Matthew Perry's Optimistic Outlook and Excitement for a 'Second Act' Revealed by Friend
Matthew Perry's friend Athenna Crosby reflects on their last moments together, highlighting his positive mindset and anticipation for a promising 'second act' before his untimely demise
Matthew Perry, Athenna Crosby. Getty Images (2)
Matthew Perry's friend, Athenna Crosby, revealed that she had spent time with the actor on the day before his apparent drowning. In an exclusive interview with We, Crosby shared that Perry was eagerly looking forward to his "second act" before his untimely demise. She mentioned that they had met through a mutual friend and described their time together as enjoyable. Crosby added that Perry was in a positive state of mind, discussing his life and sharing amusing anecdotes about his experiences in the industry.
She recalled, "He expressed great enthusiasm for his second chance in the world of acting and revealed the hurdles he had faced that initially hindered his aspirations. However, he managed to overcome them and was eagerly anticipating a full-fledged return to his career." Crosby clarified that her acquaintance with Perry had been relatively short, with their recent lunch at the Hotel Bel-Air on Friday, October 27 being only their second in-person meeting. Despite Perry being someone who valued his privacy, he had been surprisingly open about his past battles, including his long-standing struggle with addiction which led him to undergo rehabilitation on two separate occasions.
“He was in excellent health and eagerly discussing his anticipation of playing pickleball on the court, expressing his newfound passion for the sport,” shared Crosby, a former beauty queen and model, with Us. "He encouraged me to give it a try, emphasizing how enjoyable it was. He mentioned shedding weight and improving his overall fitness... He had a positive mindset and was leading a remarkably healthy lifestyle."
Perry even revealed to Crosby that he had successfully overcome his struggles with alcohol. "He mentioned how he had triumphantly emerged from years of addiction and had completely turned his life around," she recounted. "He had maintained sobriety and didn't even contemplate ordering a drink. As a matter of fact, he wasn't even interested in perusing a drink menu. He was determined to eliminate all temptations from his life."
Matthew Perry. Nick Rood/Young Hollywood/Getty Images
Perry's death was reported a day later, on Saturday, October 28th, at the age of 54. Reports state that local law enforcement responded to a call for cardiac arrest at Perry's Los Angeles residence. When the police arrived, they found the actor unresponsive in a hot tub. The county's medical examiner confirmed the following day, October 29th, that Perry had passed away at the scene. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
"I was completely taken aback. I found out about Perry's death through the news before anyone had informed me. It was truly devastating," Crosby revealed, recalling his reaction to the news. "At that moment, I had to pull over my car and carefully read the news to grasp the reality of it. It's deeply unsettling because I had only spoken to him a few hours before he passed away."
During their final conversation, Crosby noted that Perry seemed “normal and fine.” She reiterated: “He was such a good person.”
With reporting by Andrea Simpson
