Considered by many as the greatest American sitcom of all time, “Friends” follows the lives of six twenty-something-year-olds as they navigate personal and professional troubles in Manhattan. After the show aired on NBC in September 1994, it quickly gained a mass following as viewers around the world fell in love with the unique cast of quirky and relatable characters.

A common fan favorite character is Chandler Bing who is often dubbed the sitcom king of sarcasm. Portrayed by Matthew Perry, Chandler brings to the table a wealth of biting remarks and hilarious self-deprecating jokes, with lines such as ‘I’m hopeless and awkward and desperate for love.’ He also charms audiences with his endearing friendship with Joey Tribbiani and long-term romantic relationship with Monica Geller. Here, we take a look at 15 surprising behind the scenes facts about Chandler you might not have known about.

15 He Wasn’t In The Original Four Person Cast Of Friends

The Cast Of Friends
via TV Guide

Before the actors were cast, the writers initially created only four main characters for the show. This included Ross, Rachel, Joey, and Monica. Phoebe and Chandler were supposed to be supporting characters with much less screen time than they eventually ended up with. Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow, however, thankfully managed to charm the producers with their unique comedic abilities.

14 He Was Almost Played By Someone Other Than Matthew Perry

Jon Favreau And Courteney Cox
via cosmopolitan.co.uk

According to Telltales Online, other known actors at the time were also eyeing the parts of Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani. This included Jon Favreau who ended up being cast in season three of the show as Monica’s millionaire boyfriend. Favreau actually auditioned for the role of Chandler, but needless to say, the writers saw Perry as the final perfect match.

13 He Is The Highest Paid Friend

Chandler Bing At Work
via YouTube

With an office job in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration, Chandler remains the character with the highest-paying job within the main cast. This perk may come with a price as he has mentioned several times that he loathes his own job, even going so far as to try out different occupations in a season nine episode.

12 He Was Heavily Inspired By Matthew Perry

Chandler Bing
via Bustle

As confessed by the writers of the show, the character of Chandler was heavily inspired by none other than Matthew Perry himself. This can especially be seen through the running joke of Chandler being awkward around women as Perry himself has admitted to being incredibly self-conscious around members of the opposite gender.

11 He And Monica Had Parallels To Courteney Cox And Her Then Husband David Arquette

Chandler And Monica
via pinterest.com.mx

In the final few seasons, the show included a dramatic storyline where Chandler and Monica are struggling to get pregnant with their first child. This idea reflected itself in reality as Courteney Cox and her then real-life husband David Arquette similarly had a difficult time trying to get Cox pregnant.

Related: 15 Surprising Facts About Courteney Cox's Time On Friends

10 Many Fans Speculated That He Was Gay

Chandler Bing
via Odyssey

Many fans speculated about Chandler’s sexual preference when the show first began, believing him to be gay. This confusion also extended to members of the cast with Lisa Kudrow becoming shocked at the first table read to learn that the character wasn’t gay. According to Factinate, show creator David Crane finally had to make a public statement to clear things up.

9 His Star Sign Is Taurus

Chandler Bing
via Bustle

Due to the show’s large following, many fans have managed to deduce each character’s star sign from the birthdays shown in certain episodes. Chandler’s is believed to be Taurus, a fact which corresponds greatly to his own personality as he has a reputation for being stubborn but is ultimately a dedicated and loyal friend.

8 He Had A Controversial Scene That Was Cut Due To The Timing Of 9/11

Chandler Bing
via productplacementblog.com

In the episode ‘The One Where Rachel Tells Ross’, Monica and Chandler embark on their honeymoon by plane. According to The Whisp, a scene was shot where Chandler jokes about there being bombs on the plane, a joke which would not have landed well in the wake of 9/11. After the plane hijackings in September, the episode was then altered to eliminate the scene containing the joke.

Related: 15 Behind-The-Scenes Secrets From The Set Of Friends

7 His And Joey’s White Ceramic Dog Actually Belonged To Jennifer Aniston

Matthew Perry And Jennifer Aniston
via New Statesman

Chandler and Joey’s massive white ceramic dog, which can often be seen in their shared apartment, actually belongs to actress Jennifer Aniston. She lent the dog to the show as a stage prop which was given to her as a good luck present from a friend when the shooting of “Friends” began.

6 Both His And Matthew Perry’s Parents Are Divorced

Chandler Bing's Dad
via Hollywood.com

Matthew Perry has mentioned that he spent his childhood in Canada after his parents filed for divorce. This is one of the many similarities between him and his character as Chandler’s parents also split up when he was very young. Chandler’s father is later shown to be gay in the episode ‘The One With Chandler’s Dad.’

5 His Weight Fluctuation Was Due To A Real Life Drug Addiction

Matthew Perry And Julia Roberts
via Best Life

Chandler’s weight fluctuation throughout the series has a surprisingly dark backstory to it. Perry actually battled drug addiction for several years, even admitting to not being able to recall filming most of the show’s middle seasons. He eventually went to rehab in 1997 and 2001 for addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs.

Related: 20 Pics Of The Ups And Downs Of Matthew Perry's Career

Chandler Bing
via cosmopolitan.co.uk

Chandler was not a popular or well-known first name before the show aired. The writers even made fun of the character’s name in an episode, saying that it means nothing. The name is actually based upon a candlemaking trade and became popularised after the show started to gain recognition.

3 Most Of His Lines Were Written By Matthew Perry Himself

Matthew Perry
via TV Guide

According to Cinema Probe, the writers were so impressed with Perry’s wit and intelligence that they often allowed him to sit with them during brainstorming sessions for the show. Many of Chandler’s jokes were therefore Perry’s own gags and suggestions, a fact which stands as a testament to the actor’s multi-talented versatility.

2 The Number On His Apartment Changed Halfway Through The Show

Apartment
via Entertainment Weekly

According to Mental Floss, the producers changed the numbers on Monica's and Chandler & Joey’s apartments in the middle of the series. This was due to the realisation that Monica was supposed to live on a floor higher than number 5. Her apartment was changed to number 20 while Chandler and Joey’s apartment was changed from number 4 to 19.

1 He And Monica Were Only Supposed To Be A One Night Stand

Monica And Chandler's Wedding
via People.com

The romantic relationship between Chandler and Monica was only supposed to be limited to a one night stand in London in season four. Fans of the show however, were so invested in the couple that the producers decided to expand on and write the relationship into the script as a major subplot.

Next: 15 Things Friends Fans Should Know About HBO's Reunion Special