Sean Penn praises Matthew Perry for speaking out about his addiction battle before death
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"He got to leave that tale behind," the director said, "and he got to give a lot of joy to a lot of people with his talent."
Sean Penn is saluting late Friends star Matthew Perry for speaking out about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction prior to his death.
The actor and director, who starred on two episodes of Friends in 2001, described Perry as a “talented guy” and recalled praising him on his journey the last time that the pair crossed paths.
“I can’t claim to have known him well, but I liked him very much,” Penn said on Wednesday’s episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored. "I saw him somewhat recently, and we were both catching a flight out of Los Angeles airport, and I complimented him on what I knew of his book.”
In Perry's novel, titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, the star openly discussed his decades-long battle with drug and alcohol addiction. Although Penn acknowledged that he “hadn’t read the book," the filmmaker said that he’d seen “several” of Perry’s interviews at the time.
“He seemed to be talking about it, had confronted it, and was very intelligent and bold about it. And generously offering his experience to people to be helpful," he said. "It's tragic, I can't say that I was terribly surprised. I don't know what the whole coroner's report things and everything, but I know he had done a lot of damage to his organs over the years.”
Penn described Perry's death as a “tough situation,” but noted that the actor left a lasting impact on the world through his art and his candor. “He got to leave that tale behind, and he got to give a lot of joy to a lot of people with his talent,” he concluded. “So, I wish his family well.”
Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Michael Kovac/FilmMagic
Sean Penn and Matthew PerryPerry, 54, was found dead in a hot tub in his Los Angeles home last month. While a cause of death has not been determined, authorities said that they do not suspect foul play. Penn joins a collection of stars who have all paid tribute to the late actor, including his Friends castmates, Elliott Gould, Aisha Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Sarah Paulson, and Hank Azaria.
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