By McKenna Schroeder
October 28th, 2023, we lost the legend that was Matthew Perry. Known for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, Matthew Perry was a light in the darkness, always spreading positivity and laughter, and helping those in need.
Perry, Emmy-nominated actor, author, and spokesperson, born August 19th, 1969, gained his fame through the show Friends, but started his career through the film 240-Robert, where he was only 9 years old. Perry recently released a book last year, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, where he talks all about his time on Friends, and his battle with addiction. Many described reading it as eye-opening and emotional.
Perry has been very open about his addiction with drugs and alcohol, doing such things since the age of 14. He’s been to rehab several times, and continuously wanted to help others who have been through the same thing. His Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston came up to him on set and confronted him about his addiction. She said, “We can smell it.” This prompted Perry to get help for the first time. He describes helping others with their addictions as, “ Something spiritual, it fills your heart, you see the lights coming on for a new person who didn’t understand.” He says when kids ask for help, he sees hope in their eyes.
Although he doesn’t want to just be remembered for his role in Friends, it’s hard to ignore how iconic it was. Friends was an Emmy-winning TV show that ran from 1994-2004 and was loved by millions around the world. Chandler Bing, played by Perry, was a fan favorite. Chandler was one of the funnier characters on the show, always able to put a smile on people’s faces.
Whilst Perry was on his book tour, he stated, “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it,” and continued by saying, “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.”
Whilst we mourn the death of Matthew Perry, we should also take the time to look back at the memories he has created for us, whether on TV or in interviews and thank him for all he did to help those struggling with addiction. Matthew, we will miss you. We lost a friend when you passed, and we will forever remember the impact you’ve had on our lives.