‘Matthew Perry took me to AA’ – why saving people mattered more to the star than Friends

It's reasonable that Matthew Perry's death announcements concentrated mostly on his work in Friends. This is because Friends was one of the most notable and long-lasting sitcoms ever produced and Perry was one of its standout stars. It's clear that the style of comedic acting in mainstream media changed significantly after Chandler Bing's character was introduced.

Although he made a name for himself through his memorable roles on screen, such as his work in the remarkable 2011 sitcom Mr. Sunshine, Matthew Perry's other achievements have recently received widespread recognition. In fact, over the past 24 hours, people have been praising a piece of writing he produced in which he describes how he wants to be remembered following his passing. This writing has been circulated across the internet multiple times.

I'm willing to help anyone struggling with addiction. Even if I can't always help myself, I'm always ready to lend a hand to those in need. It doesn't matter if it's one-on-one or in a group setting, I'll do what I can wherever I can. I even founded Perry House, a sober living home in Malibu for men. Ultimately, I hope that my work helping others will be remembered more than anything else I've achieved.

Before, Perry lived in a big beach house in Malibu called the Perry House that was 5,500 square feet. But in 2013, he decided to move and worked with addiction expert Earl Hightower to turn the Perry House into a place where men with addiction problems could live and get better through meditation programs and workshops. Perry sold the house after two years because it was too expensive to keep running and the business wasn't really successful. He wanted to focus on making the business smaller and more central to Los Angeles, but it's not clear if he actually did this. Even so, the idea of the Perry House was so good that Perry won a Champion of Recovery award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2013.

Besides his home, Perry also passionately endorsed the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, currently known as All Rise, which advocates for court systems that treat criminal offenders facing drug addiction as a public health concern. After Perry's untimely passing, a number of individuals have shared their stories about how he went out of his way to extend a helping hand to them during difficult times.

One of Perry's previous colleagues from Friends, Hank Azaria, has shared a heartwarming story about how Perry helped him attain sobriety. Azaria, who is now best recognized for his work on The Simpsons, posted a video on his Instagram account. He explains how Perry brought him to AA when he first decided to get clean and remained by his side for the initial year of sobriety, attending meetings together. Perry was an affectionate, charitable, and knowledgeable sober companion who assisted him in achieving his goal. Azaria lamented that he wishes Perry could have sustained his own sobriety more consistently.

The good deeds do not end at the recovery phase. During 2021, the highly-anticipated Friends reunion was held amidst the Covid situation. Among the cast, Perry was the only one who successfully combined both events, creating a range of Friends-related merchandise to support the World Health Organization's Covid response efforts. One piece of clothing said, "Could this T-shirt BE any more perfect?" while another one stated, "Could I BE any more vaccinated?" Unfortunately, Perry's actions displeased anti-vaccine activists who attacked him for promoting vaccines. Nevertheless, he proceeded with his initiative.

Chandler Bing's comedic talent was so impressive that it outshone everything else in Perry's life. This includes his past friendship with Justin Trudeau and his intense love for Batman. Once on television, he shared a funny story about accidentally blasting loud pornography audio throughout his neighborhood because of mixed up Bluetooth connections. However, in the upcoming few days or weeks, there might be more stories about his charitable acts, encouragement, and commitment to social causes. It seems like Hank Azaria's stories might just be the start of it. Perhaps, after all is said and done, Perry will be renowned for his kindness and benevolent deeds.