Following the heartbreaking passing of Matthew Perry over the weekend, fans may have noticed that the star's final posts all had one thing in common: Batman.
On Saturday, it was reported that Perry had died at the age of 54.
TMZ and the Los Angeles Times were the first outlets to report that Perry had been found unresponsive by authorities in the hot tub of his home in LA.
As the weekend unfolded, many of the late Friends star's fans took to Perry's Instagram page to pay their respects in the comments section of his final post.
Just five days before his unexpected passing, Perry's Instagram post hinted at a profound connection with the iconic superhero, Batman, as the actor whimsically termed himself "Mattman" in the post's caption.
Eagle-eyed followers immediately noted the photograph that accompanied this post. It captured a now-heartbreaking but serene moment with Perry, often affectionately known as Matty by his friends, relaxing in an outdoor hot tub in LA.
However, this wasn't a one-time association. The beloved 17 Again star also referenced Batman in the past six posts.
Perry initiated this series with a snapshot of a home cinema space, displaying three screens airing the most recent edition of the Batman saga, titled 'The Batman'. Other posts showcased the renowned bat insignia in different contexts, like the emblem intricately carved on a Halloween pumpkin.
Throughout these posts, Perry consistently played on the Batman theme, dubbing himself "Mattman".
In fact, a source close to the star responded to potential concerns surrounding the posts, telling PEOPLE that Perry was "just having fun".
Although the posts may seem somewhat bizarre to some people, Perry's love of Batman is actually something he has spoken about at length in the past.
As reported by Indy100, his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing incorporated several Batman references, with its concluding chapter aptly named "Batman". Delving deeper, Perry humorously recalled dubbing an assistant "Alfred", who in response addressed him as "Mr. Wayne".
Perry also opened up about his childhood fantasies - envisioning his father as Superman while he took on the role of Gotham's The Dark Knight.
Elsewhere in the memoir, he writes (via the Daily Mail): "Someday you, too, might be called upon to do something important, so be ready for it. And when whatever happens, just think, What would Batman do? and do that."
An interview with GQ prior to the memoir's launch revealed an amusing anecdote. Perry once invested in a sprawling 10,400-square-foot LA penthouse, drawing inspiration from Christian Bale's portrayal in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy.
Perry’s simple rationale was: "Bruce Wayne had a penthouse – I’m going to have one."
Further, Perry shared his excitement about designing a Batman-themed space in his new residence, humorously naming it his "Matt cave". This room boasted a pool table, huge television, a sleek black sofa, and shelving adorned with Batman collectibles. When questioned about this fascination, Perry said: "I am Batman".
Although this could be considered a silly quip, Perry was quick to draw parallels between himself and The Caped Crusader, saying: "I relate to Batman very much".
He would then summarize: "I don’t solve crime. But I’ve saved people’s lives."
Indeed, Perry's candid outspoken approach to his battles with addiction was not only something that inspired countless fans while he was alive, but also has been praised and highlighted following his sudden death. On top of that, he also created The Perry House in Malibu in the 2010s - a sober-living facility for men battling alcohol abuse.
In a light-hearted GQ segment, '10 things I can’t live without', Perry delved deeper into his Batman fandom. He revealed that his adoration originated from the Christopher Nolan films but has since expanded to the recent installment starring Robert Pattinson. Concluding the segment, Perry jested once again: "I am Batman."
However, one caption - in which Perry asked, "Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?" - left many of his 8.1 million Instagram followers speculating if the actor was dropping hints that he had or was trying to land a role in an upcoming Batman movie.
But, as of this writing, we just don't know.
Ultimately, the extent of Perry's captions about Batman remains open to interpretation - but there's no denying that he was simply a huge fan of the superhero.
Additionally, it cannot be overlooked the uncanny resemblance between Perry's aspiration for his legacy.
Last year, he revealed in an interview: "I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker and his paramount thing is that he wants to help people" - which parallels the iconic Christian Bale Batman line of: "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me."