Why Matthew Perry Felt 'Guilty' Cashing His Multi-Million-Dollar “Friends” Paycheck at the Show's Height

Perry, who died Oct. 28 at age 54, and his 'Friends' costars each made $1 million per episode for the final two seasons of the hit NBC comedy

Matthew Perry had mixed feelings about making $1 million per episode on Friends.

The late actor, who died on Oct. 28 at the age of 54, recalled feeling guilty after he and his costars negotiated for their historic paychecks.

“The worst part of it was feeling a little guilty, like, ‘Wait a minute, I’m going here to do something I love,’” he shared in an exit interview with Entertainment Weekly timed to the hit NBC comedy's series finale in 2004 (which was included in PEOPLE's recent Friends special edition).

Related: Matthew Perry Once Said He'd Give Up Fame and Fortune to Avoid Facing Addiction: 'I Would Trade It All'

The actor, who played Chandler Bing on Friends, talked with PEOPLE for a 2022 cover story about the joys of filming the 10-season sitcom alongside costars — and real-life friends — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.

“I don’t belittle how fun the experience has been on Friends,” he explained. “And the money was amazing. Just the creative experience of being on the show probably saved my life.”

Perry — who was open about his struggle with addiction — added: “When you’re making a million dollars a week, you can’t drink the 37th drink. You have to go home and go to sleep. ... That was the greatest job in the world.”

Related: Matthew Perry Revealed Before His Death Why He Never Watched Friends

However, the actor admitted he would let go of all of his fame and fortune to avoid addiction.

“The fact that I would trade it all to not have this disease is true,” he said.

Perry was found dead at his Los Angeles-area home on Oct. 28. Sources told TMZ that first responders were called to the residence for cardiac arrest, and no illicit drugs were found at the scene.

In addition, the outlet obtained 911 dispatch audio in which "drowning" is referenced.

Related: What Happens to Matthew Perry's Estate, Including His Friends Residuals? Legal Experts Explain (Exclusive)

Shortly after Perry's death, his Friends costars broke their silence with a joint statement exclusive to PEOPLE: "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. 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."

Related: Friends Director on Why Matthew Perry Made the ‘Perfect’ Chandler Bing: ‘He Was Inventive’

Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, as well as executive producer Kevin Bright, also issued a joint statement.

“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” they wrote. “It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent.”

Kaufman, Crane and Bright's statement concluded, “We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment — not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart."

PEOPLE's newly expanded Friends special edition issue is celebrating Matthew Perry’s life, humor and the show that made him beloved by millions.

PEOPLE confirmed that Perry was laid to rest on Nov. 3 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. All five of his Friends costars were in attendance for the service.

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