As the outpouring of tributes from celebrities and fans shows, the actor Matthew Perry and his Friends character, Chandler Bing, meant a huge amount to many people.
But Perry, who died suddenly at 54, said himself that he did not want to be remembered solely for his role on the sitcom: “When I die I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned, I want that [helping people] to be the first thing that’s mentioned. And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.”
Perry was referring to his lifelong battle with addiction and opioids, which he documented candidly in his autobiography. Having visible figures like Perry speak publicly about their struggles can challenge the social stigma of addiction and inspire people to seek treatment.
