Perry Off Emmy Ballot

By Stephen M. Silverman

09/04/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

First he totals his Porsche in a crash, then there are stories about the mysterious state of his health, and now Matthew Perry won't be on the Emmy ballot. After the "Friends" star found out that he ended up in the leading man column rather than in the supporting player category (along with the rest of the show's cast), he asked that his name be withdrawn altogether. Perry, who has never been nominated for an Emmy, is reportedly blaming his publicity office for putting him up in the category for best actor. "It is very important to Matthew and to me that the correct message be sent to his co-stars and the 'Friends' audience that he considers himself part of the ensemble," the actor's spokeswoman, Lisa Kasteler, said in a statement, explaining the decision to pull Perry's name from consideration. An Emmy spokeswoman says that although the ballots have been mailed, votes for Perry won't be counted. Nominations will be announced July 20.