Matthew Perry’s deeply personal memoir never ceases to amaze readers—especially his former colleagues.
Friends star Maggie Wheeler, who has starred in all 10 seasons of the hit NBC show as Perry’s nasal lover Janice, told Page Six on Saturday that his book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is “sad” — and his extensive substance abuse “difficult to digest”.
“I think he did a great job and really weathered the unthinkable,” said Wheeler. “And I’m so proud of him and I’m so happy he’s here and I think it’s very brave that he’s written a book and he’s talking about it, he’s really helping a lot of people.”
Perry’s memoir and subsequent press tour allowed the actor to reveal the extent of his substance abuse problems during Friends’ heyday. And even after the show, his troubles continued when the actor revealed to People magazine in October that heavy opioid abuse had ruptured his colon four years ago, throwing him into a two-week coma.
“Doctors told my family I had a 2 percent chance of survival,” he told Diane Sawyer of the experience.
Perry was in the hospital for months and needed a colostomy bag. However, he claimed that at the height of his addiction, he used up to 55 Vicodin tablets a day and spent about $9 million trying to sober up.
Wheeler said Perry was “100 percent involved in the filming, even when he had issues.”Matt Winkelmeyer via Getty Images
However, his work on Friends as the sarcastic curmudgeon Chandler Bing never seemed to suffer from his addiction. Wheeler told Page Six that Perry’s contribution to the “process” of filming was “at 100 percent, even when he was struggling.”
“He showed up to work even when he was in his darkest place, he showed up to work with all his humor, brilliance and talent,” Wheeler told the outlet. “There was never a day working with him on set that I was unsure how he would participate.”
Perry told Sawyer he was “really grateful” when co-star Jennifer Aniston “got in touch,” but revealed in his memoir that he “didn’t feel anything” when “Friends” finally wrapped in 2004.
However, Perry has looked back fondly on the show ever since. Wheeler told Page Six that it was “incredibly wonderful” to have been involved in a project “that means so much to so many people” and “keeps people calm and happy.”
“I hear so many stories from people watching ‘Friends’ at night while they fall asleep,” she added, “so yeah, it’s great to be a part of something that resonates not only here but around the world finds. ”
Do you need help with addiction or mental health problems? In the US, call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.
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