Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular TV show Friends, made his last public appearance with a cryptic post on Instagram on October 22. In the post, he referred to himself as “Mattman” and shared a photo of himself reclining in his hot tub, looking out at the lights of the Pacific Palisades. Little did anyone know that this would be Perry’s final days, as he was found unresponsive in the same hot tub just six days later and was pronounced dead at the age of 53.
The mystery of “Mattman” left many people speculating. Was it a code? An inside joke? TikTok conspiracy theorists even questioned if it was a cry for help. However, the truth behind “Mattman” was that Perry was obsessed with Batman. In 2017, he spent a staggering $20 million on a 10,000-square-foot “mansion in the sky” that had a “bat cave” to store his Caped Crusader memorabilia. Perry bought the property to live out his Bruce Wayne fantasies and even talked about “Mattman” in his 2022 addiction memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.”
But how serious was Perry about “Mattman”? In November 2020, while on the set of “Don’t Look Up,” Perry approached Adam McKay, the director of the film, with a proposal to produce the project which Perry hoped would be his comeback vehicle.
Perry’s health struggle was well-known. Just two years earlier, he had narrowly escaped death after his colon burst due to prolonged opioid abuse. Despite his struggles, Perry’s energy and determination were evident in his eagerness to play a role in “Don’t Look Up,” a film that included stellar actors like Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jonah Hill.
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However, when Perry showed up on set, it was clear that he was not in good health. Concerned about his well-being, McKay had hoped that the role in “Don’t Look Up” might set Perry back on track. However, Perry’s fascination with “Mattman” offered a window into his mind, and McKay wondered if Perry’s fixation on superpowers was an appeal to his own higher power. Regardless, Perry had devoted much of his life and his own millions to helping others, particularly fellow addicts, and this work will continue posthumously through the newly announced Matthew Perry Foundation.
In their conversations, McKay pitched a different autobiographical show idea to Perry. He suggested a show about a well-known TV personality dealing with addiction, drawing from Perry’s own experiences. However, Perry had no interest in the idea, and his struggles ultimately led to his character being cut from “Don’t Look Up” after he flew to a rehab facility in Switzerland.
The story of Matthew Perry’s struggles and creative aspirations reflects a complex journey of addiction and determination. It’s an important reminder of the challenges faced by many people dealing with addiction and mental health issues. Despite Perry’s tragic end, his legacy and impact on the entertainment industry continue to be felt and remembered.
