George Clooney Reflects on Friendship with Matthew Perry and the Challenges He Faced
George Clooney has shared memories of his close relationship with the late Matthew Perry, especially during the time both actors were working on hit NBC shows. Clooney, 62, recalled their connection when Perry was 16 years old, and they played paddle tennis together. Despite a 10-year age difference, Clooney remembered Perry as a great, funny kid who had a strong desire to secure a regular role on a sitcom.
According to Clooney, Perry expressed to him, Richard Kind, and Grant Heslov that he simply wanted to be cast on a regular sitcom, and he ended up landing one of the best roles on “Friends” as Chandler Bing. However, despite the success, Perry wasn’t content. Clooney noted that both “ER” and “Friends” were filmed side by side on the same NBC soundstage, allowing him to witness Perry’s struggles and lack of happiness.
Clooney emphasized that Perry’s story serves as a lesson, highlighting that success and wealth don’t automatically bring happiness. He suggested that individuals must find contentment within themselves and their lives. Perry passed away on October 28 at the age of 54, and the cause of death was later revealed as “the acute effects of ketamine.” Perry had previously written about using ketamine to manage pain and depression in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” released last year.