‘Simpsons’ star Hank Azaria has shared how his long-time friend Matthew Perry helped him get sober – and revealed the vulgar joke the late ‘Friends’ star liked to play in public toilets.
Azaria, 59, moved to Los Angeles when she was 21 and met the then 16-year-old Perry while filming a pilot together called “Morning Maggie” – one that never saw the light of day.
The duo went on to form a lifelong friendship – and Azaria even played David, Phoebe’s on-and-off love interest on Perry’s groundbreaking hit series Friends.
Perry, who died last month after being found in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home, was buried Friday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Azaria recalls his fond memories with one of his oldest friends – who also helped him get sober.
“I know I will always think of him that way.” We met almost 40 years ago and he was by far the funniest friend I ever had. “He was also the person who helped me get sober,” Azaria recalled in a recent New York Times article.
‘Simpsons’ star Hank Azaria has shared how his long-time friend Matthew Perry helped him get sober – and revealed a vulgar joke the late ‘Friends’ star liked to play in public toilets
Azaria played the role of David, Phoebe’s (Lisa Kudrow) love interest on Perry’s groundbreaking hit series Friends
Before his death, Perry had spoken openly about his problems with drugs and alcohol, and the star of “The Friends” helped the voice actor of “The Simpsons” get into the show.
In an opinion piece for the NYTimes, Azaria wrote, “Matthew Perry said he wanted to be remembered as someone who helped people get sober, even more than as a very funny, famous friend.” I think he will be remembered as that both will be remembered.
“He took me to my first AA meeting in 2005. Matthew had stopped drinking alcohol a few years earlier. He definitely struggled with it. I didn’t need rehab, but I knew I had a very serious problem, so I called Matthew and asked him to take me to a meeting.”
As they entered the room in Brentwood, California, Azaria said, “He looked at me and said in his Matthew-like, half-joking, very loving way, ‘It’s something, isn’t it?’ “God is a bunch of drunks together in a room.”
The actor continued, “In fact, over time we become certain that the most unfortunate and terrible things we face are actually our greatest strength because they connect us to others.”
Azaria also took to his social media to pay tribute to Perry, the first boyfriend he made in LA
“In AA, I heard stories worse than mine—much worse.” And yet these people were smiling, calm, connected, and happy. That’s what I wanted.
“God was a bunch of drunks in a room together.” “I think about that sentence every day.”
He remembered the jokes Matthew would make while driving through McDonald’s and how he would make a high-pitched, strained noise in the toilet to make people laugh.
Recounting the hilarious moments, Azaria said: “Whenever we went into a public toilet together, I would beg him – I would say, ‘Please don’t do it, Matthew.’ He would say, ‘Okay.’ Then he would go in a stable and began making small, high-pitched, strenuous “ouch” noises that built up to a crescendo of a man screaming at the top of his lungs as if he was giving birth to whatever was coming out of him in there.’
The actor added: “What surprised me was how deep he was able to go into his deep understanding of human nature and human flaws – his own flaws and those of others.” It gave him a lot of compassion for other people.
“Tragically, I think he had far more compassion for me and everyone else than he did for himself.”
“I was unlucky enough to need his help – or lucky, depending on how you look at it.” And I was very lucky to have received that help and friendship directly from him.
“I was also a big fan of his and felt the friendship we all feel through Friends. I consider myself blessed to have been able to experience both.
“And I want to say that when you go into recovery, you will find your own Matthew Perry, even though for me there will only ever be one of the real ones.” You will find someone to laugh with and with which you can establish a connection. You will find someone who understands your story.
“You’ll find someone who seems to care more about you than themselves.” I think Matthew would want people to know that more than anything.”
We met almost 40 years ago and he was by far the funniest friend I ever had. “He was also the person who helped me get sober,” Azaria recalls. Pictured: Azaria with Perry on the set of Friends during Season 9
Tributes are being placed outside the home of Perry, who died Oct. 28 after drowning in a hot tub
The “Perry’s Friends” co-stars gathered on Friday and were seen comforting each other outside the church where the 54-year-old was laid to rest.
Jennifer Aniston, 54; Lisa Kudrow, 60; Courteney Cox, 59; and David Schwimmer, 57, arrived as a quartet – all dressed in black suits and somber as they prepared to say goodbye to their beloved co-star.
After the simple hour-long ceremony, Matt LeBlanc, 56, joined them outside the church and was pictured chatting to other well-wishers.
His tearful mother Suzanne Morrison, 84, and his Dateline journalist stepfather Keith, 76, were both present at the private event, as was his father John Perry, 82. Morrison was one of the pallbearers.
One viewer told : “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.” There were lots of tears and laughter. Only close friends and family spoke.’
After the service, Perry was buried in a dark wooden coffin in a family-only ceremony.
After the ceremony, crowds of mourners dressed in black lined the front of the church.
Some were seen hugging and comforting each other. Many wore dark sunglasses to protect their eyes from the bright California sun.
Other stars buried in the beautiful parkland include Brittany Murphy, Paul Walker, Buster Keaton, INXS rocker Michael Hutchinson and actress Anne Heche, who died suddenly after a car accident last year.