This year’s Halloween was more than deathly scary, but not only for the entertainment industry. A dreadfully mournful week saw the passing of the effervescent Friends star, Matthew Perry. The actor who for much of his life battled with addiction left an irreplaceable void in the fans’ hearts. Undeniably, he remains forever encapsulated in many memories of the millions whose faces he so effortlessly lifted. As much as his legacy as the witty and sarcastic, Chandler Bing remains immortal, so shall his one wish for himself.

A selfless gem who brought out more smiles than he ever shared, Perry always wanted to be bigger than his on-screen portrait and it happens to be taking shape.

The one where Matthew Perry stands even larger than Friends

“Hi, I’m Chandler, I make jokes when I’m uncomfortable.” The youngest among his Friends cast, Matthew Perry, gave one of the most iconic portrayals in the entertainment industry. Despite his wise-cracking self, the actor struggled with opioid addiction throughout his life. Making his way back to life after a two-week coma and a two percent survival rate years back, he wished for his legacy to stay true to his struggles. A long-standing wish of the timeless gem has now been realized with the birth of The Matthew Perry Foundation.

Maintained by the National Philanthropic Trust, the charity organization was among one of Perry’s endeavors. The foundation’s website reads one of the late actor’s statements where he wished for “helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.” In his own words, the star wished to leave a more lasting impact beyond Friends. Through the foundation, he wished to document his struggles, inspire others, and get them back on the track of life. Now, days, after his sudden demise, the actor’s team has launched it open for donations.

In the wake of such a devastating loss, the Friends cast and fans find themselves consoling their way through. However, even before his passing this week, the actor had come unfathomably close to death.

The one where Perry nearly died

The first page of the actor’s memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, reads, “… My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.” Ridden with addiction since a 1997 jet-ski accident, the beloved actor had several close calls to death in the five years between 2018-2023. From an overdose that had his colon burst to the time that his heart went silent for five whole minutes, Perry’s journey to sobriety is a marvel of its own.

The Matthew Pery Foundation stands with the aim to lay this very walk as an inspiration for anyone, anywhere. Moreover, the donations collected by the website will go for rehabilitation and wellness measures for the same purpose. Thus, even when he shines as one of the brightest stars in the sky, the actor can always look down and smile at the changes he would bring to many lives.

What are your fond memories of Matthew Perry? Let us know in the comments below.