by In a tell-all interview this week, action star Bruce Willis made a startling revelation about his best friend, actor Matthew Perry. Willis stated bluntly that due to Perry’s long struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, he will “never be the same person again.”
Willis’ comments cast a somber tone on Perry’s ongoing journey to maintain sobriety and come at an ironic time, just as Perry is opening up about his battles in a new memoir titled “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.”
A Decades-Long Friendship
Willis and Perry have been close pals since they co-starred in the hit 1990s sitcom “Friends.” Willis played the father of Perry’s character Chandler Bing in a three-episode guest arc during the show’s third season.
“We just clicked immediately,” Willis said of his initial meetings with Perry on the “Friends” set. “I could tell right away that Matthew was a special guy – incredibly talented and very, very funny, but also very sensitive.”
Their friendship continued over the years, through Perry’s meteoric rise to stardom and his subsequent struggles with substance abuse.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Willis said. “I’ve seen him at his highest highs and his lowest lows. When he’s sober and on top of things, he’s one of the most charming, engaging guys you’ll ever meet. But when he was deep in the throes of addiction … well, things got very dark at times.”
Willis choked up briefly, showing uncharacteristic emotion. “It pains me to say this, but the Matthew Perry I knew, the vibrant, energetic Matthew Perry who I became so close with all those years ago, is gone forever. Addiction has taken away a part of his soul that he’ll never get back again.”
A History of Substance Abuse
Matthew Perry has been remarkably candid about his battles with alcoholism and addiction to prescription drugs like Vicodin and Xanax.
He first entered rehab in 1997, while starring on “Friends.” Over the next two decades, he would check himself into treatment facilities over a dozen times.
In 2000, he was hospitalized for pancreatitis, with doctors warning that his organs were shutting down from drug and alcohol abuse. Just two years later, his addictions were so out of control that he nearly died again, going into a coma for two weeks.
Through it all, Perry continued working, famously struggling through filming episodes of “Friends” while in the depths of alcoholism.
“I was out of control and very unhealthy,” Perry writes in his new book, recalling how he frequently showed up “reeking of booze” on the “Friends” set.
His co-stars were well aware of his addiction issues. Like Willis, they stuck by his side through repeated relapses and stints in rehab. But they saw the profound impact the drugs and drinking were having.
“There was a moment in time when I realized this can’t go on,” said Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay on “Friends.” “He had to get sober for Matthew Perry to emerge.”
The Long Road to Recovery
After finally achieving sobriety, Perry soon experienced a major setback following a 2015 gastrointestinal surgery. To manage the pain, he again became dependent on opioids.
It led to another stint in rehab in 2018. This time, Willis personally staged an intervention along with other close friends to get Perry back into treatment.
“That was a rough period,” Willis said. “I wasn’t sure if he could pull through. But he got the help he needed and has been doing much better.”
In the years since, Perry has continued to take recovery one day at a time. Friends say he attends regular AA meetings and has a strong sober support system.
But Willis maintains that long-term damage has already been done. And that is why, despite being proud of Perry’s recovery progress, he believes his friend will never fully regain his former charisma and emotional state.
The Matthew Perry I Knew Is “Gone Forever”
Willis spoke at length about witnessing Perry’s personality change dramatically when in the throes of addiction.
“When he was sober, he was the most charming, funny guy you’d ever want to be around. He’s a phenomenal friend and has a heart of gold,” Willis said.
“But drugs and alcohol changed him. When he was using, it was like a dark cloud settling over him. He became moody, angry, and isolated himself from friends and family.”
According to Willis, Perry still struggles with depression and the lingering impacts from years of substance abuse.
“The damage goes deep, let me tell you,” he said. “I’m not saying I don’t have hope. But from what I’ve seen, when you abuse hardcore drugs and alcohol for as long and as heavily as he did, it fundamentally changes a person.”
Willis says he doesn’t expect Perry ever to exhibit consistently the same passion, energy and emotional availability that he once displayed.
“I’ll always love Matthew and we’ll remain great friends,” he said. “But the Matthew Perry I originally met – the vibrant, funny, energetic guy who lit up every room – sadly, that Matthew Perry is gone forever.”
A Cautionary Tale
While not giving up on his friend, Willis views Perry’s story as a cautionary tale about the ravages of addiction.
“Matthew wouldn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him,” Willis said. “If anything, he hopes being open about his struggles can help others.”
Indeed, Perry gets very candid in his new memoir about the isolationism and despair brought on by addiction. He also expresses deep regrets about the opportunities and relationships he missed out on while in the haze of alcoholism and drug use.
“My hope is that anyone battling addiction reads Matthew’s story and realizes that it’s never impossible to turn your life around,” Willis said. “But at the same time, you have to be ready to fully confront just how much damage you may have already done.”
According to Willis, the Matthew Perry who emerged post-rehab, while still maintaining his trademark humor, is a quieter, more introspective version.
“He appreciates life in a way he never did before,” Willis said. “He’s an inspiration and I’m proud to call him my friend. But make no mistake – addiction has taken a tremendous toll. A part of him is gone forever.”
Conclusion
Bruce Willis’ revelations cast Matthew Perry’s recovery journey in a bittersweet light. While applauding his friend’s progress, Willis feels Perry will always be haunted by the personal destruction wrought by years of addiction.
Still, Perry appears determined to stay the course, remaining open about his struggles in the hope that it inspires others. And he continues to have the support of loyal friends like Willis.
Willis’ insights serve as a powerful reminder that addiction should never be trivialized. Substance abuse, when severe and prolonged, can fundamentally alter lives – even for those like Perry who manage to regain sobriety.
Perry’s story is still being written. But by laying bare his battles with candor – and acknowledging the pain caused along the way – he is conveying an important message: the road back from addiction is long and often incomplete. But the effort is always worth it.
