Michael J. Fox Shares Special Memory of Late Friend Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry and Michael J. Fox during 5th Annual GQ Men of the Year Awards

Michael J. Fox is reminiscing on his friendship with Matthew Perry in a new interview.

The Back to the Future alum spoke with Entertainment Tonight's Cassie DiLaura on Nov. 11, during his annual fundraising benefit for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Cure Parkinson's Gala.

The 62-year-old and Perry, who died in Oct. at the age of 54, played hockey together over the years. "He was a hockey player, a good hockey player," Fox recalled.

But long before that, Perry, who looked up to Fox as a young actor, offered the fellow star a helping hand when he was first setting up his charity.

"I hope this isn't indiscreet..." Fox said, before reflecting on the main cast of Friends' impressive, record-setting contracts, "but when they first made their big sale and were made millionaires for the rest of their lives, he wrote a big fat check to the foundation."

Fox called it "such a vote of confidence" to have that support so early on. "And it wasn't accompanied by any self-aggrandizing or anything, he was just like, 'Take it and do your best.' I loved that."

Perry opened up about his reverence for Fox in the year before his death, telling Tom Powers, "I was young, I had done a couple of plays in school, and Michael J. Fox was it, man. When I was in ninth grade, Michael J. Fox had just done Back to the Future, and there was smoke coming out of my ears, I was so jealous of this guy." Fox had a number one television show and a number one film at the same time, and Perry went on to joke, "And I don't know anybody else who's done that -- except me."

In response, Fox told DiLaura, "He was just a funny guy, and if I was ever as funny as him -- I mean, he was the funniest -- I'm happy I had an impact on him. He was a funny guy."

Next: Hank Azaria Details the Hilarious Pranks Matthew Perry Used to Play in Public