Wendell Pierce reflects on a touching moment he shared with his late co-star Matthew Perry on the set of their television show, An odd couple.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Suits alum, 59, recalls his first impressions of Friends actor and how an incredible Christmas gift became a point of deeper connection.
Pierce notes that Perry’s “very smart, very funny” disposition and his tendency to be “very generous-spirited” brought the entire cast together. He credits the late actor and his ability to “recognize the good in people” as “the basis of the chemistry that brings us together.”
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Recalling how Perry’s affection for Batman transcended his personal interests and bled into his craft, Pierce says he decided to give him a gift inspired by his love for the iconic superhero.
“At one point I remember I gave him a present, and he loved Batman,” he says. “His love for Batman wasn’t just a fan of the comics or a fan of the character. He was really interested in studying who the character was, and it was almost like he was following a historical figure about how they developed and who they are.”
He continues, “I used to tease him about it and everything, and he was like, ‘Dude, no, just think about it.’ He said, ‘When you study Batman, you get into Bruce Wayne, you get into all the different elements.'”
Wendell Pierce and Matthew Perry in ‘The Odd Couple’.
Michael Yarish/CBS via Getty
Remembering the life and career of Matthew Perry in photographs
With Perry’s interest in Batman in mind, Pierce says he “gave him a drone” — but his initial reaction to the gift didn’t turn out the way he expected.
“I could tell he said, ‘Oh, thanks,'” Pierce recalls. “I said, ‘Yes.’ He’s like, ‘man.’ I could tell he was grateful, but it was just a drone, ‘Oh, that’s nice’.”
Until Pierce suggested to Perry, “Wouldn’t that be the case [in] Batman’s arsenal?” it is Friends the actor understood the meaning behind his gift.
“Suddenly he said, ‘Stop,’ [and] lit up,” he fondly recalls. “He said, ‘Man, this is a brilliant gift,’ so it was the strangest love and affinity for Batman. It was funny, but at the same time very impressive because he looked at it as a character study, as a student of human behavior. And so, I thought that was great.”
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Perry was found dead at his home in the Los Angeles area on Saturday after apparently drowning. He was 54 years old.
“We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother,” his family said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Sunday. “Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and as a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Reflecting on Perry’s sudden death, Pierce says it reminded him not to “take relationships and friendships for granted.”
“You have to be proactive and reach out, so I regret not reaching out to him for a few years,” he says, noting that news of his death prompted him to contact “the same people” he hadn’t spoken to in years.
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Matthew Perry.
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
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As for Perry’s legacy, Pierce says he hopes he is remembered for more than just his work on Friendsalthough he admits that he “created one of the greatest television shows in the history of American television.”
“He actually said it himself in an interview I saw recently, that he helped people, that he tried to help people, and I hope that’s his legacy because he really did,” he says. “Like I said, what keeps coming to my mind is how generous of a spirit he was. It was not only in material things, but in time, effort and concern for giving to others and thinking about others.”
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Along with his other great works like 17 Again and Studio 60 on the Sunset StripPierce adds, “For those who don’t know him or didn’t know him, I hope his legacy will be remembered as someone who had a generous spirit.”
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Source: HIS Education