Matthew Perry shared how he wanted to be remembered one year before his sudden death

Matthew Perry, who sadly passed away at 54, expressed his desire to be remembered not for his role in the iconic show “Friends,” but for his dedication to aiding people with addiction. Perry made this poignant statement a year ago while promoting his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.”

“I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker, and his paramount thing is that he wants to help people. That’s what I want,” he revealed during a podcast episode. Perry emphasized that his ability to assist those battling addiction was what mattered most to him: “The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?’ I can say ‘yes’ and follow up and do it.”

Matthew Perry’s own struggles with addiction were well-known. He used his experience to create a sober living facility, the Perry House, in 2013, though it eventually closed in 2015 due to financial challenges. Perry also supported drug courts, offering help rather than punishment to non-violent offenders.

In 2021, he proudly declared his sobriety, having invested $9 million on his path to recovery. In his memory, let us honor not only a talented actor but also a passionate advocate for those grappling with addiction.