Remembering Mathew Perry

On Saturday, October 28, Matthew Perry, the beloved star from the 1990 Friends sitcom, passed away at his Pacific Palisades home. He was found unresponsive by his assistant in his hot tub, leading to an outpouring of grief on social media. As the news spread, fans gathered outside the Groove Street building in New York City, famously used as the filming location for the Friends apartment building. Hundreds paid their respects, leaving flowers and lighting candles in memory of the 54-year-old actor. Perry is now being remembered for more than just his role as Chandler Bing but for his kind heart and commitment to helping others.

In 2022, Perry released a memoir titled “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing” where he openly shares his struggles with drugs and alcohol. He reveals that he battled addiction during the height of his career, seeking rehabilitation on multiple occasions in an attempt to overcome his challenges. Perry admits to having little memory of filming some seasons of the show and losing valuable moments with his castmates. Determined to regain control of his life, Perry used his platform to speak up and support others facing addiction. Prior to his passing, he was actively working on establishing a foundation, but unfortunately, never got the opportunity to launch one. The National Philanthropic Trust, a nonprofit organization, stepped in to create the Matthew Perry Foundation just one week after his death. The foundation is dedicated to honoring Perry’s legacy and advancing his mission of helping individuals during recovery. 

Perry was laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Los Angeles cemetery on Sunday, November 5, in a ceremony attended by relatives and cast members. All Friends co-stars were present to say their goodbyes. Celebrities posted on social media sharing their kind words about the star including Viola Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Radnor. Even after Friends concluded, Perry’s popularity continued to grow through his roles in movies and television series like The Odd Couple. Perry felt like a friend to many, and his legacy will live on throughout the years. He will be remembered for the laughter he brought and the profound impact he had on the lives around him.