Matthew Perry, widely recognized for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing on the hit NBC series Friends, opens up about battling addiction since his youth. In his memoir, he reveals a harrowing journey through substance use that culminated in a two-week coma four years ago. The memoir, titled Friends, Lovers and It’s Terrible, has just been released in the United States and will reach readers in Spain on November 17, published by Contraluz.
The author recounts undergoing rehab fifteen times across his life, reaching rock bottom during a devastating period four years prior when excessive alcohol and opiate use led to that two-week coma. Contraluz announced the publication on Thursday, highlighting the profundity of his struggles.
From the outset of his acting career, Perry faced alcohol-related challenges. He began filming Friends at age 24 while wrestling with dependency, and by age 34 he acknowledges reaching a critical point where the stakes were extremely high. In the memoir, he explains how he managed to persevere through those difficult years, noting that the path to recovery required real resilience and support.
He describes the bond with his Friends co-stars as a stabilizing force during his journey. Perry compares their care to a flock of penguins rallying around a sick member, creating a circle of support that kept him moving forward until he could stand on his own. The camaraderie of the cast provided a steadying influence during times of intense struggle.
One of the darkest moments occurred in the latter seasons of the show when Perry took around 55 Vicodin pills daily while weighing in at about 128 pounds. He reflects on the difficulty of stopping because addiction is a progressive disease that worsens over time, and he faced that harsh reality as he aged.
In a conversation with People magazine, Perry shares that when he finally allowed himself to feel safe from relapse, he felt compelled to tell his story. He recalls a hospital admission during which doctors indicated a slim 2 percent chance of survival, a moment that underscored the fragile line between life and death in his battle with addiction.
Born in 1969, Matthew Perry became a global name for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, a performance that earned him critical recognition including an Emmy nomination in 2002. Beyond television, Perry pursued film projects such as Wrong Looks, its sequel More Wrong Looks, and 17 Again. His talent was also acknowledged with nominations for prestigious awards like the Emmy and the Golden Globe for his performance in The Ron Clark Story, underscoring a career marked by both sitcom fame and dramatic depth.
Throughout his memoir, Perry offers a candid account of the pressures of fame, the personal battles behind public success, and the ongoing process of recovery. The narrative provides a window into the resilience required to navigate addiction while maintaining a career in the public eye, highlighting the importance of support networks, self-awareness, and the willingness to seek help even after years of struggle. The book stands as a testament to endurance, reminding readers that recovery is possible with the right combination of courage, accountability, and community support.