10 months ago
Former NFL backmost Ryan Leaf paid tribute to Matthew Perry, opening up connected nan actor's support during his travel to sobriety.
The precocious beloved Friends actor, 54, was recovered dormant wrong a basking tub extracurricular of his Pacific Palisades location successful Los Angeles Saturday.
Throughout his life, Perry had been unfastened astir his struggles pinch narcotics and alcohol but besides helped his friend done his ain battle, Leaf has revealed days aft nan star's death.
The erstwhile No. 2 wide prime paid tribute to Perry connected his 'Straight Line' podcast arsenic he said that nan character was 'instrumental successful my recovery.'
He revealed that Perry 'immediately' offered him support aft he sewage retired of situation successful 2014 for burglary and supplier possession charges.
I’ve waited to speak astir this. It’s difficult to. When location are those who really person had a manus successful redeeming your life what tin you really say…Thank you Matt, my family acknowledgment you, and I dream you now person recovered that peace! #soberlife pic.twitter.com/MK515hFAuB
— Ryan D Leaf (@RyanDLeaf) November 1, 2023Former NFL backmost Ryan Leaf (left) paid tribute to Matthew Perry (right) aft his death
'I sewage retired of situation and erstwhile I sewage to Los Angeles, Matt put his limb astir maine immediately,' Leaf said. 'And he carried maine for like, nan first six months astir apt successful Los Angeles, trying to study really to beryllium a sober personification really successful a nationalist platform.
'I don't cognize if I'm present correct now, being capable to do worldly for illustration this -- aliases thing -- if it weren't for him, and him sharing his communicative and making maine understand that you tin beryllium a feline successful nan nationalist oculus that everyone knows and still beryllium sober, beryllium humble and beryllium astir helping different people.'
Leaf explained that, contempt dealing pinch his ain conflict pinch drug, intoxicant and intelligence wellness issues, Perry was ever location for him passim his journey.
The erstwhile awesome caller credited Perry arsenic nan astir important personification down his sobriety.
'There's a batch of group that I beryllium for nan life I now have, get to unrecorded ... and he's surely astatine nan apical of that,' Leaf said.
'Matt, we'll miss you. I'll miss you. I dream you are yet astatine bid because I conscionable don't cognize if you ever genuinely were.'
Leaf was put successful situation aft breaking into a Montana location successful 2012 to bargain medicine pills. That was a usurpation of his probation for a erstwhile crime committed successful Texas backmost successful 2008 for possession of a controlled substance.
Leaf served clip successful situation successful Montana connected burglary and supplier possession charges
Leaf was picked 2nd wide by nan Chargers successful 1998, but was retired of nan NFL by 2002
Initial toxicology tests did not show fentanyl aliases meth successful Perry's system, but much in-depth testing is underway. When constabulary responded to Perry's location (pictured) they recovered medicine medication that was decently branded and stored
Perry's Friends co-stars said they were 'devastated' by his decease and that they had been much for illustration family than castmates
When asked if he was 'using again', Leaf said that he was going done nan 'absolute other of that'. He added, 'You should effort it, it's liberating. If this is simply a projection, I cognize nan measurement to freedom. DM maine if you request help.'
Leaf endured a difficult profession successful nan NFL. After being picked by nan Chargers 2nd wide successful 1998, Leaf lasted only 4 years successful nan convention - struggling for astir of that clip earlier yet retiring successful 2002. The Washington State fable attempted to return his ain life successful 2012.
He has since gone connected to prosecute a profession successful broadcasting - joining ESPN successful 2019 arsenic an expert for assemblage shot games.
There was nary meth aliases fentanyl successful Perry's system erstwhile he drowned successful a basking tub successful his California home, first toxicology reports person revealed.
