On Saturday, Oct. 28th, the world lost an amazing soul. Matthew Perry is most famously known for his role in the hit sitcom, “Friends.” He played Chandler Bing for 10 seasons, and won over hundreds of thousands of viewers. His sarcastic and humorous character reflected a lot about him in real life.
The cause of Perry’s sudden death at 54 is still unknown, and experts say it could be weeks or even months until it is figured out and released to the public. What is known is that he was found unresponsive in his hot tub, and it is rumored that he drowned.
Perry struggled throughout his life with addiction. This was even going on during the filming of “Friends.” He wrote a memoir titled “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing” where he shared many personal stories about his addiction. He included that he had to go to rehab 15 times throughout his life.
“Friends” fans know how iconic the Monica and Chandler wedding was, it was a high point of the show, as two main characters were finally getting married. What most fans don’t know is Perry was in a rehab facility while that was being filmed. He would be driven from the treatment facility to the set, and back at the end of shooting.
Before his passing, Perry was very passionate about helping others get on the path to sobriety. In an interview with podcast host Tom Power, Perry shared that he wants to be remembered for helping people, not just for his role of Chandler. “When I die, I don’t want “Friends” to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that.”
Perry’s life was cut too short, but it was important to him to make sure people could become sober, so if there is anyone that needs help, help them in honor of Matthew Perry. To read more about his story, read his memoir.
He will be missed dearly by fans and co-stars, and his name will live on for a long time. This is a devastating loss, but he would want to be remembered for all the good he did. Rest easy Matthew Perry.