As the pill took effect, something inside me clicked, and I spent the rest of my life searching for that sensation… I couldn’t believe how good it felt. It was pure euphoria and a sense of wholeness, Perry recalled, describing the first time he took a painkiller in 1997.
One of the last photos shared by actor Matthew Perry just days before his passing has left his fans deeply concerned. The comedian, renowned for his role in “Friends,” was only 55 years old and had been battling drug addiction. His lifeless body was discovered in his jacuzzi, although, for now, there are no indications of foul play.
Perry posted an image of a hot tub on his Instagram six days before his passing, accompanied by the caption: “Oh, doesn’t the hot water swirling around make you feel good? I’m Mattman.” But who was this “Mattman”? “Mattman” was a moniker inspired by Matthew’s nickname, “Matt,” and the character Batman. Some of his last posts featured videos of this Batman persona, known as “Metman.” In one of these posts, Perry reassured his followers that they needn’t worry because “he’s watching over the city tonight, observing from a tall building.”
“Are you okay?” and “Should we be concerned?” were just a couple of the many comments flooding the actor’s Instagram. Perry also uploaded a video showing three cranberry seeds, along with the note that it was all he had consumed in a day.
Matthew Perry disclosed all of this after sharing heartwarming photos with his father. He had been to rehab 15 times to combat his addiction, a struggle that cost him a staggering nine million dollars.
Some of his followers speculated that his demise might be linked to a drowning incident under the influence of opiates. This theory of death drew parallels to the enigmatic passing of Cranberry singer Dolores O’Riordan.
According to unverified accounts, Perry reportedly suffered a heart attack in his Los Angeles home while in the jacuzzi.
In his memoirs, Perry recounted how he began drinking at the tender age of 14, saying, “The world made sense, I felt calm, there was no chaos. I was never happier than in that moment,” reflecting on his adolescence in Massachusetts and his initial encounter with alcohol.
His world took a new turn when he first experimented with painkillers following a skiing injury while filming in 1997. “As the pill took effect, something clicked inside me, and I spent the rest of my life chasing that feeling… I couldn’t believe how good it felt. It was pure euphoria and a sense of wholeness,” he recalled in his book. “I was on top of the world, all alone. It was the best feeling I’ve ever had.”
He went on to say, “A year and a half later, I was taking fifty-five of those pills a day! I weighed 58 kg when I checked into rehab; my life was in ruins.”
Although the actor never showed up on the set of the iconic series “Friends” under the influence of alcohol, his co-star Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Rachel, eventually caught him drinking between takes. “I know you drink,” she confronted him. Confused, Perry asked, “How do you know? I’ve never come to work drunk.” Aniston’s response was, “We feel you, we smell you,” delivered in an oddly affectionate manner, but the use of the plural pronoun hit him like a sledgehammer, as he recounted in his book.
After checking into rehab twice while working on the hit series, first in 1997 and then again in 2001, Perry finally achieved sobriety during the filming of the ninth season of “Friends.” It was the only season he completed while completely clean, as Matthew wrote.
Warner Bros., the production company, bid farewell to their long-time collaborator with these words: “The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will endure in the hearts of many.” They added, “This is a somber day, and we send our love to his family, loved ones, and all of his devoted fans,” in a statement.