Zac Efron admits he wishes he was there Matthew Perry before his unexpected death earlier this year, as Efron admits, the acting world “can be absolutely isolating.”
Although the cause of death is still under investigation, Matthew Perry is believed to have drowned when he was found unconscious in his hot tub on October 28. Perry did have a known struggle with drugs and alcohol, but he claims to have been clean in the bathtub. years prior to his sudden death.
Now, weeks after the world learned of Perry’s death, Zac Efron, who starred in “again 17” alongside the late ‘Friends’ actor, he talks about how lonely the acting world can be, and how Perry’s death affected him.
Zac Efron admits the acting world is lonely
![Zac Efron reveals Matthew Perry was a 'mentor' to him and would be 'honored' to play him in a biopic](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/2023/11/09041814/MEGA896357_074-scaled.jpg)
“Being an actor and being in the spotlight can be incredibly lonely. It can definitely be isolating,” Efron shared Variety in a new interview, adding, “It’s really important to reach out to friends and maintain relationships where you can talk and share stories.”
“I wish I had these past years had the opportunity to do that with Matthew [Perry],” he admitted, before continuing, “I hold the time we shared very dearly.” I’ve thought about him a lot, every day.”
This latest admission comes just days after Efron received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As he accepted his star, he thanked Perry for helping to ‘move him along’ to the ‘next chapter’ of his career.
“I want to mention someone who’s not here today, and that’s Matthew Perry, who was so kind and generous to me when we were working on ’17 Again,’” Efron said while on stage earlier this week.
Perry and Efron played adult and teen versions of each other in the 2009 comedy “17 Again.”
![Zac Efron remembers Matthew Perry during the Walk Of Fame ceremony](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/2023/12/11154006/Zac-Efron-Matthew-Perry.jpg)
The event, which took place in Hollywood on Monday, honored Zac Efron and his acting career, which began after his iconic role as Troy Bolton in Disney Channel’s “High School Musical.”
“Cooperate with [Perry], it was so much fun, and it really propelled and motivated me in so many ways. It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career,” Efron said as he stood on stage remembering their film “17 Again.”
“Thank you so much, Matthew,” Efron said, closing with, “I’m thinking about you a lot today.”
Zac Efron could play Matthew Perry in a biopic
![Antidepressants and anxiety medications found in Matthew Perry's home](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/2023/10/29080250/MEGA1052305_001-scaled.jpg)
Zac Efron also spoke out about Matthew Perry’s death when news started circulating that Perry wanted Efron to portray him in a biopic.
“I heard that, and it’s a tremendous honor,” Efron said at the time. “Matthew [was] simply the best man in the world. I had the best time of my life working with him, and to think he thought of me for that role,” Zac said. “I mean, I would be honored to do it, to be honest.”
The now 54-year-old actor had long struggled with addiction, but it wasn’t until he released his memoir that he opened up his walls around that time in his life.