Actor, comedian, and author, Matthew Perry was born in August of 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts and passed away on October 28th, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Although most well-known for his role on the iconic sitcom Friends, as the sarcastic yet loveable Chandler Bing, Perry had a successful and wide ranging acting career. He appeared in over 50 film and television projects such as 17 Again, Fools Rush In, and The Odd Couple. Matthew Perry was a well-loved actor who had a large fanbase of devoted fans, many of whom were devastated to hear of his recent and unexpected passing. In his honor, many fans left flowers, notes, and other memorial items at the New York apartment that served as the exterior for the Friends’ apartment building, and many of his friends released statements expressing their grief at his passing and fondly remembering him. His fellow Friends co-stars released a joint statement saying, “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Matthew Perry was not just an actor but also an important voice in the discussion of drug and substance abuse. Since the early 2000s, Perry had been open to the public about his struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction and more recently in 2022 released the book Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoirwhere he discussed his rise to fame and his struggles with addiction and narcotics use. In addition to being outspoken about his struggles and encouraging others to seek help and recovery, Perry was also in the process of creating a foundation to help others struggling with similar issues. Unfortunately, his passing came before he could finish this process, but the Matthew Perry Foundation has still been established posthumously in his honor. Even after his death, Perry’s dedication to helping others and giving back is still evident and spoken about by those he helped. In a video posted to his Instagram account, Perry’s former Friends co-star Hank Azaria, revealed that Perry was the one who encouraged him to confront his struggle with alcoholism and that he was the reason Azaria had been sober for 17 years. Azaria said, “I want to say that the night I went into AA, Matthew brought me in. The whole first year I was sober we went to meetings together. And... I got to tell him this, as a sober person he was so caring and giving and wise and he totally helped me get sober. And I really wish he could have found it in himself to stay with the sober life more consistently.” During his appearance on the podcast Q with Tom Power, Matthew said, “When I die, I don't want 'Friends' to be the first thing that's mentioned — I want helping others to be the first thing that's mentioned. And I'm going to live the rest of my life proving that," Although Matthew has since passed on, he has left behind a legacy of care and a willingness to help others that he will always be remembered for.
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