Matthew Perry's funeral involved 'laughing and crying,' reveals actor's friend Hank Azaria
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hank Azaria, a friend of Matthew Perry, has revealed more information regarding the late 'Friends' star's funeral.
Perry's co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer attended the actor's private funeral. Hazaria portrayed David the "Scientist Guy," Phoebe Buffay's first serious love interest, in the television series 'Friends'.
Matthew Perry's funeral was bittersweet occasion
Azaria disclosed that the memorial service for the legendary comic actor, who embodied the beloved series' funnyman Chandler Bing, was a bittersweet occasion.
He remarked, "I was at the funeral last weekend. You know, sad. He was a hilarious man, so we would sort of [be] alternately laughing and crying remembering him," as reported by Mirror.
In an interview with The Messenger, he added, "We’ve all had people we’ve lost. The world really lost him. In a way, it’s nice to have the world sort of sharing with you." Following Perry's death, The Matthew Perry Foundation was established as a nonprofit organization to support those battling addiction.
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Perry helped Azaria get sober
Azaria has thanked his friend in the past for helping him get clean and now wishes to keep raising awareness about the addiction epidemic. He said, "Whatever I can do to continue his mission, of spreading the word of recovery, and helping folks, I’ll do whatever I can."
The actor, who is also known for voicing many characters in 'The Simpsons' since 1989 - including barman Moe Szyslak, Police Chief Wiggum and the "comic book guy" - previously remembered his funny friend in an opinion piece for The New York Times. He explained how Perry took him to his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in 2005 - his first step in getting sober.
Matthew Perry wanted to be remembered as more than Chandler Bing
Azaria wrote, "Matthew Perry said that he wanted to be remembered as someone who helped people get sober, even more than he wanted to be remembered as a very funny, famous Friend. I think he’ll be remembered as both."
He added, "I know that I will always think of him that way. We met almost 40 years ago, and he was, by far, the funniest friend I ever had. He also was the person who helped me get sober."