On October 28th actor/comedian Matthew Perry suddenly died, shocking fans, family, and fellow celebrities around the world. Perry was well known for his work on the iconic 90s TV sitcom “Friends” where he played Chandler Bing, a sarcastic “computer processing TRANSPONSTER!” (a joke only a real Friends fan would get!). He touched the lives of many through laughter both on and off the screen with his witty remarks and effortlessly funny jokes. 

However, despite his success, off the screen Perry struggled with drug and alcohol addictions for many years until he took control of his life and became fully sober. He found himself in and out of rehab 15 times and it wasn’t until a near-death experience that everything changed and he went on the path to become 100% sober. The cause of death is still under investigation as toxicology reports are pending.  

He wrote a memoir called “Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing” where he took us along on his journey from childhood, his fame on Friends, addiction, and his road to recovery. He then began to dedicate his life to helping those who were struggling with addiction and were in a similar position that he was in.  

There has been an outpouring of support from fans and celebrities on social media where messages full of love, and memories with Perry have been shared. Fans have also left flowers outside of his California home and in front of the Friends New York apartment building which portrays the impact Perry made in his short life. 

Matthew Perry did not want to only leave behind his legacy as Chandler Bing, but as someone who aided those who struggled with the same addictions as himself. In honor of this, The Matthew Perry Foundation was established to keep his memory alive. 

In the short span of his life, he has been through many ups and downs and has faced them all with courage and laughter. As he said himself:

“There’s nothing better than a world where everybody’s just trying to make each other laugh.”