The world is still reeling from the loss of FRIENDS star Matthew Perry’s untimely demise recently. The actor’s death shocked everyone, including the general public and industry folks who couldn’t believe the news as the actor had been doing very well in his life in the past few years. The world lost an imaginary friend named Chandler Bing, who was the actor’s most recognizable character in showbiz.
Perry had started having problems with addiction well before he pursued acting. So, he desperately wanted a role that would divert him from his problematic behavior. He even prayed and sought help from God in becoming famous.
Matthew Perry Begged God to Help him Become Famous
Matthew Perry was an aspiring actor back then who was not satisfied with the roles he was getting early in his career. He wanted a bonafide role that justified his natural comedic skills and charm. Additionally, he was struggling with an alcohol addiction problem and thus wanted something to divert his attention to.
In an interview with Tom Power last year, he talked about how he knelt on his knees and begged God to help him become famous. Although he was blessed with FRIENDS, he started to realize that his addiction problem did not go away. He said,
“That prayer was, ‘Please, God, make me famous. You can do anything you want to me; just make me famous’. Three weeks later, I got ‘Friends, and God did not forget about the second part. I had the American Dream, and I really really liked it for about 6 months.
I walked into my house and went, ‘Oh this is it fixing the problem that I have’. Alcoholism did not care that I was on Friends. Alcoholism wants you alone; it wants you sick; and then it wants to kill you.”
It is very heartbreaking to hear Perry’s story and how badly he was trying to find a way to beat the ‘disease’. On the other hand, it is very inspiring to see such a famous actor be open and transparent about his personal battles which makes him relatable and human.
Matthew Perry Wanted Zac Efron to Play Him in His Biopic
Before his untimely death, Matthew Perry was preparing to start some film-related projects. He was about to star in some films while also preparing to make some, including a biopic about his life. According to his friend Athenna Crosby, Perry wanted actor Zac Efron, who interestingly played a younger version of him in 17 Again, to play him in his biopic. Crosby told Entertainment Tonight,
“He said that he wanted to make a movie about his life… And he had worked with Zac Efron in the past on a movie, and he said that he wanted Zac Efron to play him as a younger version [of himself] and that he was gonna ask him soon to do that.
He was just looking forward to sharing more about his story and his recovery from addiction, and really championing that cause to help more people, so he was so optimistic and happy about everything that he wanted to do.”
It would be a fitting tribute if this biopic was made. It was something that the late actor wanted to make and if someone responsible took it up with Efron in the role, it would fulfill some of the desires that he had before he passed away.
Also read: Matthew Perry Requested 2 Things Hours Before His Tragic Death
