Matthew Perry’s legacy will continue to shine on.
Pals close to the late “Friends” star — who died on Oct. 28 at the age of 54 from an apparent drowning — have announced that they will establish the Matthew Perry Foundation.
The organization will be formed to aid those battling substance abuse.
“The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction,” officials said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.
The charity will continue on Perry’s goal of helping people with addiction.
“The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction,” the statement went on.
“It will honor his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible.”
The Canadian actor struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for much of his life, eventually gaining sobriety in May 2021.
He also formed the Perry House in 2013 that resided in his former Malibu abode, which was a male sober living facility.
The “Serving Sara” actor had even hoped to create a charity to help people with addiction before he passed, an act that his friends are ready to institute as a way to honor him.
Perry’s substance issues began when he abused Vicodin following a jet ski accident in 1997. He then completed a stint in rehab that same year.
At the height of his struggles, he would take 55 of the pills per day, causing his weight to drop to 128 pounds.
In his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry described his substance problems at length, explaining that he attended about 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and went to rehab 15 times.
Additionally, he estimated that he spent around $9 million trying to get sober.
Perry explained in 2002 during one his sober periods that he quit drugs because he had a fear of dying.
Telling the New York Times: “I didn’t get sober because I felt like it. I got sober because I was worried I was going to die the next day.”
“Everything’s clear for one split second,” he said at the time. “I realize, I’ve got to go save myself. I got on the phone and called the people who were willing to help me.”
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