Matthew Perry’s last public appearance was in Paris last summer for the French Open… when he said he would like to be “remembered as someone who lived well, loved well” and was “a seeker” who wanted to “help people.”

Matthew Perry’s last public appearance took place in Paris last summer, just under five months before his death at the age of 54 on Saturday.

The Friends actor, who was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home, was pictured at the Stade Roland Garros on June 9 to watch the French Open.

The Williamstown, Massachusetts-born actor, who was an avid fan of the sport, seemed to be having a great time as he played in a semi-final of the tournament with a friend.

Less than a year before his unexpected death, Perry, who played Chandler Bing on the NBC hit, spoke publicly about his legacy and how he would like to be remembered when he died.

“I would like to be remembered as someone who lived well, loved well, was a seeker,” Perry said on the podcast in November 2022 Q with Tom Power at Toronto’s Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

The Friends actor, who was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home, was pictured at the Stade Roland Garros on June 9 to watch the French Open

Perry said the “most important thing” he wants to be remembered for “is wanting to help people.”

“That’s what I want… when I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that comes up.”

Perry said on the podcast promoting his book Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir that he wanted to help others “be the first thing mentioned” after his death.

Perry, who had battled substance abuse his entire life, said he was eager to help others dealing with a similar situation.

“The best thing about me, bar none, is when an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me?'” he said. “I can say yes and follow through and do it.

“When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing mentioned. I want this to be the first thing that comes up, and I’m going to have to spend the rest of my life proving that.”

On the podcast, Perry said it was difficult for him to watch past episodes of Friends because he was able to chart his addiction struggles through his appearance on the program.

“I didn’t watch the show, and I didn’t watch the show because I might start drinking…opiates…drinking…cocaine,” he said. “Like I could see what I looked like season after season.”

Less than a year before his unexpected death, Perry spoke publicly about his legacy and how he would like to be remembered when he died

He said in a November 2022 interview: ‘I would like to be remembered as someone who lived well, loved well, was a seeker’

Perry said the ‘most important thing’ he wants to be remembered for ‘is wanting to help people’

Perry called the program – which also features Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer – “an incredible ride.”

He added: ‘It was incredible to see how it touched the hearts of different generations. It’s become something important, and I, you know, I would look at that again. It was really funny, and all the people were nice.”

Perry appeared on the hit series for ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004. He has also appeared in a number of films during his career, including 1997’s Fools Rush In, 2000’s The Whole Nine Yards and 2009’s 17 Again.

Perry said People in October 2022 that he felt some of his greatest qualities were “caring for others, never giving up” and “helping people as much as I do.”

The actor said, “That’s probably the nicest thing about myself. Being creative, seeing and learning that if you feel uncomfortable or fear, one of the ways to get out of that situation is to be creative.”

On Saturday, TMZ reported that first responders were called to Perry’s home to treat cardiac arrest. No foul play was suspected in the actor’s death, sources told the outlet.

Perry appeared on the hit series Friends for ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004

Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and the show’s executive producer Kevin Bright, released a statement saying, “We will always cherish the joy, light and blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just in his work, but also in his work. life too.

“He was always the funniest person in the room. In fact, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”

Warner Bros. released a statement after Perry’s death, saying: “We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family.

“The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day and we send our love to his family, his loved ones and all his devoted fans.”