Matthew Perry said that he didn't want to be remembered for being on 'Friends' after he died

• Matthew Perry said that when he died he didn't want "Friends" to be the first thing people mentioned.
• He said he wanted to be remembered for helping others who suffered from addiction, like himself.

Matthew Perry said that when he died, he hoped people would remember him for his work helping people with addiction rather than for being on the hit TV show "Friends."

In an interview with podcaster Tom Power in 2022, he reflected on his life, the mirage of fame, and his intense struggle with addiction.

"The best thing about me, bar none, is that if somebody comes to me and says, 'I can't stop drinking, can you help me?' I can say 'yes' and follow up and do it," he said.

He continued: "When I die, I don't want 'Friends' to be the first thing that's mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that's mentioned. And I'm gonna live the rest of my life proving that."

Perry has been open about his addiction to alcohol and opiates, which led to him going to rehab several times.

He has since worked to support others with substance abuse issues, including by turning his former Malibu beach home into a men's sober living facility called Perry House.

He has also advocated for drug courts, in which non-violent substance abusers who commit offenses would receive help rather than be incarcerated.

The actor wrote a memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," that came out last year, in which he spoke candidly about his mental health and addiction issues.

In the 2022 interview, Perry talked about how important it was for him to speak to and help people who have gone through similar struggles.

"I can't describe it. Something spiritual, it fills your heart, you see the lights coming on for a new person who didn't understand," he said.

Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home on Saturday, aged 54.