'I looked up to him' - Zac Efron responds to news Matthew Perry wanted him to star in a biopic

Virgin Radio

9 Nov 2023, 14:32

Zac Efron has admitted he would be “honoured” to play late Friends star Matthew Perry in a biopic of his life. 

Perry sadly passed away aged 54 in October after being found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home. He was laid to rest during a private funeral earlier this month. 

Efron and Perry shared the screen together in 2009 comedy 17 Again, where the High School Musical star played a younger version of the sitcom actor. 

Speaking to People at the premiere of Efron’s new drama, The Iron Claw, Efron reacted to reports that Perry wanted him to star in a biopic, which was revealed by entertainment reporter Athenna Crosby shortly after Perry passed away. 

Crosby was with the Chandler Bing star just days before his death, and shared that Perry wanted Efron to star as him because “he did such a good job” when they worked together 14 years ago. 

"I'm honoured to hear he was thinking of me to play him," Efron told People. “We'll see. I'd be honoured to do it.

"He was a mentor to me, and we made a really cool film together. I looked up to him, I learned comedic timing from that guy. I mean, when we were filming 17 Again, it was so surreal for me to look across and have him be there, because I've learned so much from him, from his whole life," he added.

Efron’s response to Perry’s wishes come just after the late star’s nearest and dearest set up the Matthew Perry Foundation to help “others struggling with the disease of addiction.”

Perry was very open about his struggles with substance abuse and addiction throughout his career, frequently speaking about his own experiences. 

The Matthew Perry Foundation website opens with the much-shared comment Perry made, in which he said: “When I die, I don't want 'Friends' to be the first thing that's mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that's mentioned. And I'm going to live the rest of my life proving that.

“Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.”