American-Canadian actor and producer Matthew Perryfamous after portraying Chandler Bing in the popular TV series ‘Friends’ (“Friends”), was found dead in his home at the age of 54. Police found him dead in a bathtub at his home in Los Angeles.

In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing”, had revealed that he “almost died” a few years ago at the age of 49, from an opioid overdose. The actor spent two weeks in a coma and five months in hospital and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months. “Doctors told my family I had a 2% chance of living“, he said in his book.

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When Perry joined “Friends” he was 24 years old and his alcohol addiction was just beginning to surface. “I could handle it, somehow. However, by the time I reached 34, I had really gotten into a lot of trouble. There were years when I was sober during this time. Season 9 was the year I got sober. And guess what season I got nominated for best actor? I was like, “That has to tell me something.”».

Although Perry tried to hide his condition, the dramatic changes in his appearance each year reflected his state of sobriety. However, his friends and co-stars in “Friends”, as he wrote, showed understanding and patience.

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The idea of ​​having to wear a colostomy bag permanently is what Perry said helped him detox.

“My therapist said, ‘Next time you think about taking OxyContin, think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life.’“, the actor had said in an interview with “People”.

Matthew Perry

This wasn’t the only time the star of “The Whole Nine Yards” came close to death. Around November 2020, during one of his many stays in rehab, the actor’s heart stopped for five minutes after doctors administered a drug. His life was saved by artificial respiration, but eight ribs were broken in the process, which cost him scenes with Meryl Streep in “Don’t Look Up.” And of course, Matthew Perry flirted with death for years due to his long-term addiction to drugs and alcohol.

During the filming of the series “Friends”, the actor had said in an interview that he drank a bottle of vodka and took 55 Vicodin pills on a daily basis. He spent, as he said, millions over the years trying to detox. “I’ve spent probably $9 million or something trying to get sober“, he said in an interview with the NYT.