Matthew Perry signed a big fat check without a second thought for Hollywood star

September 27, 2024

Michael J Fox has opened up about a generous act by Matthew Perry after he started his own charity in the 90s.

The actor said that Matthew Perry donated a lump sum of money from his first Friends check to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He started the organization after being diagnosed with the disease in 1991. The Back To The Future star has been open about his battle for years. He also admitted he would forgive his wife for leaving him if it ever became too much. But following the tragic death of TV star Perry, he remembered his amazing gesture for the charity.

“Take it and do your best”

Despite saying that charitable donations tend to be “discreet” the 62-year-old said that he didn’t think the late star would mind him sharing the story.

“I have to say, my preference is to be discreet, but I hope he doesn’t mind,” the Hollywood actor said.

“When they first had their big sale, whatever they did, and [the Friends cast was] all made millionaires for the rest of their lives, he wrote a big fat check to the foundation .”

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He continued, the 54-year-old told him to “do your best” with the money that he was giving to the charity.

Perry added: “We were really early on and trying to find our feet. It was such a tremendous vote of his confidence. It wasn’t accompanied by any self-aggrandizing. He was just [wrote the check and said,] ‘Take it and do your best.’ I love that.”

Calling Matthew “a really nice guy,” the Back to the Future star said: “When I think of Matthew, he’s a funny guy. If I was ever as funny as he is at his funniest, I’m happy. He was really funny.”

Matthew Perry passed away late last month

Matthew was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28 at the age of 54. Tributes soon poured in from numerous celebrities, including his Friends co-stars.

The celebrity played Chandler Bing in the iconic sitcom alongside Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Courtney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow. The official Friends X — formerly Twitter — account penned: “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”

The five remaining main cast later said that they were “devastated.’

“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” they said in a joint statement, “We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

The One Where a Storyline Didn’t Happen

The actor allegedly stepped in and had a storyline removed from the show, which would have seen his character cheat on his girlfriend Monica (Courtney Cox).

Lisa Cash, who was meant to play the hotel worker who he would have been unfaithful with, told TMZ that it was rehearsed, but Matthew felt that fans would never “forgive” Chandler.

“He was probably right,” she said, “that would have changed possibly the course of the show and of his character.”

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