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Matthew Perry once recalled that Jennifer Aniston stayed in close contact with him throughout the ups and downs of his journey to sobriety.
A year before his tragic death on Saturday (October 28), the Friends star, 54, opened up about the support he received from his co-star Aniston, 54, who played Rachel Green on the sitcom.
“She was the one who tried the most. You know, I’m really grateful for that,” Perry told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer in an October 2022 interview.
He also revealed that Aniston was the first cast member to confront him about his alcoholism during filming of the series, which ran from 1994 to 2004.
“Jennifer, she says, ‘We know you drink,'” Sawyer told Perry.
“Yes, imagine what a scary moment that was,” the actor replied.
“I should have been the star of the town, but I was in a dark room, meeting with nothing but drug dealers and completely alone,” he said of his battle with addiction.
Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston
(Getty Images)
Perry, who rose to fame playing the affably wise-cracking Chandler Bing on the long-running NBC sitcom, was found dead in his hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, October 28.
There were no early signs of foul play, police sources said. An investigation is ongoing.
In his poignant memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” which chronicled his struggles with addiction and memories of his career, Perry wrote that he first began drinking at age 14.
He said his addiction worsened under the “white-hot flame of fame” after starring in “Friends.” He drank a lot in the first two seasons, he wrote, before becoming addicted to the opiate painkiller Vicodin after a jet ski accident while filming “Fools Rush In” with Salma Hayek in 1996.
During his worst moments, he took 55 strong painkillers a day to get through filming. In his memoirs, he revealed that fans could have guessed whether he was drinking or taking drugs based on his appearance: “If I’m carrying weight, it’s alcohol; If I’m thin, it’s pills; “If I have a goatee, it’s a lot of pills,” he said.
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Perry wrote that he was “never” drunk or high during filming.
“Friends” stars Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry
(Warner Bros./Getty Images)
Following the tragic news of his death, former colleagues, friends, fans and family members shared loving memories and tributes.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a school friend of Perry’s, called the star’s death “shocking and sad.” He wrote: “I will never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world will never forget the joy he brought them.” Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and we will miss you.”
Sex Education and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham called Perry “magical” on Instagram and wrote: “I can’t stop looking at photos of this beautiful man. I’m so sad that such a cruel, unyielding disease has always tried to define him. It will never define him for me. His unimpeachable gift for comedy, his absolute honesty on and off screen and his beautiful, handsome face will do it.”
Actor Paget Brewster, who played Chandler’s girlfriend Kathy in the fourth season of Friends, wrote on Twitter/X: “He was nice to me on Friends and every time I saw him in the decades since.” Please read his book. It was his legacy to help. However, he will not rest in peace. He’s already too busy making everyone up there laugh.”
If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs, you can get confidential help and support from Frank 24/7 by calling 0300 123 6600, texting 82111, emailing or visiting the website here.
In the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP.