The hidden life of Matthew Perry: 'He would say: I need to stop and get help'

The article discusses the life and legacy of Matthew Perry, the Canadian-American actor known for his role as Chandler Bing on the popular TV show "Friends." The article highlights Perry's struggles with addiction and his efforts to overcome it through therapy, writing a memoir, and establishing a foundation to tackle stigma around addiction.

According to his publicist, Lisa Kasteler-Calio, Perry was not a difficult person to work with, but he was honest about his struggles. He wrote that if he had not taken a painkiller on a film set early in his career, perhaps "none of the next three decades would have gone the way they did." This experience led him to seek treatment and eventually write a memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," which was released in 2022.

The foundation established by Perry aims to tackle stigma around addiction and provide support for those struggling with it. Kasteler-Calio says that the foundation is working on several initiatives, including employment programs to help people in recovery get back into work and partnering with a project called Bridge, which aims to provide joined-up treatment for people with addiction who are leaving prison.

Chapin notes that Perry's experience has taught him that recovery from addiction requires a multi-pronged approach, addressing both medical and psychological aspects. He believes that there are "holes in the process of recovery" that need to be filled, including providing ongoing support and resources for those struggling with addiction.

Kasteler-Calio also says that Perry is still involved in the work of his foundation, using it as a way to continue working on the issue he cares about. The publicist expresses her own grief at losing Perry, but notes that the best way to honor his memory is by continuing his work and tackling stigma around addiction.

Overall, the article presents a nuanced portrait of Matthew Perry's struggles with addiction and his efforts to overcome them. It highlights the importance of addressing stigma and providing support for those struggling with addiction, and shows how Perry's legacy continues to inspire change through his foundation.
 
just heard about Matthew Perry and i gotta say he had some serious demons to deal with πŸ€•. addiction is no joke, dude. it's like... have you seen the stats on overdose deaths lately? 2024 was like a nightmare πŸ“Š. anyway, back to perry - his foundation is actually doing some cool work tackling stigma and providing resources for people in recovery πŸ‘. but what really gets me is how common addiction is, especially among people in high-pressure industries like acting 🎬. it's not just about perry, it's about all the others who are struggling too πŸ’”.
 
I feel bad that he struggled so much with addiction πŸ€•. It's like, you see him on TV as this fun-loving Chandler Bing, but in real life, he was dealing with some serious demons πŸ’”. But I love how he's using his platform to help others now. It's amazing that he's still involved with his foundation and is trying to make a difference πŸ™. I think it's so important to talk about addiction and mental health, especially when there are still stigma attached to it 🀝. Maybe if more people spoke out like Matthew Perry did, we could create a more supportive community for those struggling πŸ’•. It's not going to be easy, but I think his legacy will keep inspiring people to keep working towards change πŸ’ͺ.
 
I just got back from the most random vacation in Hawaii πŸ–οΈ and I'm still trying to process all the amazing food I ate... like these crazy-spicy poke bowls 😳 that literally blew my head off! But anyway, speaking of addiction, I was thinking have you guys ever tried meditation? Like, it's super helpful for managing stress and anxiety, but also kinda weird at first 🀯. I mean, sitting still for 20 minutes a day sounds super appealing when you're struggling with cravings, right? Anyway, back to Matthew Perry... I loved his work on "Friends" too πŸ“Ί, Chandler was my fave character (who didn't love Ross's sarcasm πŸ˜‚). But seriously, it's so cool that he's using his platform to raise awareness about addiction and support those in recovery πŸ’–.
 
I'm not buying the whole "recovery" story πŸ€”. I mean, it sounds like a pretty convenient narrative that's been peddled by the PR machine. We're supposed to believe that Matt Perry just happened to write a bestselling memoir about his struggles with addiction and then decided to use his platform for good? πŸ™„ It's not exactly transparent how much of a role he played in shaping his foundation, either.

And what's with the lack of concrete stats on their initiatives? We're supposed to trust that they're actually making a dent in the problem without any hard evidence? I'd love to see some real data or expert analysis to back up their claims. Until then, I'll be keeping a healthy dose of skepticism πŸ˜’.
 
Matthew Perry's story is really inspiring πŸ™. I mean, who wouldn't want to talk about their struggles and be open about it? He could've easily kept quiet and never spoken about his addiction, but he chose not to 🀝. And now we get to learn from his experiences and see the impact of his foundation 🌟.

I think what's really important is that he's still involved with his foundation, using it as a way to keep working on this issue πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ. It shows us that recovery is not just about overcoming addiction, but also about finding ways to continue helping others who are struggling πŸ’ͺ.

And I gotta say, his memoir is kinda eye-opening 😳. I mean, we all know he struggled with addiction, but reading about it in a book can be really powerful πŸ“š. It makes you realize how far people will go when they're desperate and how hard it can be to find help.

Anyway, I think Matthew Perry's legacy is an amazing reminder that we all have the power to make a difference πŸ’«. We might not all be famous actors, but we can still use our own experiences and talents to inspire change 🌈.
 
Matthew Perry's story is like a wild rollercoaster ride, you feel me? 🎠 He was on top of the world as Chandler Bing, but underneath he was fighting this epic battle with addiction. I think it's so brave of him to be open about it, even if it was hard for some people to deal with. The fact that he wrote a memoir and started a foundation is like, total proof that he's still got it in him. πŸ™Œ But what really gets me is how he's using his platform to help others. It's not just about him overcoming his struggles, it's about creating a system that supports people who are going through the same thing. I think we can all learn from his example - recovery isn't a solo journey, you need a team of people behind you. πŸ’–
 
man... matt perry's story is so inspiring 🀯 he went from being on top of his game in "friends" to fighting demons of addiction and coming out stronger on the other side πŸ’ͺ it's crazy to think that one wrong move on set could lead to decades of struggle, but he used that as a wake-up call to seek help and make a difference 🌟 his foundation is doing some amazing work tackling stigma and providing support for people in recovery 🀝 it's heartbreaking to see him go, but I'm so glad his legacy lives on through his foundation ❀️ we need more people like matt perry who can speak out about mental health and addiction without fear of judgment πŸ’¬
 
Matthew Perry was defo a strong soul, you know? I mean, he could've given up on life after hitting rock bottom, but instead he chose to face his demons head-on. His memoir is so inspiring, it's like, the ultimate comebacks story. And now his foundation is doing real work to help people overcome addiction, which is just amazing πŸ™Œ. It's crazy how one person can make such a huge impact after they're gone. I'm so grateful we get to see Perry's legacy live on through this foundation and his story being told in such a powerful way πŸ’–
 
I feel so much love for Matt Perry πŸ€— He went through some dark times but he never gave up on himself ❀️ His story is a reminder that recovery from addiction is possible and it's okay to ask for help 🀝 I'm so inspired by his foundation work - it's amazing how one person can make such a difference πŸ’– It's clear that Matt was a complex person, but what shines through is his courage and determination to tackle the stigma around addiction πŸ’ͺ We can all learn from his example to be more supportive and understanding towards those struggling with addiction 🌈
 
I don’t usually comment but I feel really sad hearing about Matthew Perry's struggles... πŸ€• It's crazy how mental health can affect you so much, even when you're in the spotlight. The way he wrote that book and started his foundation shows that he was brave enough to talk about it, which is a huge step. I think we should all be more like him and open up about our own struggles... πŸ’”
 
I'm still reeling from the news about Matthew Perry πŸ€•. Can you believe it? The guy who played Chandler on Friends was struggling so much with addiction, but he didn't let it define him. I mean, I remember when Friends first came out in 1994 and it was EVERYONE's favorite show πŸ˜‚. But, yeah, looking back now, it's crazy how much he had to deal with behind the scenes.

I love that he wrote a memoir about his struggles and started this foundation to help others. It's amazing how one person can make such a difference πŸ’–. And, you know, I think we can all learn from his story - addiction isn't something to be ashamed of, but something that needs support and treatment. We need more people like Matthew Perry who are willing to talk about their struggles and help others.

Anyway, it's just so sad that he passed away at such a young age πŸ€”. I mean, I'm only 35 now (as of 2025) and I can already imagine what the world would be like without him 😭. But, as my mom always says, his legacy lives on through his foundation and all the good work it's doing 🌈.
 
omg i'm literally so inspired by matt perry's story 🀯 he went from being a successful actor to struggling with addiction and then turning it into something positive by helping others πŸ™ his foundation is doing such amazing work tackling stigma around addiction and providing support for those in recovery πŸ’– i think we need more ppl like him who are willing to share their struggles and use them as an opportunity to make a difference 🌟
 
I'm so sad to hear about Matthew Perry's passing πŸ€•. But it's amazing that he used his platform to talk openly about his struggles with addiction, like I do with my own mental health journey on social media πŸ’†β€β™€οΈ. It's crazy how much of a difference being honest and vulnerable can make! His foundation is doing incredible work in tackling stigma around addiction, which is still such a taboo topic 🀝. We need more people like Matthew Perry who are willing to share their struggles and help others feel less alone πŸ˜”. I love that he's still involved with his foundation, using it as a way to keep working on this issue – that's the best way to honor his legacy πŸ™.
 
πŸ€” I mean, what's up with this whole "stigma around addiction" thing? Like, can't we just talk about it openly already? Matthew Perry was basically a public figure who struggled with addiction and came out the other side... how much more honest do you need? It's like, we're still having this conversation 30 years later. And I get that he wrote a book and started a foundation, but what really gets me is how many people are still struggling in silence because of shame or fear of judgment. πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ We need more people like Matthew Perry who are willing to speak up about their struggles and help create change.
 
I'm sad that Matthew Perry passed away πŸ€•. I grew up watching Friends with my family and Chandler Bing was our favorite character πŸ˜‚. It's amazing how open he was about his struggles with addiction, it takes a lot of courage to talk about that stuff πŸ’―. I love that he's still using his platform to make a difference, even after he's gone πŸ™. His foundation is doing some great work and I'm so glad he's helping to break down the stigma around addiction πŸ’ͺ. We should all be grateful for people like Matthew Perry who are willing to use their fame to help others πŸ’•.
 
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