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Matthew Perry's Shocking '80s TV Death Revealed
31 Oct
Summary
- Matthew Perry died as a character on 'Growing Pains' from drunk driving.
- The showrunners chose a death to emphasize drunk driving dangers.
- Perry was surprised by his character's unexpected tragic end.
Matthew Perry's brief but impactful appearance on the '80s sitcom "Growing Pains" concluded with a tragic drunk driving storyline. Perry portrayed Sandy, a college boyfriend of Carol Seaver, whose character was written to die after a car accident in Season 4. The executive producers decided that a main character's death would deliver a stronger anti-drunk driving message than a survivor's lesson.
Sandy, a likable young man, first appeared in episode 11 and again in episode 15 of Season 4. His final appearance was in the April 12, 1989, episode titled "Second Chance." After visiting a bar, Sandy was involved in a car crash. Although initially seeming to recover, he succumbed to internal bleeding in the hospital.
The episode concluded with a stark message: 31 people had been injured or killed in alcohol-related incidents since the program began. Perry reportedly had not anticipated his character's demise, having planned to purchase a house. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the writers' brave decision, believing Sandy's death effectively conveyed that drinking and driving have severe consequences for anyone.
