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Matthew Perry, known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing in the beloved ’90s sitcom “Friends,” confessed that he couldn’t bring himself to watch reruns of the show. This surprising revelation had a deeper reason than one might expect.
Tragically, Perry passed away at his Los Angeles home in October 2023, with reports suggesting an apparent drowning. His assistant discovered him in his jacuzzi. Perry’s life was marked by ups and downs, detailed extensively in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” While many were aware of his struggles with addiction, the book delved into the full extent of his challenges. Perry revealed that during his time on “Friends,” he would often show up to set in a state of disarray, illustrating the severity of his struggles.
Given his history of addiction and alcoholism, it’s understandable why Perry chose to avoid watching himself on television.
Perry candidly shared that at one point, he was consuming an alarming 55 Vicodin pills a day, leading him to weigh a mere 128 pounds. Reflecting on this period, he expressed his inability to watch “Friends” due to his emaciated appearance, emphasizing that his addiction didn’t distinguish him as a famous actor. Perry’s journey to sobriety was a costly one, as he disclosed spending around $9 million in his pursuit of recovery. In a 2022 interview, he stated that he had been drug and alcohol-free for 18 months at that time.
Despite his initial reluctance, Perry acknowledged the enduring impact of “Friends” on multiple generations. He contemplated starting to watch the show, recognizing its significant cultural influence and the hearts it has touched over the years.