Quote Of The Day By Matthew Perry: 'When I Die, I Don't Want Friends To Be The First Thing That's Mentioned. I Want...'

Most audiences know Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing on "Friends," but the star pushed his career further than slapstick comedy and goofing around New York. In fact some of Perry's biggest TV roles include political dramas like NBC's "The West Wing" and CBS' "The Good Wife."

He continued to try new things alongside his usual work, as Perry also directed an episode of "Scrubs" for ABC in 2004, before later voicing villain Benny in the video game "Fallout: New Vegas." He also added other NBC comedies to his resume, including "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Go On."

Perry died in 2023 at age 54 due to the acute effects of ketamine, which led to bigger conversations about addiction and recovery. The star had been open about his struggles with substance abuse over the years, and made considerable efforts to help others in a similar situation, which is why chose him for today's quote of the day. After his death, his family launched the Matthew Perry Foundation in Canada to continue his work.

"When I die, I don't want 'Friends' to be the first thing that's mentioned. I want [helping people] to be the first thing that's mentioned, and I'm gonna live the rest of my life proving that."

Matthew Perry spent much of his career campaigning and fundraising to help those struggling with addiction. The above quote comes from an interview he did on the "Q with Tom Power" podcast in November 2022 shortly after the release of his memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing."

Another interview with ABC News in 2013 highlighted that he founded The Perry House, which helped men transition from rehab back into society. Of course, "Friends" is always going to be mentioned in relation to Perry's career, but his experience with addiction on the set led to him wanting to make a change in his life. "It was fear of death, I suppose. I was getting very sick so I had to do something about it," he said.

Matthew Perry's words are a reminder that we're allowed to choose the things we want to be remembered for. Yes, he'll always be known for playing Chandler Bing, but his work with helping others through addiction is far more important. Like he mentioned in the CNN interview, he was even given the Champion of Recovery Award by the White House in 2013 for his drug court advocacy. 

His work is a reminder that we're allowed to change the direction of our lives if we're not comfortable with what we've achieved so far, and it's never too late to help others. So we can accept the things that might have defined our lives, but they can always be used to push you forward into doing something else.

It's also worth noting that our legacies don't have to be defined to just one thing. As poet Walt Whitman once wrote, "I contain multitudes."

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

• "I was a guy who wanted to become famous. There was steam coming out of my ears, I wanted to be famous so badly. You want the attention, you want the bucks, and you want the best seat in the restaurant. I didn't think what the repercussions would be." — from a 2002 interview with The New York Times
• "The thing that I'm most proud of in my life is that if a stranger came up to me and said, 'I can't stop drinking. I can't stop drinking. Can you help me?' I can say, 'Yes, I can help you.'" — from a 2013 interview with ABC News
• "I am me. And that should be enough, it always has been enough. I was the one who didn't get that. And now I do. I'm an actor, I'm a writer. I'm a person. And a good one at that. I want good things for myself, and others, and I can continue to work for these things. There is a reason I'm still here. And figuring out why is the task that has been put in front of me. And it will be revealed. There is no rush, no desperation. Just the fact that I am here, and I care about people, is the answer. Now when I wake up, I wake up curious, wondering what the world has in store for me, and I for it. And that's enough to go on." — from his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing"