In the fallout of the heartbreaking death of Matthew Perry, many of those closest to the beloved actor have been sharing candid details about the star that fans may not have known.
Tragically, Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home over the weekend, leaving millions of his fans around the world devastated. He was just 54 years old.
Law enforcement sources have informed TMZ that there were no drugs or signs of suspected foul play at the scene. The coroner’s office has since confirmed that Perry's cause of death had been "deferred" at this time. This essentially means that an autopsy has been completed, but the examiner requires additional time and further investigation into the sudden tragedy.
Following the release of Perry's 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, there's no doubt that the actor's remarkable but sometimes turbulent life could one day be made into a biopic. And it turns out Perry apparently knew exactly who he'd like to play him.
Speaking to PEOPLE, entertainment reporter and model Athenna Crosby - who saw Perry just one day before his death - revealed that the star had previously voiced his interest in having Zac Efron play him in a movie.
"He wanted to make a movie about his life and have a biopic made,” Crosby told the outlet.
Fans may remember that Efron and Perry once played the same character in the 2009 comedy 17 Again.
In the movie, Efron plays the younger version of the character Mike O'Donnell - who is given a second chance at reliving his youth after becoming disinterested in his life as an adult (where he is played by Perry).
Crosby revealed that Perry apparently thought Efron "did such a good job" portraying a younger version of him, that he believed it made the High School Music star a great choice
Following the loss of Matthew Perry, many of those closest to him also shared touching tributes to the beloved actor.
In a heartfelt statement, Perry's family said: "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend."
The grief was also echoed by his Friends co-stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer — who issued a joint statement expressing their devastation and describing the bond they shared as one akin to family. "We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew... We're going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss," they said.
Thomas Lennon, another 17 Again co-star, also shared a touching tribute to Variety, describing Perry's as " acartoon mascot for anxiety wrapped in the packaging of a matinee idol. Canadian tennis pro. Heartthrob with a racing heart. Playwright. Accidental superstar."
I guess fans will just have to wait and see if Perry will one day have his wish of a biopic granted, and whether or not Efron will be the one to try and fill his incredibly talented shoes.
But at this time, our thoughts continue to go out to Perry's loved ones.
