Near the end of the first episode of “Friends” (1994-2004) when Rachel Greene (Jennifer Aniston) cuts up all her credit cards, Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) congratulates her saying, “Welcome to the real world! It sucks! You’re gonna love it!”
To die-hard fans of the popular NBC sitcom, the line might as well now be “Welcome to the real world! It sucks!” in the wake of actor Matthew Perry, who for ten seasons delighted viewers as the sarcastic Chandler Bing, was found dead at his Los Angeles home Oct. 28 at age 54.
Anyone familiar with Perry’s battles with alcohol and substance abuse since his teenage years is a born liar if they don’t believe in the back of their minds the tragic possibility that maybe the actor, like so many others in the entertainment industry, was unable to fully conquer their demons.
John Belushi (33), Chris Farley (33), Carrie Fisher (60), James Gandolfini (51), Judy Garland (47), Anne Heche (53), Jimi Hendrix (27), Philip Seymour Hoffman (46), William Holden (63), Whitney Houston (48), Michael Jackson (50), Janis Joplin (27), Margot Kidder (69), Heath Ledger (28), Marilyn Monroe (36), Jim Morrison (27), Adam Rich (54), Delores O’Riordan (46), River Pheonix (23), Dana Plato (34), Elvis Presley (42), Prince (57), Brad Renfro (25), Jean Seberg (40), Amy Winehouse (27).
Regardless of what the results are weeks from now when Perry’s toxicology report is released the negative opinion will still be the same. While cause of death is pending and listed as "deferred" antidepressants, anti-anxiety and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medications were found at the actor's home. To quote Luke Skywalker from “Star Wars – Episode VIII: The Last Jedi” (2017) “This is not going to go the way you think.”
The difference is I don’t want to know the results. I’m not the only one alone in this. Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, shared the same sentiment a few days after Perry’s passing in a post on social media.
“I don’t need to hear the 911 dispatch. I don’t need to know the autopsy report. Why? Because it’s absolutely none of my business. This level of lookie-loo and entitlement is God awful, and I will never understand it. Let this man rest in peace and show some respect. Give his family and friends grace to mourn and grieve without all this noise.”
If I watch anything he did it’s going to be his movies (“Fools Rush In” – 1997, “The Whole Nine Yards” – 2000) and his guest appearances on “The West Wing” (1999-2006) and “Scrubs” (2001-2010) and the one hit full season order wonders “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (2006-2007), “Mr. Sunshine” (2o11-2012) and “The Odd Couple” (2015-2017) which lasted two seasons – all of which aired during the post “Friends” era.
I can’t say the same about reading his memoir, however. Reading it would be different if he were alive today. Reading it now would be like watching those depressing “gone-too-soon” musical biopics (“The Doors” – 1991, “Elvis” - 2022, “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody” - 2022) where I already know how their life stories end and begs the question where is the joy watching a two-hour plus biopic about a beloved icon who lived fast, died young and left a good looking corpse.
No one to date has ever been able to give me a straight answer short of saying, “they see movies to be entertained.” If they told me such biopics bring out a new generation of fans I might, and I stress the word might, give them a very small, miniscule amount of credit.
If there’s anything positive that can be said about the loss of Matthew Perry it is the knowledge his book may help save others battling alcohol and substance abuse.
“The best thing about me, bar none, is that if an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me?’ I can say yes and follow up and do it. When I die, I don’t want “Friends” to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first that’s mentioned, and I’m going live the rest of my life proving that.”
A shame the end came much sooner than fans expected.
©11/1/23
To die-hard fans of the popular NBC sitcom, the line might as well now be “Welcome to the real world! It sucks!” in the wake of actor Matthew Perry, who for ten seasons delighted viewers as the sarcastic Chandler Bing, was found dead at his Los Angeles home Oct. 28 at age 54.
Anyone familiar with Perry’s battles with alcohol and substance abuse since his teenage years is a born liar if they don’t believe in the back of their minds the tragic possibility that maybe the actor, like so many others in the entertainment industry, was unable to fully conquer their demons.
It’s still too early for me to add Perry to that “Gone Too Soon” list of talents whose untimely demises get more tabloid coverage than the ones still with us who’ve beaten or are still battling their personal struggles with mental illness, alcohol and substance abuse or a combination of all three. (Ben Affleck and Robert Downey Jr. come to mind).The list of “Gone Too Soon” icons may be short, but the amount of talent lost is great.
John Belushi (33), Chris Farley (33), Carrie Fisher (60), James Gandolfini (51), Judy Garland (47), Anne Heche (53), Jimi Hendrix (27), Philip Seymour Hoffman (46), William Holden (63), Whitney Houston (48), Michael Jackson (50), Janis Joplin (27), Margot Kidder (69), Heath Ledger (28), Marilyn Monroe (36), Jim Morrison (27), Adam Rich (54), Delores O’Riordan (46), River Pheonix (23), Dana Plato (34), Elvis Presley (42), Prince (57), Brad Renfro (25), Jean Seberg (40), Amy Winehouse (27).
Regardless of what the results are weeks from now when Perry’s toxicology report is released the negative opinion will still be the same. While cause of death is pending and listed as "deferred" antidepressants, anti-anxiety and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medications were found at the actor's home. To quote Luke Skywalker from “Star Wars – Episode VIII: The Last Jedi” (2017) “This is not going to go the way you think.”
The difference is I don’t want to know the results. I’m not the only one alone in this. Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, shared the same sentiment a few days after Perry’s passing in a post on social media.
“I don’t need to hear the 911 dispatch. I don’t need to know the autopsy report. Why? Because it’s absolutely none of my business. This level of lookie-loo and entitlement is God awful, and I will never understand it. Let this man rest in peace and show some respect. Give his family and friends grace to mourn and grieve without all this noise.”
A year from now, if not sooner, Perry’s untimely end will be graphically chronicled in “Autopsy: The Last Hours of…” (2014-Present) where medical examiner, Dr. Michael Hunter, will give a rundown leading up to the actor’s final hours. The so-called documentary series is not a celebration of how these icons lived but a macabre look at how they died that gives the viewers (assuming they give a rat’s ass about their own health) what NOT to do to their bodies if they want to live to be in their 80s and 90s.Perry was right about one thing in his interview with Diane Sawyer last year while promoting his autobiography, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing", when he said he didn’t want “Friends” to be the first thing people remember when he passes away.
If I watch anything he did it’s going to be his movies (“Fools Rush In” – 1997, “The Whole Nine Yards” – 2000) and his guest appearances on “The West Wing” (1999-2006) and “Scrubs” (2001-2010) and the one hit full season order wonders “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (2006-2007), “Mr. Sunshine” (2o11-2012) and “The Odd Couple” (2015-2017) which lasted two seasons – all of which aired during the post “Friends” era.
I can’t say the same about reading his memoir, however. Reading it would be different if he were alive today. Reading it now would be like watching those depressing “gone-too-soon” musical biopics (“The Doors” – 1991, “Elvis” - 2022, “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody” - 2022) where I already know how their life stories end and begs the question where is the joy watching a two-hour plus biopic about a beloved icon who lived fast, died young and left a good looking corpse.
No one to date has ever been able to give me a straight answer short of saying, “they see movies to be entertained.” If they told me such biopics bring out a new generation of fans I might, and I stress the word might, give them a very small, miniscule amount of credit.
If there’s anything positive that can be said about the loss of Matthew Perry it is the knowledge his book may help save others battling alcohol and substance abuse.
“The best thing about me, bar none, is that if an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me?’ I can say yes and follow up and do it. When I die, I don’t want “Friends” to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first that’s mentioned, and I’m going live the rest of my life proving that.”
A shame the end came much sooner than fans expected.
©11/1/23
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