Matthew Perry, widely known for his beloved performance as Chandler Bing on Friends, died Saturday, October 30 at age 54.
The actor’s sudden and shocking death has left the entertainment world reeling, as reactions to the news and tributes pour in from friends, costars, and others.
Almost exactly a year before his passing, Perry released a memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which became an instant No. 1 New York Times Best Seller.
In the novel, Perry recounted his rise to fame and all that came with it: addiction, rehab stints, and a 2018 health scare that almost took his life, among other things.
In a blurb for the memoir, Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman wrote, “Ultimately, this book is filled with hope for the future. If you want to know about who Matthew Perry is, stay away from the rags and read this.”
Kauffman also called the book “a raw, unflinching memoir that took courage to write.”
While promoting the memoir in late 2022, Perry gave an interview that resurfaced following news of his death where he outlined how he’d like to be remembered — not primarily for his performance as Chandler Bing, but as someone who was always open to helping other people in their struggles with addiction: “The best thing about me, bar none, is if somebody comes up to me and says, ‘I can’t stop drinking. Can you help me?’ I can say yes and follow up and do it. That’s the best thing.”
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is described as “a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety,” so as long as this book circulates, so will Perry’s legacy — one he wrote himself.
If you’re interested in reading Perry’s memoir — and understanding the late actor’s legacy for yourself — the book currently backordered on Amazon, so even with a Prime subscription, you won’t get it until mid-November.
However, you can get the audiobook version of Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, narrated by Perry, instantly and listen for free thanks to Audible’s one-month free trial.
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