Michael J Fox Remembers Matthew Perry’s Quiet Yet Generous Favor for Him
Michael J. Fox paid tribute to his good friend Matthew Perry in a new interview, looking back at the times they've spent together. Fox revealed Perry's quiet yet generous gesture from years back.
Michael J. Fox looked back at his friendship with Matthew Perry with fondness. The 62-year-old actor shared many special memories with Perry, whom he considered his dear friend through the years.
Fox sat down for an interview with Cassie DiLaura at the "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Cure Parkinson's" Gala, which is the actor's annual fundraising event for the Michael J. Fox Foundation in New York.
Matthew Perry and Michael J. Fox during 5th Annual GQ Men of the Year Awards at Beacon Theater on October 26, 2000 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Without hesitation, Fox revealed that Perry was one of the very first to support his foundation. However, their friendship went way beyond that.
"Matthew and I had spent some time together over the years," Fox said. They enjoyed the same things, one of which was hockey. The two pals used to play the sport together.
Their friendship dates back decades. When Perry, along with the rest of the "Friends" cast, signed their multi-million dollar contracts that made them millionaires for life, Perry did the most unexpected thing for Fox.
"He wrote a big fat check to the foundation," Fox revealed. He never expected Perry to make such a generous donation because the foundation was still trying to get on its feet back then.
Perry's belief that Fox could make something out of the Michael J. Fox Foundation was "such a vote of confidence" for the actor. What made everything else more surreal for Fox was the fact that Perry never made a big deal out of his sizeable donation.
Ultimately, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has dedicated its resources to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. They aggressively fund research agendas, leaving no endowment, hoping that one day, they no longer need to be in business.
Matthew Perry (left) and Michael J. Fox at the 2000 GQ 'Men of the Year' Awards at the Beacon Theater on October 26, 2000 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
It could be remembered that in 2022, Perry referred to Fox as his acting inspiration. When the "Back to the Future" star found out about it, he said he was happy to have an impact on Perry, whom he considered a funny guy.
Matthew Perry passed away in his Los Angeles, California home last October 28. The actor was only 54 at the time of his death.