Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman is encouraging her fans to honor the late actor by supporting drug rehab centers. Perry, best known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the popular television series, died of an accidental drug overdose on October 28, 2023.
In an interview with The Times for a Friends 30th anniversary retrospective, Kauffman discussed how fans can honor Perry’s legacy. She suggested two key ways to honor him.
The first is to support drug treatment centers and highlight the importance of battling addiction, a problem Perry has struggled with personally. “Let’s fight the disease,” Kauffman urged, stressing the need for ongoing support and resources for those who need help.
Kauffman suggested that rewatching Friends and appreciating Perry’s extraordinary sense of humor and skill would be another way to pay tribute to him. She stressed that Perry should be honored for the joy he brought to viewers through his appearance on the show. According to Kauffman, Perry should be remembered for his extraordinary ability to make people laugh and be happy, not for the way he died.
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Kauffman and co-creator David Crane also spoke about their last conversation with Perry on Today, talking about their fond memories and the impact he had on the show. Their conversation emphasized Perry’s long-lasting influence and her deep affection for him as a colleague and friend.
Kauffman recalled that Perry was particularly cheerful and optimistic in their final moments together. He emphasized that Perry was in good spirits and showed no signs of distress. According to Kauffman, Perry’s positive demeanor makes the current situation seem particularly unfair, as he seemed to be in a favorable and stable position at the time.
Federal lawsuit related to Perry’s death raises questions of exploitation
On August 15, federal authorities filed serious charges against five people connected to Perry’s death. According to the Justice Department, the defendants include two doctors, Dr. Salvador Plascencia and Dr. Mark Chavez, as well as Perry’s personal housekeeper. Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming were also charged, but separately from the others.
In a public statement, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the defendant’s conduct. Perry’s addiction problems were allegedly used by the defendants as a source of money, which infuriated Estrada. He claimed that these people were more interested in exploiting Perry’s weaknesses than in his care and well-being.
Estrada’s comments clearly demonstrate how Perry’s circumstances were brutally exploited by those who were supposed to be providing him with support and assistance. This revelation has raised doubts about the events that led to Perry’s death and exposed a worrying abuse of authority and trust.
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A day after the charges were announced, Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, said in a statement to PEOPLE that he wanted “justice” to be done in the case. The Justice Department has announced that serious charges will be brought against Dr. Salvador Plascencia and Jasveen Sangha. Dr. Mark Chavez, Erik Fleming and his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa have also been charged separately. According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, these individuals exploited Mr. Perry’s addiction problems for their personal gain.
Estrada stressed that the defendants were not focused on Mr. Perry’s health and well-being, but sought to profit from his condition. The charges highlight the serious problem of exploitation of vulnerable people and demonstrate that cases of professional misconduct and abuse of trust must be brought to justice.
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