Michael J. Fox has opened up about a time when Matthew Perry donated to his foundation after the late star signed his lucrative Friends contract.
The sudden passing of Perry, one of the brightest stars on the legendary show Friends, has sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment community. Perry, who brought life to the sarcastic and lovable Chandler, was discovered dead in his hot tub on Saturday (October 28).
Law enforcement sources reportedly confirmed there were no drugs at the scene, with another officer highlighting that no signs pointed to foul play.
As fans across the globe come to terms with the tragic loss of Perry - the man behind the iconic Chandler Bing - those who worked closely with him have shared their heartbreak.
This now includes the legendary actor Michael J. Fox, who revealed in 1998 that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease seven years prior.
It was then that the Back to the Future actor became an advocate for those battling with the condition, founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help with funding research. Now, Fox has revealed a touching gesture Perry made to help the actor fight his cause.
"I hope this isn't indiscreet ... But when they first made their big sale [on their Friends contracts] and were made millionaires for the rest of their lives, he wrote a big fat check to the [Michael J. Fox] Foundation," The 62-year-old told Entertainment Tonight in an interview published on Monday, November 13. "We were really early on and trying to find our feet. And it was such a vote of confidence."
Fox went on to say that this act of generosity wasn’t “accompanied by any self-aggrandizing,” and was instead a sign that Perry supported Fox's efforts. “It was a, ‘Take it and do your best,'" Fox said. "I loved that."
In 2002, Perry, alongside the rest of his five main castmates, negotiated a deal of $1 million per episode each. Along with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow, Perry bargained for the lucrative contract, telling NBC they would leave the long-running series if they didn't receive equal pay.
Fox revealed to ET that he and Perry “spent some time together over the years” and became friends due to their share love of hockey.
Amid the global outpouring of grief, the creators of Friends broke their silence. Co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, alongside executive producer Kevin Bright, expressed their profound sorrow.
In a joint statement, the trio candidly remarked, "It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives." Their words resonated with the emotions that fans around the world are grappling with.