A Look Back at Matthew Perry's Diane Sawyer Interview Exactly 1 Year Before His Death

Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry’s passing marks exactly one year since his emotional and brutally honest interview with Diane Sawyer illuminated his extensive struggle with substance abuse to millions of fans around the world.

On Oct. 28, 2023, the Friends actor—who brilliantly brought the iconic character Chandler Bing to life for 10 seasons—died at his Los Angeles home. Initial reports said his death was an apparent drowning, though first responders were called to the scene for a cardiac arrest after he was said to be found unresponsive following a game of pickleball earlier in the morning. An official cause of death was not revealed.

But just a year prior, on Oct. 28, 2022, the 54-year-old’s life story gripped fans during a sit-down with the respected journalist to promote his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, which hit stands on Nov. 1, 2022.

Related: 'Friends' Star Matthew Perry Poses for Rare Photo With His Dad and Actor John Bennett Perry

The 250-page book delved into his struggles, which started back in 1997 after he was prescribed opioids following a jet ski incident, his near-death experience as a result of an overdose, and how his battle with addiction affected his time on the hit long-running sitcom and his co-stars.

Throughout the hour-long tell-all interview that aired on ABC, Perry covered a wide range of topics from his early success and how it influenced his addiction to life now.

He divulged how people can tell which drugs he was using throughout the series based on his weight, the moment Jennifer Aniston confronted him, why he broke up with Julia Roberts, how he’d raid medicine cabinets to score drugs, how he got to the other side of his addiction and escaped death, and even the red flag that will alert fans that he’s not doing okay.

As news of Perry’s death began to settle in, many fans flocked to social media to pay tribute and mourn the loss—while others reflected on his “ironic” final social media post—however, a select few also couldn’t get over the eerie fact that his death was exactly a year to the date of the raw and real interview where he owned his story, struggles and all.

In the wake of the Friends actor's untimely death, fellow celebrities have reacted on social media, including the sitcom’s official account.

Despite his fight with substance abuse, no drugs were found at the scene of his death, and foul play is not suspected.

Next, Matthew Perry's Last Public Sighting Before His Death at 54