Matthew Perry is a name that doesn’t need any introduction. His role as Chandler Bing in the NBC television sitcom ‘Friends‘ has continued to make him a household name even after so many years. The show ran from 1994 to 2004 and is a part of our popular culture.
While the show and its actors were basking in the success, Perry was struggling with addiction. Ahead of the release of his new memoir ‘Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing’, the 53-year-old actor opened up about how he nearly missed death during that time.
Matthew Perry Opens Up About His Addiction Days
Perry became a household name, thanks to his amazing performance as the jolly Chandler Bing in ‘Friends.’ But, as they say, success comes with a cost, and Perry paid a heavy price.
Ahead of the release of his new memoir ‘Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing’, the 53-year-old actor opened up about his opioid addiction days in an interview with People magazine.
“The doctors told my family that I had a 2 percent chance to live,” he recalled when he was first admitted to the hospital. “I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that’s called a Hail Mary. No one survives that.”
Perry was in the hospital for weeks after his colon-related emergency which was a result of developing a gastrointestinal perforation and his colon eventually burst. The actor spent two weeks in a comatose and another five months in hospital care before he had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.
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His ‘Friends’ Co-Stars Were Supportive
Perry was excessively dependent on opioids and alcohol while doing ‘Friends‘ and took 55 Vicodin a day. His sudden weight loss, around 128 pounds, was also noticed by everyone.
During that time, Perry said his co-stars “were understanding, and they were patient” in supporting him through relapses over the years. “I didn’t know how to stop,” he said.
“If the police came over to my house and said, ‘If you drink tonight, we’re going to take you to jail,’ I’d start packing. I couldn’t stop because the disease and the addiction is progressive. So it gets worse and worse as you grow older.”
The actor eventually underwent surgery and rehabilitation and became sober. He has since been vocal about these issues on public platforms.
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