Matthew Perry Had Emergency Surgical procedure Days Earlier than ‘Pals’ Reunion

Pals followers have been excited to look at your entire solid reunite for its televised particular final yr — however Matthew Perry’s well being almost brought about him to overlook the taping.

“They did all types of issues,” the 17 Once more star, 53, informed Diane Sawyer in the course of the Friday, October 28, taping of Nightline, noting he had an emergency dental surgical procedure that made his “mouth really feel like fireplace.”

Whereas recuperating from the medical process, Perry wasn’t certain if he was as much as movie the April 2021 TV particular. “It seemed like my voice was off,” he recalled to Sawyer, 76. “[But] I couldn’t not present up. So, what I selected to do was simply go and do the most effective that I may.”

The six Pals stars — Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer — reunited on display for the primary time for the reason that sitcom’s 2004 finale. Pals: The Reunion was filmed in April 2021 on the Warner Bros. lot with host James Corden, one month earlier than debuting on HBO Max’s streaming platform.

“I felt like I used to be gonna die in the event that they didn’t chuckle. It’s not wholesome for certain, however I’d generally say a line they usually wouldn’t chuckle, and I’d sweat and go into convulsions,” Perry admitted in the course of the particular about his time on the sitcom, during which they filmed in entrance of a dwell studio viewers. “If I didn’t get the chuckle I used to be purported to get, I’d freak out. I felt like that each single night time.”

Whereas the Massachusetts native’s character of Chandler Bing was identified for his sarcastic humorousness on the 10-season comedy, Perry struggled behind the scenes. The Fools Rush In actor has since been candid about his struggles with habit, resulting in a number of rehab stays.

“On the time I ought to have been the toast of the city,” Perry recalled to the legendary broadcaster on Friday, admitting he would take “55 Vicodin” tablets every day. “I used to be in a darkish room assembly nothing however drug sellers and fully alone.”

Because the Odd Couple alum battled his internal demons, he was supported by his Pals household.

“[Jennifer] was the one which reached out essentially the most,” Perry mentioned of the 53-year-old Morning Present star. “I’m actually grateful to her for that. … Think about how scary a second that was [when she told me she knew I was drinking heavily].”

In case you or anybody you already know is going through substance abuse points, name the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Providers Administration’s Nationwide Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 at no cost and confidential info 24/7.