'When I Die...': When Matthew Perry Spoke About Death and How Friends Star Wanted To Be Remembered

Matthew Perry’s old statement about how he wanted to be remembered after he dies has gone viral. The Friends actor died on Saturday, October 28. He was found dead in his Los Angeles home and it was reported that he died of apparent drowning. After his death, Friends fans revisited their favourite Matthew Perry episodes and quotes from his show Friends. Now, a snippet from his 2022 memoir — Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing — has gone viral. In the snippet, Matthew spoke about how he wants to be remembered.

The 17 Again star recalled the challenges he faced over the years and said, “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my life. I’m still working through it personally, but the best thing about me is that if an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me?’ I will always say ‘Yes, I know how to do that. I will do that for you, even if I can’t always do it myself.’ So I do that, whenever I can. In groups, or one on one.”

“And I created the Perry House in Malibu, a sober-living facility for men. I also wrote my play The End of Longing, which is a personal message to the world, an exaggerated form of me as a drunk. I had something important to say to people like me, and to people who love people like me,” Matthew added.

“When I die, I know people will talk about Friends, Friends, Friends. And I’m glad of that, happy I’ve done some solid work as an actor, as well as given people multiple chances to make fun of my struggles on the world wide web… But when I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments go, it would be nice if Friends were listed far behind the things I did to try to help other people. I know it won’t happen, but it would be nice,” he wrote.

The shocking news of his death was first reported by TMZ followed by Los Angeles Times. As per reports, Matthew was found dead at his LA home on Saturday evening, October 28. As reported by NY Post, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed a man in his 50s died at Matthew’s address. However, they refused to confirm the identity. They said in a statement: “We responded to the 1800 block of Blue Sail Rd for a death investigation on a male 4:10 p.m. this afternoon. He was in his 50s.” No sign of foul play and no drugs were found at the scene. It has been reported that the first responders were called in to the residence for cardiac arrest.