Matthew Perry offered advice for others going through addiction struggles in his last interview before his tragic death.
The actor died at the age of just 54 ‘after drowning in his jacuzzi at home’ on Saturday.
Perry rose to fame for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit 90s sitcom Friends, which ran for 10 seasons.
Law enforcement sources revealed the actor was found on Saturday at a home in Los Angeles after first responders were called to the scene for a cardiac arrest.
In his last interview in November 2022 he was promoting his book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing and spoke about how ‘people can change’ if they’re able to overcome addiction.
Kind: Matthew Perry offered advice for others going through addiction struggles in his last interview before his tragic death
Terrible news: The actor died at the age of just 54 ‘after drowning in his jacuzzi at home’ on Saturday
He said: ‘I want people to understand that they’re not alone that there are other people feeling exactly the way they’re feeling.
‘That their behaviour is not insane, that they have a disease and it’s not their fault. There’s a very famous line that people don’t change. I happen to know that people do change.
‘And I see that every day. I see people getting better. I see the lights in their eyes come on and they get through the terrible part of addiction and the detox and are able to live a normal life as long as they do a certain amount of work everyday.’
The clip was released to promote the actor’s memoir in which he wrote about addiction to alcohol and painkillers.
On Sunday Matthew’s cause of death was revealed, after his worldwide fanbase was left in shock by news of his passing.
Sources claim he was found in a jacuzzi at the home but no drugs were found at the scene and there was no indication of foul play.
The Los Angeles Times reported that authorities responded to his home around 4pm where he was discovered unresponsive.
A source told the outlet that there was so sign of foul play, and that robbery-homicide detectives are investigating his death.
Hope: In his last interview he was promoting his book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing and spoke about how ‘people can change’ if they’re able to overcome addiction
Journey: The clip was released to promote the actor’s memoir in which he wrote about addiction to alcohol and painkillers
In his last post to his Instagram, shared earlier this week, the star shared images of him in his pool, saying: ‘Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.’
Perry has been candid publicly about his problems with drugs and alcohol, having first went to rehab in 1997 for what was said to a pain medication addiction after a jet skiing accident.
Following this initial stint, he then went to rehab again in 2001 and 2011. He told an interviewer in 2016 that he doesn’t remember filming three seasons of Friends.
A longtime friend of Perry’s – who was in recovery with him – told .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 that he struggled with drugs and alcohol for years but the last time I spoke to him, which was within the last few weeks, he seemed to be in a good place.
‘He was upbeat and sounded sober and positive.
‘He’d been to rehab 17 times and nearly 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 is praying he didn’t relapse. Matt was a genuinely lovely guy. He was always the first to welcome newcomers to the group and would always volunteer to help and be of service.
‘We are all struggling to come to terms with this terrible news.’
The 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 accounts wrote: ‘We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all.
‘Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.’
The cast of Saturday Night Live also paid tribute to the star shortly after the former Friends star’s sudden death.
A black and white image of Perry closed the latest instalment of NBC’s late night sketch show – hosted on this occasion by comedian Nate Bargatze.
Perry himself had previously hosted the show on October 4 1997, at the the height of his mainstream fame with American sitcom Friends, during which indie band Oasis featured as musical guests.
He was fourth star of the hit show to feature as Saturday Night Live host after Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox served as joint hosts in 1995, while Lisa Kudrow featured the following year.
Tough: Perry has been candid publicly about his problems with drugs and alcohol, having first went to rehab in 1997 for what was said to a pain medication addiction after a jet skiing accident
Heartbreaking: On Sunday Matthew’s cause of death was revealed, after his worldwide fanbase was left in shock by news of his passing
Iconic: Perry rose to fame for his role as ‘Chandler Bing’ on the hit 90s sitcom Friends, which ran for 10 seasons
Perry’s one episode tenure featured a Friends parody, in which the actor played womanising roommate Joey – a character made famous by Matt LeBlanc – while Colin Quinn played an effeminate version of Chandler.
Others who have paid their tributes to the late star include singer Adele, who paused her show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, site of her ongoing Vegas residency, to speak about the actor, who she described as ‘probably the best comedic character of all time.’
‘It is always so shocking, especially someone that made you laugh and who bought so much joy to your life that you don’t know. This is what I find so strange, I never met him in my life. There is something, you feel so sad about it especially because you don’t necessarily known what was going on,’ she told the crowd.
‘I’ll remember that character for the rest of my life,’ she added of Perry’s Friends character Chandler Bing. ‘He’s probably the best comedic character of all time.’