George Clooney fondly remembers his close friendship with late F.R.I.E.N.D.S actor Matthew Perry. Perry is 10 years junior to Clooney, and yet, their association at NBC thrived, according to reports. Clooney reminisced that upon meeting Matthew Perry when he was 16, he thought of him as a “funny, funny, boy.” 

Ties with NBC in the Hit Shows F.R.I.E.N.D.S and E.R.

The rise of both talented actors happened almost at the same time. Both  F.R.I.E.N.D.S and E.R. gained traction with diverse viewers, and the former became a super hit sitcom. Clooney, on the other hand, was known as the best rising star to watch out for. According to George, Matthew Perry was a bundle of talent who would say, “I just want to get on a regular sitcom and I would be the happiest man on earth.” He went on to achieve what he desired but struggled with depression, anxiety, and drug abuse until the end. 

Clooney Faced Challenges with Fame 

Like Matthew Perry, George Clooney says that fame has been hard on him, and he too, struggled with mental health issues.

Perry battled with inner turmoil and lacked happiness or peace in his life. But  Clooney made it a point to learn from his friend’s experiences. Substance dependency on Vicodin or Ketamine won’t guarantee happiness, he says, “True contentment stems from inner peace and self-acceptance.” He received insight and guidance from loved ones and veteran actors like Paul Newman and Gregory Peck. George learned how to avoid similar pitfalls, kept discontentment away and focused on his success instead. 

Highs and Lows Are part of Hollywood

After witnessing Perry’s insecurities and learning about his drug abuse, George expressed concern about the F.R.I.E.N.D.S star’s well-being. His aunt, Rosemary Clooney also had experiences with substance abuse. So, he says it is important to understand that a career in the spotlight has its ebbs and flows. He acknowledges that one will face rough patches in any profession.

George Clooney now embraces his journey, wherever that may take him. He just wished he had made Matthew Perry see that when they worked together at the network.

Cameo of Clooney in The Flash

George Clooney is now promoting his new movie “The Boys in the Boat,” which will add a notch to his already illustrious career. He also briefly appears in “The Flash” as Barry Allen’s Justice League mentor Bruce Wayne (a.ka. Batman) in the final scene. But he jokes that this is his last cameo for the Batman franchise, “Not enough drugs in the world for me to go back again.” He was last seen in the role of Batman in the 1997 film Batman & Robin.