Saturday, Oct. 28, marked the passing of an actor, advocate and friend to all, Matthew Perry.
Perry, 54, was found dead in his home in California. Police are thoroughly investigating his death but have ruled out several things. Not much else has come out about his passing, so instead, people have come together to discuss his life, and remember him for who he wanted to be remembered as.
Perry will be remembered for many things he accomplished throughout his life — not just his acting career.
While it was known that Perry also struggled with substance abuse, he was well on the road to recovery for a long time. Perry eventually became an advocate and spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, a non-profit organization.
“Sometimes I think I went through the addiction, alcoholism and fame all to be doing what I’m doing right now, which is helping people,” Perry said in an interview with The Washington Post.
Perry also received the Champion of Recovery Award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2013.
He will also be remembered as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. It was revealed that a storyline written for his character Chandler in “Friends” was him sneaking into a gay bar for a sandwich, which was used for comedic purposes — something Perry immediately vetoed.
Aside from his work helping other people struggling with substance abuse issues, Perry was most notable for his character Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom “Friends” — which ran from 1994 to 2004.
Perry also had numerous acting roles in TV shows and movies like “The West Wing,” “Fools Rush In” and “The Whole Nine Yards.” He even had some experience in theater and video game voice acting for “Fallout: New Vegas.”
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. 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,” Perry’s “Friends” co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer said in a joint statement for People Magazine.
It should be noted that TMZ allegedly broke the news of Perry’s death before it had become public record — informing some family members before anyone else could tell them, which was entirely unfair to him and his family.
Learning about his death has been beyond tragic for many, myself included. Matthew Perry was a staple in many childhoods. Perry wanted nothing but to help others and watch them grow. He wanted to be known for this instead of just his work as Chandler or other acting roles.
Hollywood has unfortunately lost an icon and genuine actor. It is tragic that after fighting for his health and others for so long, he couldn’t have more time. But in a time of remembrance, we honor his life with his accomplishments and dignity intact.
“When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want [helping people] to be the first thing that’s mentioned, and I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that,” Perry said in the podcast Q with Tom Power.
