Looking back on everything he’s been through, Matthew Perry realized that the universe must have conspired to guide him to overcome all those hurdles so he could help others with similar struggles. And so he committed to leveraging his experiences to assist those with addiction issues.
“I am no saint — none of us are — but once you have been at death’s door and you don’t die, you would think you would be bathed in relief and gratitude,” he wrote. “But that isn’t it at all — instead, you look at the difficult road ahead of you to get better and you are pissed. Something else happens, too. You are plagued by this nagging question: Why have I been spared?'”
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During his press tour for the book, Perry hoped that his legacy would extend beyond his portrayal of Chandler Bing. “I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker. And his paramount thing is that he wants to help people,” he shared on the “Q With Tom Power” podcast. “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it,” he added. “When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m gonna live the rest of my life proving that.”
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
