Who is Chandler's dad in Friends?

Friends is a popular American sitcom that premiered on September 22, 1994, on NBC. The show is one of the most-watched sitcoms of all time. It became a global sensation and went on for 10 successful seasons. The cast of the show became household names and received international popularity. The show follows the lives of six friends living in New York as they navigate love, heartbreak, and their careers.

Chandler is one of the main characters of the show, and his troubled childhood is often mentioned as his parents’ separation deeply affected him. Chandler’s dad had a small but memorable role in the show. Let’s take a look at her character and the actress who plays her.

Who is Chandler’s dad in Friends?

Chandler’s dad, Charles Bing, first appeared in Season 7, episode 22, titled “The One with Chandler’s dad.” Chandler had a strained relationship with his father since his childhood, as he felt embarrassed because of his father’s cross-dressing. She is shown as a drag queen going by the name of Helena Handbasket. She appeared in three episodes of the show in Season 7 - episodes 22, 23, and 24. She was part of Chandler and Monica’s wedding storyline.

When Monica and Chandler were about to get married, Monica wanted to meet Chandler's father, as he would regret it if his father wasn't present at the wedding. They visit his father in Las Vegas at her show to invite her to the wedding. Helena meets Chandler after many years at her show. Chandler apologizes to her in her ongoing show for not reaching out sooner and asks her to come to their wedding.

During their wedding rehearsal dinner, Charles meets her ex-wife Nora, and they don't get along well. Throughout the wedding, Charles and Nora kept passing taunting comments at each other. They both couldn’t stand each other. At the wedding, Charles and Nora walked down the aisle with Chandler. Chandler expressed his gratitude that they both came to attend his wedding and that he loved them both.

Chandler’s dad created many controversies as the show misgendered the character. In 2022, in an interview with BBC World Service, the creator of the show, Marta Kauffman, addressed the issue and confirmed that Chandler’s dad was a transgender woman, saying, “We kept referring to her as Chandler's father, even though Chandler's father was trans, Pronouns were not yet something that I understood. So we didn't refer to that character as 'she.' That was a mistake."

Who plays Chandler’s dad in Friends?

Kathleen Turner played the role of Chandler’s dad Charles Bing aka Helena Handbasket in the show. She is an American actress, born on June 19, 1954, in Springfield, Missouri, United States. She is known for her unique deep husky voice. She started her acting career in the 1970s with theatre and Broadway performances. She made her TV debut with the show The Doctors in 1978 and her film debut with Body Heat in 1981.

She has been part of many films like The Man with Two Brains (1983), Romancing the Stone (1984), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Marley & Me (2008), etc. She has also been part of many TV shows like The Doctors (1978–1979), Friends (2001), The Path (2016–2017), Family Guy (2017), Rick and Morty (2019), etc. She has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a BAFTA Award, 2 Tony Awards, etc. She has also won 2 Golden Globe Awards.