Matthew Perry was eager to make a movie about his life, the late actor’s friend Athenna Crosby recently told Entertainment Tonight Canada. Crosby had met with Perry for lunch the day before his unexpected passing. The “Friends” star died Oct. 28 at 54 years old. According to Crosby, Perry was keen on getting a biopic of his life off the ground and even floated the idea of having Zac Efron star as him.
“He said that he wanted to make a movie about his life,” Crosby said. “And he had worked with Zac Efron in the past on a movie. He said that he wanted Zac Efron to play him as a younger version and that he was gonna ask him soon to do that.”
“He was just looking forward to sharing more about his story and his recovery from addiction, and really championing that cause to help more people,” Crosby added. “So he was so optimistic and happy about everything that he wanted to do.”
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Perry starred together with Efron in the 2009 teen fantasy comedy “17 Again,” in which Perry’s character gets magically transformed back to his 17-year-old self. The two actors played the same character at different ages. The comedy was a box office hit with a $139.5 million global gross.
The cause of Perry’s death has yet to be revealed. He was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Oct. 28, according to law enforcement. There was no signs of foul play or drugs on the scene.
“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,” Perry’s “Friends” co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer wrote in a joint statement after his death. “In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
In the aftermath of his death, the Matthew Perry Foundation has been announced and is now accepting donations to help individuals dealing with addiction.
“In the spirit of Matthew Perry’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we embark on a journey to honor his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible,” the foundation’s inaugural statement reads.
Head over to Entertainment Tonight Canada’s website to read more from Crosby’s interview. The Matthew Perry Foundation’s official website can be found here.
