Maggie Wheeler reacts to 'Friends' co-star Matthew Perry's 'startling' memoir
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Friends' actress Margaret "Maggie" Wheeler described co-star Matthew Perry's shocking autobiography as "sad" and "difficult" to read. Perry's character, Chandler Bing was thriving on 'Friends'. He had a successful marriage and a lucrative career and had the ability to deliver perfectly-timed retorts. However, behind the scenes, Perry was battling addiction. In his memoir 'Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing', he describes his battles with alcoholism and other substance use disorders while appearing in one of the most popular shows of the '90s.
Wheeler, 61, who is best known for playing Perry's on-again, off-again girlfriend Janice on the hit NBC show, revealed that Perry's autobiography was hard to read because there were "so many startling revelations about the ways Matthew has suffered over the years trying to wrangle his addictions," as per Page Six. In the book, Perry, 53, discussed how his colon ruptured due to opioid misuse some years ago, when he was 49. He needed a colostomy bag for nine months, was in a coma for two weeks, and was hospitalized for five months.
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The '17 Again' star reportedly disclosed that, at one point, he had to consume 55 Vicodin tablets and a quart of vodka simply to get through the day. He also claimed that he had spent around $9 million in an effort to become sober.
"I think he's done a tremendous job and he’s really survived the unthinkable," Wheeler says. "And I’m so proud of him and I’m so happy he’s here and I think it's very brave that he’s written a book and he’s out talking about it, he’s really helping a lot of people."
Wheeler emphasized that Perry was always the ultimate professional despite his obvious challenges while filming 'Friends,' as shown by his dramatic weight fluctuations. "He showed up for work even when he was in his darkest place, he showed up for work with all his humor and brilliance and talent. There was never a day working on set with him where I felt insecure about how he was going to participate in the process, he was 100 percent, even when he was struggling," she explained.
"I lost my brother to drug addiction, so I’m no stranger to how difficult a journey it is and a struggle it is," Wheeler told Us Weekly. "I'm so proud of Matthew and how hard he's fought for his life." Attesting to how well Perry hid the extent of how bad things were, Wheeler continued, "I read so many details that I wasn't aware of. He has had struggles that have been so dark and so unbearable and he’s such a survivor to still be here and to be out and sharing his story with the world."
She also said she hasn't had a chance to tell Perry her thoughts on his memoir yet, but she means to. "We haven’t spoken since I’ve read the book. I really need to write to him and let him know how much I love him and that I was honored to read it."