The One Where We All Lose a Friend
Image Courtesy: Radio Times
Everyone has a comfort show; the first thing you gravitate to on the television after a long day. For me, and many others, Friends was the best pick-me-up. My favorite character was Chandler; with his dry, sarcastic humor and his ability to turn any line into pure comedic genius, he was always the star of the show. The joy of this program and this specific character should not be entirely credited to the writers or directors. Matthew Perry was the lifeline of Chandler Bing. He brought the character to life and ultimately brought life to the show.
Sadly, on October 28th, both Matthew and Chandler were taken from us. Matthew was found unresponsive in his hot tub in Los Angeles at age 54. New Yorkers paid tribute to Matthew by laying flowers, pictures, and notes in front of the legendary apartment where Friends took place.
Image Courtesy: The Seattle Times
Despite the joy he brought others, Matthew’s life was far from easy. He struggled for most of his life with drug and alcohol addiction, spending years in rehabilitation centers, and, at one point, coming in near contact with death. Throughout his own inner turmoil, he brought laughter to others. Matthew shared his life with readers in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. He introduces himself: “Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.” Quickly becoming a New York Times Bestseller, Matthew’s details about his childhood, rise to fame, addiction, and recovery resonated with fans.
Image Courtesy: Amazon
Matthew had finally gotten sober. But his life post-addiction was cut short by his premature death. The cast of Friends paid tribute to their beloved friend in a statement to People magazine, “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family”, said Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer. “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this loss.”
Image Courtesy: People Magazine
Many will be surprised to discover that Matthew didn’t want to be remembered as an actor on Friends. In 2015, Perry turned a Malibu beach house into a rehabilitation center for addicts like himself. He became the person he needed during his darkest times, for others. The Perry House was a place that allowed addicts in recovery to transition back into their normal routines. In his 2022 memoir, he wrote, “I created the Perry House in Malibu, a sober-living facility for men… When I die, I know people will talk about Friends, Friends, Friends. And I'm glad of that, happy I've done some solid work as an actor, as well as given people multiple chances to make fun of my struggles on the world wide web… but when I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments go, it would be nice if Friends were listed far behind the things I did to try to help other people. I know it won't happen, but it would be nice.”
We have lost a friend, but Matthew’s legacy will live on in the laughter he brought and in the lives of those who have been impacted by his work.
Strike Out,
Writer: Layne Schulte
Editor: Cristina Angee
Tallahassee