Unlike a lot of famous actors, Matthew Perry isn't known for his vast car collection. While the Friends actor might have been earning a million dollars per episode by the time the sitcom came to an end, he wasn't spending it on cars.
Despite not being a gearhead, Perry has been spotted behind the wheels of the Porsche Panamera and BMW 6 Series in the past However, it was perhaps at a staged illegal car sale that Perry's automotive history is best-known.
He was selected as a 'victim' of Ashton Kutcher's classic prank show Punk'd, but you would never have guessed that Perry felt threatened. His reaction to the entire setup was so hilarious it has remained one of the most-watched Punk'd clips on YouTube.
Let's take a look at Matthew Perry's starring role when he got Punk'd at an 'illegal car sale.'
Setting The Scene For Mathew Perry's Punk'd Appearance
Perry was on his way across town with a buddy when they pulled into a warehouse full of sports cars, namely Porsches. The Friends star was told by his buddy that they were just going to check out a few cars that they might want to buy.
From the moment Perry arrived, he seemed suspicious after his friend explained that these cars were on offer for half price. Perry even made fun of the color of the Porsche before his face dropped when he overheard the organizer say they would take cash or cashier's check.
The Friends actor was suspicious of the serious-looking guys dressed in suits like they were part of an organized crime group.
He then asked his friend, "Are these cars hot?" as he feared they might be buying stolen goods. Perry even called the fact that the cops were about to walk in any second. Except their entrance was a little more dramatic than that.
The Moment Perry Got Busted For An 'Illegal Car Sale'
The cops actually bust through the door to the warehouse by smashing through it in a squad car. Perry complied completely with the cops' demands, getting down on the ground when they asked him to and speaking honestly with them.
One officer seemed to be trying to play good cop with Perry and tried to level with him. The officer wanted to know what had brought Perry and his pal to this illegal car sale. He explained that the guys who were running the show were "going down", but he didn't believe someone of Perry's stature would be mixed up in this.
Perry then opens up and admits that his friend was interested in buying one of the cars, but he didn't know if he was actually going to make a purchase. The actor also added that he was making fun of him for wanting a yellow Porsche.
The officer didn't buy the story and even says, "help yourself, Chandler," referring to Perry's most famous role while touching him comfortingly on the shoulder. Perry is then threatened with having his name put out into the media if he doesn't help the officer out. In fact, even when the officer was suggesting he'd be lenient with Perry, the Friends star remained loyal to his buddy.
He even called his friend an 'Apple Pie Guy' to suggest to the officer how straight and by the book he is. After coining the phrase, Perry then feared he would actually have to repeat it as the officer said he wasn't recording his statement at that time.
Matthew Perry Didn't Lose His Cool
One of the most impressive things throughout the entire situation is how cool, calm, and collected Perry remains. The idea of getting in trouble can be enough to set your nerves on edge, but Perry handled the situation like a pro.
Not only was the Friends star steady when questioned by a police officer, he even found the opportunities to crack a few jokes. The officer gave Perry ample opportunity to snitch on his friend, but the actor never wavered from the truth.
At one point, the officer even proposed to make a doctored statement for the Friends star, but to Perry's credit, he refused to let his buddy take the fall. The officer even started to wave his handcuffs in front of Perry's face, but instead of buckling under the pressure, he continued to be honest. Ashton Kutcher was watching from the sidelines, and after realizing that Perry wasn't going to break, he decided to run onto the set.
It looked like Perry was taking everything in his stride, but the relief on his face was clear to see whenever Kutcher strolled in. Perry immediately realized that he was on an episode of Punk'd and flipped the fake officer the finger before praising his acting skills.
Punk'd Was The Ultimate Celebrity Prank Show
Punk'd was a huge hit for Ashton Kutcher and MTV when it first hit our screens in 2003. It had celebrities fearing to go outside as they never knew when Kutcher would be waiting around the corner to prank them. Nobody was off-limits while Punk'd was on our TVs with high-profile stars like Elijah Wood, Justin Timberlake, Reese Witherspoon, and Zac Efron all getting pranked.
Kutcher was at the helm of the show from 2003 until 2007 when it left our screens, but it made a comeback in 2012. The rebooted show featured guest hosts, with Kutcher taking a step back and operating as an executive producer. He would later distance himself from the show when it earned another reboot in 2020.