Tate Donovan Remembers Matthew Perry, Shares Favorite 'The O.C.' Memories
Tate Donovan knows his long career means he's got fans from all over.
"Whenever I go to Italy, they go crazy for ‘Jimmee Coopear!' I don't know [why], but Italians and Brazilians really love The O.C.," Donovan, 62, revealed exclusively in his 25 Things You Don't Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.
The actor also looked back at favorite memories from many of his projects, including his time on Friends and his memories of the late Matthew Perry. "He was extraordinary," Donovan recalled. "Most of the cast would head up to their dressing rooms, but Matt stayed on the floor and watched the whole show. Plus, he was funny as s***."
Keep scrolling for more fun facts from Donovan, whose latest film, Rhythm Is a Dancer, begins to hit theaters July 8:
1. I've been cooking more vegetarian lately. I make a mean white bean and kale stew. Super tasty.
2. I cannot stop watching Love on the Spectrum. Hysterical and heartbreaking.
3. I'm a morning person. I go to bed excited for the coffee I'll be drinking in the morning.
4. My most vivid childhood memory is dancing with my parents and six brothers and sisters to "Day by Day" from Godspell. It was Christmas.
5. "Wonderwall" by Oasis is my go-to karaoke song.
6. My middle name is Buckley - my grandmother's maiden name - so I was called Buckwheat for most of my youth.
7. My fave comfort meal is anything my wife bakes. Nothin says lovin like somethin from the oven.
8. Many O.C. memories make me smile. The biggest was when producers gave me my first episode to direct. I felt like everyone was rooting for me.
9. Whenever I go to Italy, they go crazy for "Jimmee Coopear!" I don't know [why], but Italians and Brazilians really love The O.C. I should book a trip to Rio, STAT.
10. What I remember from my time on Friends is Matt Perry. He was extraordinary. Most of the cast, when they weren't in a scene, would head up to their dressing rooms, but Matt stayed on the floor and watched the whole show….he was so supportive and cared about the show as a whole. I was convinced he would go on to be a big producer or director. Plus, he was funny as s***.
11. [Filming] basically any sex scene is a horror. Not that I have to worry now, but back in the day, doing love/sex scenes was the worst. Pretty tough to act amorously surrounded by a crew of 35 guys in cargo shorts, wanting to go to lunch.
12. Unless you were in L.A. during the mid-'90s, you probably don't know I play traditional Irish music on my fiddle.
13. My first car was a tan 1978 VW Diesel Rabbit. Loved that car, although it couldn't go faster than 58 mph.
14. Most starstruck was meeting Barack Obama. I worked on a documentary [HBO's By the People], so I got to see him from behind a camera. When I actually met him, I clammed up. I just got too emotional to say anything…except "thank you." I'm so grateful he came along, and that the American people were smart enough to make him President. Twice.
15. There's a taco place, Torchy's, in Austin, Texas, [that's the best takeout]. The queso and fried avocado on flour tortillas are off the hook tasty.
16. I find the line from Hercules [which I voiced], "A true hero isn't measured by the size of their strength, but by the strength of their heart" to be truer every day.
17. During July, NBC Sports is on for at least five hours a day. I follow the Tour de France.
18.Ted Danson was the most famous number in my phone until I butt dialed him three times in one day. I deleted his number; no one deserves that.
19. I'd like to direct a film, preferably one I've written, before I hang up my cleats.
20. To get out of a funk, I call my wife, Corry. Being a nurse for 25 years, she's got the greatest perspective on things.
21. If I had the chance to work with Sean Baker, I'd be in heaven.
22. I made my wife promise to say at my funeral [that] I "was a bobcat in the sack," but I doubt that's gonna happen. She's an honest person. I'd like to be remembered as a fun person to be around.
23. I was lucky enough to go to Venice, Italy, when I was 10. The best vacation was returning there, 45 years later, with my own family.
24. My favorite book is Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Powerful, wonderful book.
25. I'd love to have directed another episode of Glee. That cast and crew were amazingly creative.
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This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 10:51 AM.