Matthew Perry opens up about his addiction, calls run on 'Friends' a 'very lonely time'

Fans of Matthew Perry know that he has dealt with addiction in the past, but the actor is now opening up about the severity of it in the new issue of People.

The Go On star, now 43, recounts his role on the iconic NBC series Friends, during which he appeared on from ages 24-34, and how he dealt with alcohol addiction as well as a dependency on prescription pills.

He said of being on the show, “From an outsider's perspective, it would seem like I had it all. It was actually a very lonely time for me because I was suffering from alcoholism,” but notes it started before the show.

Perry also told People, that he “couldn’t stop,” and "eventually things got so bad that I couldn't hide it, and then everybody knew." After two attempts in rehab, Perry said of finally getting sober "Something clicked. You have to want the help."

He now has dedicated his life to helping others with addiction, turning his former Malibu residence into a sober living facility called Perry House. "The interesting reason that I can be so helpful to people now is that I screwed up so often," he said. "It's nice for people to see that somebody who once struggled in their life is not struggling any more."

E! Online notes he also revealed, "I was a hopelessly narcissistic guy, and I only thought about myself, and then that just shifted, and when that happened, I got some true happiness and comfort in my life.”

image: People

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