Matthew Perry apologizes after questioning why Keanu Reeves is still alive when 'talented' actors are dead: 'I'm actually a big fan'

• Matthew Perry has apologized for questioning why Keanu Reeves "still walks among us" in his memoir.
• He made references to Reeves still being alive while reflecting on the deaths of his costars.

Matthew Perry has apologized after questioning why Keanu Reeves "still walks among us" when "talented" actors and "original thinkers" like River Phoenix, Heath Ledger, and Chris Farley are dead.

The former "Friends" star told Deadline that he meant no malice by namedropping Reeves in his forthcoming memoir, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing," as he had just picked a "random name."

Perry said: "I'm actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead."

Perry, 53, shared his thoughts about the "John Wick" star in his autobiography, which will be released on November 1.

In excerpts from the book, published by Variety and The Sunday Times, Perry mentioned Reeves by name twice while reflecting on the premature deaths of Phoenix, Ledger, and Farley.

Perry wrote of his "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon" costar Phoenix: "River was a beautiful man, inside and out — too beautiful for this world, it turned out. It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down. Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?"

In another instance, Perry recalled his reaction when he discovered that his "Almost Heroes" costar Farley had died of an overdose.

"I punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston's dressing room wall when I found out," he wrote.

At the time, Perry had been filming scenes for the NBC sitcom "Friends," which also starred Aniston, 53.

Insider has reached out to Reeves' representative and will add any comment received.

Meanwhile, many celebrities have taken to social media to throw their support behind Reeves following Perry's comments.

"West Side Story" actor Rachel Zegler wrote on Twitter: "personally thrilled that keanu reeves walks among us," while former "Wonder Woman" star Lynda Carter shared: "Come on...Keanu Reeves is like one of those frozen cakes. Nobody doesn't like him!"

In the memoir, Perry also opened up about his alcohol and drug addiction that began when he was 14 years old. He told The New York Times ahead of the release of the book that he was driven back to a treatment center immediately after filming the "Friends" scene where his character Chandler Bing marries Monica Geller.

"I married Monica and got driven back to the treatment center — at the height of my highest point in 'Friends,' the highest point in my career, the iconic moment on the iconic show — in a pickup truck helmed by a sober technician," Perry said.