“Friends” actor Matthew Perry passed away in his home on October 28, 2023. Medical examiners have not confirmed his cause of death, but, allegedly, Perry suffered a heart attack and drowned in his hot tub. Despite dying at only 54 years old, Matthew Perry left a lasting legacy that will follow along for years to come.
Matthew Perry was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on August 19, 1969. His parents, John Bennett Perry and Suzanne Perry separated when he was a year old. His mother married broadcast journalist Keith Morrison. Perry was raised mainly by his mother in Ottawa, Ontario where he had four younger maternal half-siblings and a younger paternal half-sister. By the age of 10 years old, he was on a path to destruction. He was stealing, smoking, failing, and he beat up Justin Trudeau, the future Canadian prime minister. In his later writings, Perry attributed these destructive behaviors to feeling like an outsider in his family. At age 14, Perry began drinking alcohol and by the age of 18 was an alcoholic. Unbeknownst to most, Matthew Perry was a very skilled tennis player who became a top-ranked junior player in Canada. His career possibilities ended when he moved to live with his father in Los Angeles.
Matthew Perry was initially committed to a pilot of a sitcom called “LAX 2194”, which made him unavailable for a role in “Friends”. After the pilot for “LAX 2194” fell through, Perry auditioned for Chandler Bing, one of the main characters of “Friends”, and got the role. “Friends” was and is still a huge success. To this day, it is still the show that many people watch with a smile. The best part of the show is that there is no true main character. Each character has a story that at least one person can relate to. “Friends” is known for its hilarious jokes, many of which Chandler delivers. Chandler Bing is known for his quick wit, sarcastic responses, and compassion. He is an easy character to fall in love with, even Monica Geller did. His “Friends” castmates each shared heartwarming posts about the late actor. He was described as the kind of guy who would do anything to make you laugh.
Perry became an alcoholic at the age of only 14, due to having problems at home. Drinking occasionally soon became an everyday habit for him. He later became addicted to Vicodin after a jet-ski accident in 1997. He completed a 28-day rehab program that same year. His weight dropped to about 128 pounds, as he took about 55 Vicodin daily. At 30 years old, Perry was diagnosed with alcohol-induced pancreatitis. Perry frequently showed up high or drunk on the “Friends” set, concerning his fellow castmates. In February 2001, he paused productions of “Friends” and “Serving Sara” for two months to enter a rehabilitation program. Perry later revealed that he had no memory of his time on “Friends” due to his addiction. In 2018, he spent five months in a hospital for a gastrointestinal perforation. He had almost died after his colon burst from opioid abuse. He had a 2% chance of survival, doctors said, but he pulled through.
While attending rehab in Switzerland, he faked pain to get a prescription for 1,800 milligrams of Oxycontin per day. He was having daily ketamine infusions as well. He was given propofol in a surgical procedure, which stopped his heart for 5 minutes. The CPR he was given ended up with him having eight broken ribs. He paid $175,000 for a plane to take him back to Los Angeles for drugs and then another $175,000 back when they refused. In 2022, he spent about $9 million, 14 surgeries, 15 stays in rehab, therapy twice a week, and 6,000 alcoholic anonymous meetings.
Despite his struggle with addiction, Matthew Perry was very adamant about spreading awareness and helping others. In 2011, Perry was a celebrity spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals supporting drug courts. Drug courts are programs that help people recover from addiction and aim to reduce future criminal activity. He received a Champion of Recovery award in 2013 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy for opening Perry House. Perry House was a rehab center he opened in his former mansion in Malibu. He opened his heart and home to those struggling with addiction. This house lasted for about two years. In 2015, he sold the house and relocated its services. During the pandemic, he launched a “Friends” apparel line, the proceeds of which were donated to the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 relief fund.
Matthew Perry lived a full life that wasn’t always so pleasant. He struggled with multiple addictions and significant health issues. Despite his problems in life, Matthew Perry continued to fight for his life and help others recover. He was about to set up a foundation for recovering addicts or those trying to quit before his life was lost too soon. A new foundation has been set up in his honor by the National Philanthropic Trust and is already accepting donations. Matthew Perry may be gone, but his legacy will live on for years to come.
