By DAHJIA THOMAS, Arts Editor
Matthew Perry, one of the most well-known actors, recently opened up about the trials and tribulations of his battle with addiction. News outlets have reported that the actor spent over $9 million after his secret got out to the public, starting when he was only 24 years old. “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” an in-depth memoir of Perry’s life, including his decade long escapade on “Friends” where it all began, is set to release Nov. 1.
Chandler Bing, portrayed as the comic relief the majority of his time on screen in “Friends,” was not all he was cracked up to be. During the show’s first few seasons, the character was seen struggling with his addiction to nicotine. However, what fans didn’t know was that the actor behind the scenes was struggling as well with an addiction to alcohol and opioids.
In an interview, Perry spoke on his jet ski accident which placed him in the hospital where doctors prescribed him Vicodin. He recalls taking at least 55 a day, if not more, and faking injuries in order to continue fueling his habits. He claims it wasn’t the feeling of getting high or becoming the life of the party that pushed him, but the mundaneness of just sitting at home to watch a movie.
In order to start writing his memoir, Perry first decided to set a goal to remain sober for the time-being. While the first accident was the trigger, the actor went on to be reported in a second one, more devastating than the last. To the public, Perry was only diagnosed dealing with a gastrointestinal perforation; meanwhile, he was actually fighting to stay alive from opioid overuse. At 49, he was put in a two-week coma with an extra five months in the hospital, relying on an EMCO machine to keep him alive. If you don’t know what that entails, Perry describes it perfectly as he says, “I was put on… 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.” And a Hail Mary it was as doctors personally told Perry’s family he only had a two percent chance of living.
Over time, instead of running from the truth, he used his own experiences to help those just like him. He reminisces about major changes in his physical appearance as well as his mental stability, stating how former “Friends” cast members became increasingly worried yet remained patient and understanding. Jennifer Aniston, another icon from the hit TV show “Friends,” was apparently the one who supported him the most. She was known for calling him out for his irresponsible drinking as well as being a safe place for him to go to.
Diane Sawyer has been one of few to read the first page of his new memoir. The memoir contains a letter written by Perry himself saying, “Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name, my friends call me ‘Matty,’ and I should be dead.” To read the full story, the rest of us will have to wait until the official release date. But for now, we should be applauding not only Perry, but to those with the same struggles who came out on top. Every day is a victory no matter how small.
