Late ‘Friends’ star and beloved Hollywood actor Matthew Perry.LAPRESSE Matthew Perry , best known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom Friends , was a talented actor who captured the hearts of millions. However, behind the laughter and fame lay a long and arduous battle with drug addiction that left him isolated and struggling . Perry checked into rehab 15 times over 30 years, yet his journey toward sobriety was a constant uphill climb, overshadowed by his celebrity status.
According to RadarOnline.com, Perry’s fame created a barrier between him and his peers in recovery support groups , making it difficult for him to connect with others facing similar struggles. A former addict named Nick Matthews, who encountered Perry at various meetings, described the actor as appearing "melancholy," noting how he often chose to "sit by himself quietly in the back." Matthew Perry’s funeral: Jennifer Aniston and the rest of the Friends cast attend private goodbye Matthews recalled, " I would just see (Perry) sitting by himself while we’re all having meaningful connections with one another. " This isolation reflected Perry’s discomfort with vulnerability, making it even harder for him to find the support he desperately needed.
While Matthews credits his recovery to the support of fellow patients, Perry’s experience was starkly different . Despite moments of sobriety, Perry grappled with addiction throughout much of his adult life. His decision to turn to controversial ketamine therapy as a means to combat his depression and anxiety ultimately sealed his fate. Tragically, within weeks of starting this new treatment, he became addicted to ketamine, leading to his overdose at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023. Matthews reflects on Matthew Perry’s vulnerability
Matthews, who has been sober since 2013 and now runs his own addiction treatment centers in Montecito, California, and Miami, Florida, understands the unique challenges that come with fame. " It’s difficult to exist like that, where everybody knows who you are just at a glance ," he explained. The pressures of celebrity can complicate the recovery process, making it harder for those in the spotlight to […]
More of Matthew Perry’s struggles have been revealed, and they’re very uncomfortable
