Matthew Perry spoke of his addiction issues while working on Friends (Picture: NBC)
Matthew Perry has revealed that he was taking 55 Vicodin a day on the Friends set, while he battled a drug addiction.
The actor played Chandler Bing in the wildly popular sitcom, alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc.
Throughout his time on the comedy, the 53-year-old soared to huge heights with his career and was nominated for many awards beside his co-stars, but it was a different story behind the scenes.
Speaking about his lowest points in a new interview to promote his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing – which is released on November 1 – he explained that he was ‘entrenched in a lot of trouble’ at one point.
People Magazine reports that his issues with alcohol were just coming to the surface when he was cast in Friends, at the age of 24.
‘I could handle it, kind of. But by the time I was 34, I was really entrenched in a lot of trouble,’ he told the publication. ‘But there were years that I was sober during that time.
Matthew starred as Chandler Bing in the hugely successful series (Picture: NBC)
His castmates rallied around him at his low moments (Picture: NBC)
‘Season 9 was the year that I was sober the whole way through. And guess which season I got nominated for best actor? I was like, “That should tell me something.”’
The show ran for 10 seasons, between 1994 and 2004, and Matthew’s appearance changed dramatically throughout this time, as he battled addiction issues on set.
His weight dropped to around nine stone as he took 55 Vicodin a day at one point, and ‘didn’t know how to stop’.
Matthew has explored his addiction battles in his new book (Picture: WireImage)
‘If the police came over to my house and said, “If you drink tonight, we’re going to take you to jail,” I’d start packing,’ he continued to the outlet. ‘I couldn’t stop because the disease and the addiction is progressive. So it gets worse and worse as you grow older.’
Recalling how his castmates responded to his struggles, Matthew added that they were ‘understanding, and they were patient’.
‘It’s like penguins. Penguins, in nature, when one is sick, or when one is very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up,’ he added. ‘They walk around it until that penguin can walk on its own. That’s kind of what the cast did for me.’
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After a terrifying health scare a few years ago, the Whole Nine Yards star has worked hard to maintain his sobriety and is currently feeling ‘pretty healthy’.
He is now hoping to help others struggling with addiction through his new book, which hits shelves in just a few weeks.
Matthew Perry: Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing is released on November 1.
Worried about drugs?
Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email [email protected], message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.
Adfam has local groups for families affected by drugs and alcohol and DrugFam offers phone and email support to people affected by other people’s drug or alcohol misuse.
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He revealed his co-stars were ‘understanding and patient’.