Matthew Perry offered advice to others going through addiction struggles in his final interview before his tragic death.
The actor died on Saturday at the age of just 54 ‘after drowning in his jacuzzi at home’.
Perry rose to fame for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit 1990s sitcom Friends, which ran for ten seasons.
Law enforcement sources revealed that the actor was found in a Los Angeles home on Saturday after first responders were called to the scene for cardiac arrest.
In his last interview in November 2022, he promoted his book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing and talked about how “people can change” if they can overcome their addiction.
Kind: Matthew Perry, in his final interview before his tragic death, offered advice to others going through addiction struggles
Terrible news: the actor died on Saturday at the age of just 54 ‘after drowning in his jacuzzi at home’
He said: ‘I want people to understand that they are not alone and that there are other people who feel exactly the way they do.
‘That their behavior is not insane, that they have a disease and that it is not their fault. There is a very famous rule that people don’t change. I happen to know that people change.
‘And I see that every day. I see people getting better. I see the lights come on in their eyes and they get through the horrible part of the addiction and the detox and can live a normal life as long as they do a certain amount of work every day.”
The clip was released to promote the actor’s memoir, in which he wrote about addiction to alcohol and painkillers.
Matthew’s cause of death was revealed on Sunday after his global fanbase was shocked by news of his death.
Sources claim he was found in a jacuzzi at the house, but no drugs were found at the scene and there was no evidence of foul play.
The Los Angeles Times reported that authorities responded to his home around 4 p.m., where he was discovered unresponsive.
A source told the newspaper that there were signs of foul play and that robbery-homicide detectives are investigating his death.
Hope: In his latest interview, he promoted his book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing and talked about how “people can change” if they can overcome their addiction
Journey: The clip was released to promote the actor’s memoir, in which he wrote about addiction to alcohol and painkillers
In his latest post to his Instagram, shared earlier this week, the star shared images of him in his pool and said: ‘Oh, so the warm water swirling makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.’
Perry has been openly outspoken about his problems with drugs and alcohol after first entering rehab in 1997 for what was said to be an addiction to painkillers following a jet ski accident.
After this first period, he went to rehab again in 2001 and 2011. In 2016, he told an interviewer that he doesn’t remember filming three seasons of Friends.
An old friend of Perry’s – who was recovering with him – told DailyMail.com: ‘Everyone is in a total state of shock. People are crying on the phone and struggling to accept this news.
“It’s no secret he’s struggled with drugs and alcohol for years, but the last time I spoke to him, which was in recent weeks, he seemed to be in a good place.
‘He was cheerful and sounded down-to-earth and positive.
“He had been to rehab seventeen times and almost died from opioid abuse, but he was someone who was sincere about taking his life and his sobriety one day at a time.
‘It’s such tragic news. Everyone prays he doesn’t relapse. Matt was a really nice guy. He was always the first to welcome newcomers to the group and always volunteered to help and serve.
“We are all struggling to come to terms with this terrible news.”
Friends’ official Instagram account has now paid tribute to Matthew.
An official joint statement from Friends and Warner Bros TV paid tribute to Perry on Saturday in the wake of the sad news.
The reports said: ‘We are devastated to hear of the death of Matthew Perry. He was a true gift to all of us.
“Our hearts go out to his family, loved ones and all his fans.”
The Saturday Night Live cast also paid tribute to the star shortly after the former Friends star’s sudden death.
A black and white photo of Perry closed the final episode of NBC’s late night sketch show – on this occasion hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze.
Perry himself had previously hosted the show on October 4, 1997, at the height of his mainstream fame with the American sitcom Friends, which featured indie band Oasis as musical guests.
He was the fourth star of the hit show to host Saturday Night Live after Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox served as joint hosts in 1995, with Lisa Kudrow appearing the following year.
Tough: Perry has been publicly outspoken about his problems with drugs and alcohol after first entering rehab in 1997 for what was said to be an addiction to painkillers after a jet ski accident
Heartbreaking: Matthew’s cause of death was revealed on Sunday after his global fanbase was shocked by news of his death
Iconic: Perry rose to fame for his role as “Chandler Bing” on the hit ’90s sitcom Friends, which ran for ten seasons
Perry’s one-episode tenure included a Friends parody, in which the actor played womanizing roommate Joey — a character made famous by Matt LeBlanc — while Colin Quinn played an effeminate version of Chandler.
Others who have paid tribute to the late star include singer Adele, who interrupted her show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the site of her ongoing Vegas residency, to speak about the actor, who she described as “probably the best comic character of all’. time.’
“It’s always so shocking, especially someone who made you laugh and brought so much joy into your life that you don’t know. I find this so strange, I’ve never met him in my life. There’s something, you feel so sad about it, especially because you didn’t necessarily know what was going on,” she told the crowd.
“I’ll remember that character for the rest of my life,” she added about Perry’s Friends character Chandler Bing. “He’s probably the best comedy character of all time.”