Matthew Perry's Generous Contribution to Michael J Fox Foundation After 'Friends' Success
Matthew Perry generously supported Michael J Fox's Foundation with a substantial donation in the early 2000s, showcasing his admirable commitment to philanthropy
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Michael J. Fox recalled Matthew Perry’s generous donation to his foundation after the actor signed his record-breaking Friends contract.
"I hope this isn't rude, but when they initially made a significant sale on their Friends contracts, which resulted in them becoming millionaires for life, he wrote a substantial check to the Michael J. Fox Foundation," Fox, who is now 62, shared with Entertainment Tonight in a recent interview published on Monday, November 13. "We were at the early stages, still finding our way, and this act was a tremendous show of faith and support."
Fox further mentioned that Perry's generous gesture was not fueled by any desire for personal recognition, but instead served as a symbol of trust in Fox's endeavors. "There was no self-promotion involved; it was more like a message of 'Take it and give it your all,'" Fox explained. "I truly appreciated that."
In 1998, Fox announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease seven years earlier. As a result, he became an advocate for finding a cure and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to support research.
Perry, on the other hand, joined forces with the rest of the Friends cast in 2002 to negotiate a groundbreaking deal. They successfully secured a historic $1 million per episode for each of the show’s six main stars. To ensure fairness, Perry, along with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow, collectively negotiated with the network, threatening to leave the NBC hit if they were not compensated equally.
Fox revealed on Monday that he and Perry had spent time together throughout the years and had developed a friendship fueled by their shared love for hockey. He described the late sitcom star as a "funny guy" and expressed his gratitude for having made an impact on Perry. Perry's death was first reported on October 28 after he was discovered unconscious in a standalone jacuzzi at his residence in Pacific Palisades by authorities. The Los Angeles Fire Department later confirmed that Perry had passed away before the arrival of emergency services. The exact cause of his death is still pending confirmation, pending the results of a toxicology report. He was 54 years old.
Following his passing, it was announced that Perry's foundation will uphold his legacy by assisting individuals "facing the challenge of addiction." The foundation will be shaped by Perry's own words, experiences, and fervor for impacting as many lives as possible.
Perry was always candid about his struggles with addiction, as revealed in his memoir titled Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, published in 2022. During an interview with Tom Power while promoting the book in November 2022, the Fools Rush In actor shared how Fox played a significant role in molding him as an actor.
"I was young, having performed in some plays during school, and Michael J. Fox was the ultimate inspiration," Perry excitedly revealed. "Back in ninth grade, when Michael J. Fox achieved success with 'Back to the Future,' I was incredibly envious, to the point where smoke seemed to emerge from my ears."
Perry reminisced about Fox's immense popularity, with his show 'Family Ties' ranking as the top show and his movie dominating the country's charts, an achievement that seemed unparalleled. "He was a colossal figure," Perry acknowledged. "I can't think of anyone else who has achieved such greatness - except for me."
