen, continues to bring smiles to fans around the world, and it’s evident that his humor and kindness were felt by those fortunate enough to work with him, including Brooke Shields.
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