Friends star Matthew Perry, celebrated for his role as Chandler Bing, gracefully acknowledged the co-star who provided the most support during his struggles almost a year before his sudden passing was announced.
The distressing news of the 54-year-old actor’s demise in his Los Angeles residence, reportedly due to drowning in his hot tub, elicited an outpouring of grief globally. In the wake of his loss, an archived interview on his addiction battle, an issue surfaced once again. During the interview with Diane Sawyer, which was brought to the fore on October 28, 2022, Matthew Perry, then 53 years old, candidly acknowledged the significant role a co-star played in assisting him during his addiction struggles.
Delving into his upcoming memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” the beloved actor disclosed how his Friends co-stars extended their support. In this book, Perry divulged that it was Jennifer Aniston who took the initial step to address his situation.
Recalling a clip shared a year ago from the interview, Diane mentioned, “Jennifer, she says, ‘We know you’re drinking’.” Responding to Sawyer’s remark, Perry expressed, “Yeah, imagine how scary a moment that was.”
He continued, revealing the pivotal support he received, “She was the one that reached out the most. You know, I’m really grateful to her for that.” Perry faced a well-documented battle with drug and alcohol addiction, profoundly affecting his tenure on the revered show Friends. The celebrated actor grappled with Vicodin addiction, completing a 28-day detox program in 1997. Subsequently, in February 2001, he re-entered rehab to confront his addiction to Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and alcohol.
During his conversation with Diane, Perry also divulged the severity of his dependency, sharing the harrowing reality of consuming “55 Vicodin a day.” He mused on the gravity of his situation, “I should have been the toast of the town, but I was in a dark room meeting with nothing but drug dealers and completely alone.” This admission further highlighted the significant impact his addiction had on his life during the pinnacle of his fame.
Perry’s candid revelations, especially in acknowledging the pivotal support he received from Aniston during his battle with addiction, shed light on the profound struggles he faced amid his successful career. As the world mourns the loss of a talented actor, his heartfelt gratitude towards Aniston serves as a poignant testament to the friendships and support within the Friends cast.
