Matthew Perry Reveals Bizarre Hatred For Keanu Reeves While Recalling River Phoenix’s Death In New Book

Perry became close with Phoenix when he starred in his first movie, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, in 1988. Phoenix, like Perry, battled addiction issues from a young age. The rising star died at the tragic young age of 23 from an overdose nearly three decades ago.

Of his friend’s passing, Perry wrote, “River was a beautiful man inside and out and too beautiful for this world, it turned out. It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down.”

Perry went on to share the raw emotions he felt upon hearing the news of his death outside of the iconic Viper Room in West Hollywood, causing him to sob. “I heard the screaming from my apartment; went back to bed; woke up to the news,” he revealed.

He also recalled the moment when he discovered that Farley had died — but not without getting another dig in at Reeves’ expense.