What Matthew Perry said about prayer and religion
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Matthew Perry, who was found dead Saturday at age 54, did not speak about faith often, but the stories he did share highlighted religion’s pivotal role in his life and career.
Last year, as he promoted his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry told Bill Maher, the host of “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO, that his “very close relationship” with a higher power helped him through his addiction recovery.
“I believe there is a higher power,” Perry said, according to The Christian Post. “I have a very close relationship with Him that’s helped me a lot.”
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Matthew Perry’s experience with addiction
Perry made the comment to Maher after recounting his recovery from a “burst colon brought about by opioid abuse,” The Christian Post reported. Doctors were able to save him with a “Hail Mary” procedure.
Perry, who is most famous for playing Chandler on “Friends,” also struggled with alcohol addiction for most of his acting career.
In a 2002 interview with The New York Times, he said that his decision to enter rehab in 2001 had come about during a “very lovely spiritual moment.”
“Everything’s clear for one split second,” he told The New York Times. “I realize, I’ve got to go save myself. I got on the phone and called the people who were willing to help me.”
Matthew Perry prayer quote
When talking about his struggles with addiction, Perry often noted that his problematic relationship with alcohol began before he moved to Hollywood and began auditioning.
He pursued acting because he thought it would heal the pain he was trying to numb by drinking, according to The Christian Post.
In the midst of his pain, he prayed to become famous.
“That prayer was, ‘Please, God, make me famous. You can do anything you want to me; just make me famous,’” Perry told reporter Tom Power last year, according to CBC. “Three weeks later, I got ‘Friends’ — and God did not forget about the second part.”
Matthew Perry death
As of Sunday, the cause of Perry’s death was unknown.
“The death was confirmed by Capt. Scot Williams of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide division. He said the cause of death was not likely to be determined for some time, but there was no indication of foul play,” The New York Times reported.
The Los Angeles Times reported that no drugs were found at the scene of Perry’s death.
