Matthew Perry interview with Tom Power

Matthew Perry shares his incredible story of survival and why fame wasn't the answer to his problems

In the poignant interview, the late Matthew Perry, celebrated for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on "Friends," candidly shared his battle with addiction and his journey to sobriety. Perry's recent passing at the age of 54 lends a heartbreaking resonance to his words. He opened up about his struggles, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and being open about addiction. Despite his own challenges, Perry extended his hand to others, guiding them toward recovery. His legacy is not only the laughter he brought through his acting but also the compassion he showed by helping those in need, leaving behind a lasting impact on the lives he touched.

In case you weren't aware, Matthew Perry was a talented and beloved actor who starred in the iconic sitcom Friends, as well as many other films and TV shows. He passed away on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, due to an apparent drowning in his jacuzzi⁴⁵.

Perry had a long and successful career in Hollywood, but he also struggled with addiction and mental health issues. He was open about his challenges and became an advocate for recovery and rehabilitation. He wrote a memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, where he shared his personal stories and insights[^10^] ⁶.

Before his death, Perry was working on several projects, including a TV series called The Jennifer Hudson Show, where he played himself as a guest⁹. He also appeared in the Friends reunion special, where he reunited with his co-stars and reminisced about the show that made him famous[^10^]. He had also co-developed and starred in a revival of The Odd Couple, where he played Oscar Madison[^10^] ¹².

Perry was a versatile and charismatic performer who brought joy and laughter to millions of fans. He was also a courageous and compassionate person who faced his demons and tried to help others. His legacy will live on through his work and his words. He once said, "I don't need to be liked, but I need to be respected." He was both liked and respected by many, and he will be missed by all..

(1) Friends star Matthew Perry dies aged 54, NBC confirms. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-29/matthew-perry-dead-at-54/103036558.

(2) Matthew Perry was found ‘unconscious’ by first responders | CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/30/entertainment/first-responders-reveal-additional-details-about-matthew-perrys-death/index.html.

(3) Matthew Perry - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Perry.

(4) Matthew Perry Cause of Death: How Did the Friends Star Die? - Heavy.com. https://heavy.com/entertainment/matthew-perry-cause-of-death/.

(5) Who Is Matthew Perry's Ex-Fiancée? All About Molly Hurwitz. https://nz.news.yahoo.com/matthew-perrys-ex-fianc-e-185451174.html.

(6) Matthew Perry - IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001612/.

(7) Friends star Matthew Perry's body 'was not in his hot tub for long' before he was found dead by assistant at his LA home. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12692195/Friends-star-Matthew-Perrys-body-not-hot-tub-long-dead-assistant-LA-home.html.

(8) Friends star Matthew Perry shared photo of himself in spa pool days before jacuzzi death reported. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2023/10/friend-star-matthew-perry-shared-photo-of-himself-in-spa-pool-days-before-jacuzzi-death-reported.html.

(9) Matthew Perry's former fiancée Molly Hurwitz says Friends star 'would love that the world is talking about how talented he was' following his death at 54. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12691097/Matthew-Perrys-former-fianc-e-Molly-Hurwitz-says-Friends-star-love-world-talking-talented-following-death-54.html.

(10) Matthew Perry Remembered by ‘Odd Couple’ Co-Star Thomas Lennon: He ‘Was Always Trying to Get Better’. https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/matthew-perry-thomas-lennon-tribute-remembered-1235774750/.

(11) Matthew Perry never got enough credit for his work on NBC’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/other/matthew-perry-never-got-enough-credit-for-his-work-on-nbc-s-studio-60-on-the-sunset-strip/ar-AA1jao3A.

(12) Sort by Year - Latest Movies and TV Shows With Matthew Perry. https://www.imdb.com/filmosearch/?sort=year&role=nm0001612.

(13) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/odd-couple-actor-matthew-perry-poses-for-a-portrait-during-news-photo/452348312.

Summary of Matthew Perry shares his incredible story of survival and why fame wasn't the answer to his problems

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

Matthew Perry shares his incredible story of survival, why fame wasn't the solution to his problems, and the importance of seeking help for addiction. Perry talks about how his addiction messed up his life, caused him to feel screwed up, and led him to experience a serious medical accident that almost killed him. Despite fame and fortune, he realized that being famous was not the answer to his problems. He recommends an on-off button for fame, helping others, and raising a hand to ask for help.

00:00:00 In this section of the YouTube video, Matthew Perry talks about his struggles with addiction and how his first drink at the age of 14 led him down a path of alcoholism. He discusses how he drank alcohol every night, even though he didn't understand its effects on his body and mind. Perry also talks about his experience with prescription drugs, including phenobarbital, which was given to him as a baby to calm him down. He explains how this medication affected his sleep for years, which he attributes to the start of his sleep disorder, narcolepsy.

00:05:00 In this section of his speech, Matthew Perry discusses the power of sharing his story and helping others who may be struggling with addiction. He shares that reading his own memoir was almost impossible for him and that he had to disassociate with the content, but ultimately, writing the book helped him cleanse his thoughts and experiences. He talks about how addiction and addiction can be cunning, baffling, and powerful, but also mentions that it is a disease that people don't know they have and that talking about it is critical. He discusses how his mother's experiences influenced his own struggles with addiction and gladiatorial tendencies, and how he wants to change his own and others' behavior.

00:10:00 In this section, Matthew Perry shares his story of survival and how fame wasn't the answer to his problems. He talks about how from a young age, he struggled with feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, and how he turned to drugs and alcohol in an attempt to fill the void. He also talks about how he was bullied by a teacher in school, and how his best friends helped him overcome his struggles. Perry also shares his experiences with Justin Trudeau, one of his childhood friends, and how he and his best friends acquired a kick out of mocking Trudeau in their discussions. Finally, he talks about how he became interested in acting and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his passion, where he landed roles on shows such as Friends and shot a sitcom with Valerie Bertinelli.

00:15:00 In this section of the video, Matthew Perry shares his struggles with fame and his failed attempt to be cast in the show "Friends Like Us." Perry had a disguised empathy for the character of Chandler Bing, which is why he became desperate to be cast as Chandler. However, he was ultimately rejected and saw his best friend, Craig Bierko, get the role. He was thus passed over for a position in the show despite showing a lot of interest in it.

00:20:00 In this section of the interview, Matthew Perry talks about the creation of the "Chandler" character on the popular TV show "Friends", and how he brought his style of speaking and sense of humor to the role. Perry also discusses how his own experiences with addiction influenced the character's struggles with substance abuse. He reveals that he had a strict rule of not drinking or doing drugs while working, but would often work hungover. He ultimately overcame his addiction and found help in a treatment center.

00:25:00 In this section of the video, Matthew Perry shares his experience with alcoholism and how it took over a significant part of his life. He admits to the insanity of continuing to drink and his struggle with the disease, which is characterized by an obsession with the substance and an allergy to it. Perry also shares the intense emotional toll that the disease took on him, causing him to feel numb and helpless. He emphasizes the importance of seeking help and being honest about the problem, and encourages understanding and support from others. Overall, his story serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of addiction and the need for treatment.

00:30:00 In this section, Matthew Perry shares his incredible story of survival and how fame was not the answer to his problems. He discusses how addiction and alcohol caused him to feel screwed up and like he didn't have the willpower to overcome it. He also explains how God saved his life and educated him about addiction. Despite having everything he wanted, including fame and fortune, Perry realized that being famous was not the solution to his problems. He further discusses how he tried to help Craig Bierko, his friend who drifted away from him when he became famous, but he didn't believe him. He states that Jim Carrey's quote, "I want everybody to get their dream, all their dreams come true, everybody, so that they could know that it's not the answer," perfectly summarizes his thoughts on the matter.

00:35:00 In this section, Matthew Perry shares his story of addiction and how fame did not solve his problems. He wrote his book to help others understand the struggles of addicts and lost his anonymity when he was the first high-level celebrity to go into rehab. Perry believes that fame can be dehumanizing, and when a person is struggling with addiction, it can make it even harder to get the help they need. The key to happiness, according to Perry, is an on-off button for fame, so a person can turn it on and off as they please. He also talks about his complicated relationship with "Friends" and how he never watched the show while he was on it due to his addiction.

00:40:00 In this section, Matthew Perry shares his incredible story of survival after experiencing a serious medical accident that almost killed him. He talks about how his accident made him realize that his previous goals and pursuits, including fame, were not the answers to his problems. Instead, he found that helping other people, something he had done during his recovery, was what filled his heart and gave him purpose. He also talks about the important lesson he learned about the value of gratitude and not feeling lucky to be alive.

00:45:00 In this section of the video, Matthew Perry discusses his struggles with sobriety and how he learned to seek help and ask for support. He advises those struggling with addiction to not keep it a secret and to raise their hand and ask for help. Perry also talks about how he learned through the process of writing his book about how close he came to death and how he never wants to do it again. He wants to be remembered as someone who lived well, loved well, and helped people.