Matthew Perry described how he would like to be remembered during an interview held a year before his death.
While talking about Q with Tom Power podcast in 2022 to promote his memoir, Friends, lovers and the big scary thingthe Friends the star was asked about the legacy he would like to leave behind after his death.
“I’d like to be remembered as someone who lived well, loved well, was a trailblazer,” Perry told host Tom Power at Toronto’s Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema at the time.
“And his most important thing is that he wants to help people,” added the late star. “That’s what I want.”
That sentiment was echoed in Perry’s October 2022 cover story for PEOPLE, where the actor shared the things he takes credit for. They included, “caring for others, because I never give up. I help people as much as I do.”
He added: “That’s probably my favorite thing about me. Being creative, seeing, learning that if you’re uncomfortable or feeling anxious, one way to get out of that situation is to be creative.”
Matthew Perry dead at 54 after apparent drowning
Perry was found dead at a home in Los Angeles on Saturday, TMZ reported. The outlet says the actor was found in a jacuzzi at the residence and, according to their sources, 911 was called to the residence for cardiac arrest.
No drugs were found at the scene and no wrongdoing was reported, TMZ added.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department also told PEOPLE on Saturday that officers responded to a call at Perry’s address regarding the death of a man in his 50s, although authorities would not confirm the identity of the deceased.
After his death, Warner Bros. released a statement about the beloved actor: “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. family. Television Group. The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of many. This is a heartbreaking day and we send our love to his family, his loved ones and all his devoted fans.”
Matthew Perry. David M. Bennett/Dave Bennett/Getty Matthew Perry revealed before his death why he never watched Friends
At another moment during his Q with Tom Power appearing on the podcast, Perry opened up about the heartbreaking reason he couldn’t bring himself to watch his breakthrough role as Chandler Bing on Friends.
Explaining that he could tell “from season to season” what stage he was in with his addiction to drugs and alcohol, the actor elaborated: “I didn’t watch the series and I didn’t watch the series, because I could go drink… drugs … drinking … cocaine. Like I could tell season after season by the way I looked.”
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Despite recalling his difficult personal journey, Perry then added that he was considering watching the series, in which he starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow, because of the “amazing” experience of filming the show.
“It’s been an amazing ride,” he said. “It was amazing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations. It became such an important, meaningful thing and I would, you know, watch it again. It was really funny and all the people were nice.”
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Source: HIS Education