Matthew Perry raced with Sarah Paulson in his car for ‘Studio 60’

Sarah Paulson revealed on “The View” that Matthew Perry helped her land a supporting role in Aaron Sorkin’s short-lived TV series “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” Perry headlined the NBC show alongside Bradley Whitford and Amanda Peet, all of whom were already there when Paulson auditioned for the role of fictional actor Harriet Hayes. The Emmy winner said Perry took her under his wing and made sure she had an advantage during her final audition by personally delivering lines to her.

“I was at a particular point in my career where I desperately needed this job,” Paulson said. “He, because of his friendship with Amanda Peet, who was my best friend at the time and who was also on the show – they had done a movie together called ‘The Whole Nine Yards’ – so he asked me to meet him in the parking lot. lot for my final audition and I got in his car and he walked through the whole stage with me a few times so I could get a head start on the other artist. And I got the post.

Paulson continued, “So I kind of give him credit for taking that extra time and he absolutely didn’t need to. He was just the type of person that, if you made him laugh or if you made him smile, you felt like you’d really arrived. I had the great pleasure of making him laugh several times and it made me feel really good. He was a wonderful guy.

“Studio 60” lasted only one season on NBC and aired its series finale in June 2007. Perry died suddenly on October 28 at the age of 54. He was found unconscious in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home, according to law enforcement. There were no signs of foul play or drugs at the scene.

Paulson is one of several former co-stars of Perry’s who have shared stories of his generosity on set. John Stamos, for example, recalled how Perry came to his aid during an embarrassing visit to the set of “Friends.” Stamos made a surprise appearance on the NBC sitcom in 2003 during the show’s ninth season. He played Zach, Chandler’s co-worker who is courted to be a potential sperm donor for Monica and Chandler. The couple invite Zach to their apartment for dinner to assess his physical and emotional attributes.

“Matthew and I were friends way before ‘Friends,’ so when I played Zach, Chandler and Monica’s potential sperm donor, I hung out with him a lot,” Stamos recalls. “Standing backstage, ready to make my entrance, Matt whispers, “The crowd goes crazy when they see you!” Prepare for some loud screaming. I walk through the door…silence. I was so embarrassed.

“We finish the scene and as I start to go back to my dressing room and leave showbiz, Matt walks towards the studio audience,” Stamos continued, revealing that Perry told the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, give up for John Stamos. !You probably didn’t recognize him at first because he’s so much prettier in person!

“I never forgot that and the world will never forget you,” Stamos added.

Watch Paulson’s full appearance on “The View” in the video below.