Chandler Bing fame Matthew Perry‘s death came as one of the biggest shocks for the world this year. And though the beloved actor may have left us, his legacy continues not through just his remarkable acting, but also through his deeds — which will now be carried forward by the newly launched Matthew Perry Foundation.
Perry died at the age of 54 on October 28, and had throughout his career openly shared his decades-long struggle with substance abuse. He had also spoken about his aspirations to establish a foundation to help other people like him who struggle with addiction.
Related: Watch: Charlie Puth Pays Emotional Tribute To Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry’s Family Honors His Wish
Immediately after his death, Perry’s family decided to honor his dream and established the foundation, People reported. Functional from November 3, the foundation holds a primary mission to address addiction as a disease and to help the affected people fight the stigma attached to it. It also aims to help addicts who need care and to advocate for better treatment for them.
Matthew Perry’s stepfather, Dateline journalist Keith Morrison, also encouraged the fans of the late actor to contribute to the cause. “Do what you can; he would have been grateful,” he said while speaking to People on Thanksgiving Tuesday.
The Matthew Perry Foundation also has a website in place, featuring a black-and-white photo of Perry. An inspiring quote with the photo reflects his commitment to altruism.
In an interview in 2022, Perry had said that he wants to be remembered for his deeds more than for his acting. “When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned — I want to help others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that,” he had said in a November 2022 podcast appearance.
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Perry Was Open About His Struggle
Throughout his lifetime, Perry openly discussed his struggle with alcohol and Vicodin abuse, which stemmed from a 1997 jet ski accident. “I had a big problem with alcohol and pills, and I couldn’t stop,” he had said.
“You can’t have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it be solved in 28 days,” he said in 2015, clarifying that his struggle is as legitimate as of anyone who fights with any other kind of terminal disease. He spoke more about such instances in his memoir, ‘Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing‘, released last year.
Matthew Perry was laid to rest on November 3 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. His family hopes that he continues to impact lives through the Matthew Perry Foundation.
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