Matthew Perry, renowned for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the popular US sitcom Friends, disclosed last year that Jennifer Aniston, his co-star, was the only one who empathized and discussed his challenges during their unique bond.
During what he believed was a discreet struggle with alcohol at the pinnacle of their fame, Aniston discreetly conveyed a four-word cautionary message to Perry.
Tragically, Perry was discovered deceased at his Los Angeles residence on Saturday night, reportedly having drowned in his hot tub. Law enforcement reports suggest no presence of drugs at the scene, and there are no indications of foul play.
At 54, Perry had previously opened up about his battles with substance abuse in the 2000s. Last year, he acknowledged Aniston as the sole celebrity who addressed his issues with drinking.
Recalling the period, Perry recounted an instance where Aniston, who played Rachel Green, approached him on set and remarked, “We know you’re drinking.”
Perry acknowledged that during this time, he was secluded in a dark room, associating only with drug dealers and struggling alone. He characterized Aniston’s intervention as a “scary moment” and expressed profound gratitude towards her.
Perry also discussed his health struggles, revealing that opioid abuse led to a burst colon and a life-threatening coma with a mere 2% chance of survival. Detailing 14 stomach surgeries and a nine-month reliance on a colostomy bag, Perry acknowledged the profound impact of drinking and drug abuse during his Friends era.
His battles with addiction included a dependency on Vicodin, leading to a detox program in 1997, and subsequent rehab in February 2001 due to addiction to alcohol, Vicodin, methadone, and amphetamines. Perry candidly chronicled these challenges in his autobiography released last year.
In a pre-reunion interview in 2021, Aniston expressed her realization of the immense pressure and self-torment Perry endured to evoke laughter.
Friends’ official account expressed devastation over Perry’s death, highlighting their collective fortune to have had him. Perry’s struggles with addiction persisted, with him attempting to get clean 15 times between 1997 and 2011, as revealed in an interview with People magazine last year.
