The Matthew Perry Foundation has officially launched, ensuring the late actor’s mission to help others struggling with addiction can continue.
According to the charity’s website, the foundation aims to honour Matthew’s legacy, “guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”
In his memoir released last year, Matthew had said, “when I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”
And he certainly did live a life of helping others – Matthew transformed his former Malibu home into The Perry House, a sober living facility to help people struggling with alcohol and drug abuse, he advocated for rehabilitation-focused sentencing over prison terms for non-violent drug offenders and received the Champion of Recovery Award for his advocacy from the White House in 2013. Beyond that, he wrote The End of Longing, a play exploring the challenges of addiction, and used his 2022 book tour to help de-stigmatize the disease so others would know they’re not alone.
The beloved Friends star passed away at his Pacific Palisades home on Saturday, October 28. His cause of death remains unclear.
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Warner Bros., the studio behind the hit series, shared a statement shortly after news of Matthew’s passing broke:
“We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family. The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day and we send our loved to his family, his loved ones, and all of his devoted fans.”
His Friends cast mates also released a joint statement:
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
It continued, “In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
To learn more about the Matthew Perry Foundation, head to www.matthewperryfoundation.org
(Feature Image Credit: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.com)
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