WATCH: Friends star Matthew Perry opens up about drug addiction
'Friends' star Matthew Perry has opened up about his battle with addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs
11 years after the show ended, 'Friends' star Matthew Perry has opened up about the years in which he was battling alcohol and prescription drug addiction the whole time.
He played the lovable funny guy, Chandler and has now opened up about what it’s been like to deal with his addiction in the public eye. He told the 'Hollywood Reporter' "I’m a pretty private person, but I was on a TV show that 30 million people were watching. So people knew. It was so public what was happening to me." He added; "You can’t have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it solved in 28 days."
The actor is currently starring in 'The Odd Couple' and is helping to promote the rehabilitation centre Phoenix House on the Venice Beach boardwalk to help those with addiction. Talking about the project he said "I was very moved by the hope that I saw there, which is what this is all about. Getting sober is a really hard thing to do."
He went into rehab in 1997 and 2001 but feels his fame can now help people. "The best thing about me is that an alcoholic can come up to me and say “can you help me?” and I can say “yes I can."
Watch the full interview here: