by Jasmine Salgado (’26) | November 17, 2023
Matthew Perry and his most famous role, Chandler Bing from the TV show Friends, were similar because they could both be described as witty and charismatic. Perry consistently commanded the attention of the room with his smart humor and charm, and his passing on Saturday, October 28 was a deep shock for many. Both the general public and his closest friends struggled to comprehend such startling news. However, when thinking of Perry, one should focus on his struggles with addiction and his advocacy and support for overcoming addiction.
Born on August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Perry’s parents separated when he was a year old, leaving him to raise himself and his five younger siblings. He developed an alcohol addiction by the age of 14, and his issues with substance abuse only grew more intense as time passed. Amphetamines, OxyContin, and ketamine became only a few of the many substances he struggled with. Although his near-death experience with his colon bursting from opioid abuse in 2018 pushed him to stay sober for the remainder of his life, the struggles he faced at such a young age impacted him tremendously. As an actor with an addiction, rehab centers became as familiar to him as being on set; during the later seasons of Friends, he was frequently leaving set to immediately return to treatment or a rehab center.
Perry starred in many films throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, the most notable of which include The Whole Nine Yards, Fools Rush In, and 17 Again. However, his true skyrocket to fame came from his role as the one-and-only Chandler Bing on the classic TV show Friends. He started work in the first season with an average paycheck. However, the show quickly gained immense traction, and at its peak, Perry was earning around one million dollars per episode. Unfortunately, his place in the spotlight under mass scrutiny naturally led to anxiety problems and fear of underperformance. His addiction problems were severe throughout the entire run of the show, with Perry having stated in past interviews that he remembers little to nothing of certain seasons due to the memory loss he underwent from his substance abuse.
Slowly but surely, Perry was able to recognize the severity of his addiction and properly treat it. He frequently lobbied Congress in support of better drug courts and created the Perry House in Malibu, a sober-living facility for men (which earned him the Champion of Recovery award in 2013). Additionally, his play The End of Longing, as well as his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, showcased his literary talent as he strove to share the darker aspects of his life. His captivating skill as a writer should come as no surprise, considering that he wrote many of his lines on Friends.
The public reaction to his passing at the age of 54 was extraordinary. His previous costars were utterly devastated, and countless messages of love for Perry were shared on social media platforms. Although his unique method of acting will have a lasting impact on the entertainment industry, his work to overcome his drug addiction and to help others do the same is why so many are heartbroken from his passing. The outpouring love is not just for his most famous characters, but also for the man himself.