Michael J. Fox Shares Special Memory of Late Friend Matthew Perry

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Matthew Perry and Michael J. Fox during 5th Annual GQ Men of the Year Awards

Michael J. Fox is reminiscing on his friendship with Matthew Perry in a new interview.

The Back to the Future alum spoke with Entertainment Tonight's Cassie DiLaura on Nov. 11, during his annual fundraising benefit for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Cure Parkinson's Gala.

The 62-year-old and Perry, who died in Oct. at the age of 54, played hockey together over the years. "He was a hockey player, a good hockey player," Fox recalled.

But long before that, Perry, who looked up to Fox as a young actor, offered the fellow star a helping hand when he was first setting up his charity.

"I hope this isn't indiscreet..." Fox said, before reflecting on the main cast of Friends' impressive, record-setting contracts, "but when they first made their big sale and were made millionaires for the rest of their lives, he wrote a big fat check to the foundation."

Fox called it "such a vote of confidence" to have that support so early on. "And it wasn't accompanied by any self-aggrandizing or anything, he was just like, 'Take it and do your best.' I loved that."

Perry opened up about his reverence for Fox in the year before his death, telling Tom Powers, "I was young, I had done a couple of plays in school, and Michael J. Fox was it, man. When I was in ninth grade, Michael J. Fox had just done Back to the Future, and there was smoke coming out of my ears, I was so jealous of this guy." Fox had a number one television show and a number one film at the same time, and Perry went on to joke, "And I don't know anybody else who's done that -- except me."

In response, Fox told DiLaura, "He was just a funny guy, and if I was ever as funny as him -- I mean, he was the funniest -- I'm happy I had an impact on him. He was a funny guy."

Next: Hank Azaria Details the Hilarious Pranks Matthew Perry Used to Play in Public