Matthew Perry, known for his iconic character Chandler Bing in the smash hit sitcom Friends, died on October 28, leaving his fans around the world shocked and heartbroken. The actor said in an interview last year how he wanted to be remembered after his death. The actor stated that he wanted to be remembered for something beyond his fame as Chandler Bing. He had also hoped to continue helping people suffering from substance abuse.
Now it appears from a report from Peoplethe actor made plans to start a foundation to help people struggling with addiction issues. He was in the early stages of setting up a foundation similar to Betty Ford’s Foundation near Palm Springs.
Those close to Mr. Perry still hope his foundation can come to fruition in his honor.
He also previously founded Perry House, a sober living center for men that operated from 2013 to 2015 in his former beach house in Malibu.
”The interesting reason I can help people like this now is because I’ve messed up so many times. “It’s nice for people to see that someone who once struggled in his life is no longer struggling,” he said.
The actor had been outspoken about his alcohol and drug abuse during his career. It is striking that Mr Perry struggled for years with an addiction to painkillers and alcohol and visited rehabilitation clinics several times. He detailed his harrowing journey in his memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” in which he talked about drug abuse and alcoholism and described how he had undergone detox dozens of times and spent millions of dollars to get sober.
The actor detailed his addiction to Vicodin after a 1997 jet ski accident, admitting that at one point he was taking as many as 55 pills a day.
In his memoir, Mr. Perry also acknowledged that he was aware that his legacy would likely not extend beyond the highly successful show. “When I die, I know people will talk about friends, friends, friends. And I’m happy about that, happy that I’ve done a good job as an actor, and that I’ve given people multiple opportunities to make fun of my struggles on the world wide web,” he wrote.
“But if I die, as far as my so-called achievements go, it would be nice if Friends would stand far behind the things I did to help other people. I know it won’t happen, but it would be nice,” he added.