Los Angeles Times

Matthew Perry starred in a hit show. But for those fighting addiction, his greatest legacy is his memoir

Matthew Perry attends the GQ Men of the Year Party 2022 at The West Hollywood EDITION on Nov. 17, 2022, in West Hollywood.

Matthew Perry may be widely remembered for his role as the sweetly acerbic Chandler Bing on “Friends,” but for the millions of Americans who have struggled with addiction and sought recovery, the actor’s 2022 memoir might be his most impactful work.

Perry’s memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” published to great acclaim last fall, recounted his decades-long struggles with substances and his herculean recovery efforts. Within hours of the news of Perry’s death Saturday at age 54, readers flooded social media with tributes about the bravery of his book. Among the revelations: Perry estimated that he had spent more than $7

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times6 min readAmerican Government
How Kevin McCarthy Is Influencing This Congressional Race — Without Being On The Ballot
VISALIA, Calif. — As he stood on a sun-dappled patio overlooking the Visalia Country Club, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux didn't mince words about his chances in his run for Congress. "I am the underdog," Boudreaux told a crowd of supporters. "
Los Angeles Times5 min read
Mary McNamara: Being A ‘Doctor Who’ Fan Means Learning How To Love And Lose And Love Again
I’m four episodes into the reign of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor ... well, five if you count the “Doctor Who Special 4” in which he met his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) ... well, five and a half if you also count the “Doctor Who Special 3”
Los Angeles Times6 min read
In Rural Calif., Serenity Threatened By Planned Battery Facilities, Costlier Fire Insurance
ACTON, Calif. -- On five acres in Acton, Christina Weyer and her husband care for rescued senior and special-needs equines. At the moment, six horses and 13 donkeys, along with a dog and a clutter of feral cats, share the property. In this dry, winds

Related Books & Audiobooks