In the days following the passing of 90s sitcom icon Matthew Perry from the juggernaut pop culture show, Friends, fans around the world, as well as those who knew him best, have been paying tribute to the comedy star who was invited into millions of households for a decade. Many of Perry’s co-stars have shared kind words, and the creators of Friends have stated that the shocking event “almost seems impossible.” Perry’s five famed co-stars have responded, “There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.“
Prior to Perry’s passing, the actor, who has had a long, unfortunate history of drug addiction, had been on a cleaner path and expressed the need to give back by establishing a rehabilitation center for those suffering the same struggles he was. According to Variety, a foundation has now been established in Perry’s memory for exactly that. The Matthew Perry Foundation has released an inaugural statement saying, “In the spirit of Matthew Perry’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we embark on a journey to honor his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”
The organization takes its cue from Perry’s wish to be remembered more for helping those with addiction issues than as a TV star. Just last year, Perry had released his autobiography that showed transparency in his problems with dealing with fame and recovering from a skiing accident that would start his addiction to painkillers. While promoting his book on the podcast Q With Tom Power, Perry explained, “When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”
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