Simpsons star Hank Azaria has shared how his long-time friend Matthew Perry helped sober him up – and revealed the vulgar practical joke the late Friends star liked to play in public restrooms.
Azaria, 59, moved to Los Angeles when he was 21, and he met a then 16-year-old Perry while doing a pilot together called Morning Maggie – one that never saw the light of day.
The duo had a life-long friendship after that – and Azaria even played David, Phoebe's on-and-off love interest, in Perry's breakthrough hit series Friends.
Perry, who died last month after being found in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home, was buried on Friday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Azaria has recalled his fond memories with one of his oldest friends – who also helped him get sober.
'I know that I will always think of him that way. We met almost 40 years ago, and he was, by far, the funniest friend I ever had. He also was the person who helped me get sober,' Azaria recalled for a recent piece in the New York Times.
Simpsons star Hank Azaria has shared how his long-time friend Matthew Perry helped sober him up – and revealed vulgar practical joke the late Friends star liked to play in public restrooms
Azaria played David, Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) on-and-off love interest in Perry's breakthrough hit series Friends
Before his death, Perry had been open about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, and The Friends star helped The Simpsons voice actor get into the program.
In an opinion piece written for the NYTimes, Azaria wrote: 'Matthew Perry said that he wanted to be remembered as someone who helped people get sober, even more than he wanted to be remembered as a very funny, famous Friend. I think he’ll be remembered as both.
'He took me to my first A.A. meeting, in 2005. Matthew quit booze a few years before. He struggled with it, for sure. I didn’t need rehab, but I knew I had a very serious problem, so I called Matthew and asked him to take me to a meeting.'
When they walked into the room in Brentwood, California, Azaria said: 'He looked at me and said in his Matthew, half-joking, very loving way: “It’s something, isn’t it? God is a bunch of drunks together in a room.”'
The actor continued: 'In fact, in time, what we become sure of is that the most unfortunate, terrible things we face are actually our greatest strength, as they connect us with others.
Azaria also took to his social media to pay tribute to Perry, who was the first friend he made in LA
Hank Azaria gets emotional over the passing of Matthew Perry
'In A.A., I heard stories that were worse than mine — way worse. And yet these people were smiling and calm and connected and happy. I wanted that.
'God was a bunch of drunks together in a room. I think of that phrase every single day.'
He recalled the jokes that Matthew would pull at the McDonald's drive-thru, and how he'd make a high-pitched straining noise in the restroom to make people laugh.
Retelling the hilarious moments, Azaria said: 'Whenever we went into a public restroom together, I’d beg him — I’d say, “Please don’t do it, Matthew.” He’d say, “OK.” Then he would proceed to go into a stall and start making little high-pitched straining “ow” noises, that would build into a crescendo of a man full-volume screeching as if he were giving birth to whatever was coming out of him in there.'
The actor added: 'What I was surprised by was the depths that he could go to in his profound understanding of human nature and human flaws — his own flaws and those of others. It gave him a lot of compassion for other people.
'Tragically, I think he had a lot more compassion for me and for everybody else than he did for himself.
'I was unfortunate to have needed his help — or fortunate, depending on how you want to look at it. And certainly fortunate to have received that help and friendship directly from him.
'I was also a huge fan of his and felt the friendship that we all feel through “Friends.” I consider myself blessed that I got to experience both.
'And I do want to say that if you go into recovery, while there will only ever be one of the real thing for me, you will find your own Matthew Perry. You’ll find someone to laugh with and connect with. You’ll find someone who understands your story.
'You’ll find someone who seems to care about you more than about him- or herself. I think Matthew would want folks to know that more than anything.'
We met almost 40 years ago, and he was, by far, the funniest friend I ever had. He also was the person who helped me get sober,' Azaria recalled. Pictured: Azaria with Perry on the set of Friends during season 9
Tributes are placed outside the home of Perry who died on October 28 after drowning in a hot tub
Perry's Friends co-stars gathered Friday and were seen consoling each other outside the church where the 54-year-old was laid to rest.
Jennifer Aniston, 54; Lisa Kudrow, 60; Courteney Cox, 59; and David Schwimmer, 57, arrived as a quartet – all dressed in black suits and somber as they prepared to say their last goodbyes to their beloved co-star.
They were joined outside the church after the simple hour-long ceremony by Matt LeBlanc, 56, and were pictured in conversation with other well wishers.
His tearful mother Suzanne Morrison, 84, and Dateline journalist stepfather Keith, 76, were both at the private event, as was his father John Perry, 82. Morrison was one of the pallbearers.
An onlooker told DailyMail.com: 'There was not a dry eye in there. There were a lot of tears and laughter. Only close friends and family spoke.'
After the service, Perry was buried in a dark wooden coffin in a family-only ceremony.
Crowds of black-clad mourners stood around outside the church after the ceremony.
Some were seen embracing and comforting each other. Many wore dark sunglasses, to shield their eyes from the bright Californian sun.
Other stars buried in beautiful parkland include Brittany Murphy, Paul Walker, Buster Keaton, INXS rocker Michael Hutchinson and actress Anne Heche who died suddenly last year following a car accident.
