Friends star Matthew Perry once beat up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canadian-American actor Matthew Perry (left) once beat up the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in school. PHOTO: REUTERS, NYTIMES

LOS ANGELES - Canadian-American actor Matthew Perry once beat up the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in school.

Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends (1994-2004), recounted the story on the Jimmy Kimmel Live talk show. The BBC said that he was born in Massachusetts but also lived in Ottawa, Canada, with his mother. She served as a former press secretary to prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, none other than the father of Mr Justin Trudeau.

"I have a story about him that I'm not proud of," Perry said, before revealing that he and his friend, who were in fifth grade, beat up the younger leader-to-be. "I think he was excelling in a sport that we weren't. So it was pure jealousy."

He went on to add that it was not because the boy's father was prime minister.

Perry said: "I think he was the only kid in school that we could beat up.

"I'm not bragging about it. It was terrible. I was a stupid kid. I didn't want to beat him up. In fact, I think at one point I tried to turn it into love play."

He also pointed out a silver lining to the entire episode. "I think it was instrumental in him going to such great heights and becoming the prime minister. I think he said, 'I'm going to rise above this, and I'm going to become prime minister.'"

Sources: Variety, BBC

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