What Was Matthew Perry's Final Acting Role?

May 2024 · 2 minute read

While "The End of Longing" was still running, Perry took a lead role as the influential politician Ted Kennedy in the 2017 Reelz miniseries "The Kennedys: After Camelot," a follow-up to the 2011 series "The Kennedys."

"The Kennedys: After Camelot" follows Ted Kennedy as he attempts to live up to the legacy of his brothers, including President John F. Kennedy. The series depicts dramatic events such as the Chappaquiddick incident, in which Kennedy accidentally drove his car into the Chappaquiddick River, resulting in the death of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, and examines the impact of this incident on Kennedy's presidential campaign.

The series continues to track the politician's career into his late 60s, by which time he was known as the Lion of the Senate. Playing an esteemed yet controversial figure in American politics presented a challenge for Perry, who told the Star Tribune that he took the role "because it scared me. There was a lot of emotion and tragedy, and just the age range."

While critics were split on their opinions about Perry's performance, the actor gave it his all to depict Ted Kennedy -– not to mention his distinctive accent. As Perry explained on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," he met with a dialect coach well over a dozen times only to toss out all that work and take a fresh approach after arriving on set.

Even though "The Kennedys: After Camelot" will likely never be as closely associated with Perry as some of his better-known roles, it remains a unique demonstration of his range and fascinating endpoint for his successful career as a television icon.

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