Michael J. Fox Reveals Matthew Perry’s Secret Gesture After ‘Friends’ Success

In remembering his late friend Matthew Perry, Michael J. Fox reflected back on the overwhelming kindness Perry once showed in secret.

After Perry and the rest of the Friends cast were made "millionaires for life," Fox recalled, the actor opened up his pockets to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

"He wrote a big fat check to the Foundation," Fox told Entertainment Tonight. "We were really early on and trying to find our feet, and it was such a vote of confidence."

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research was founded in 2000. That same year, Perry and his cast mates signed contracts earning them $750k/episode, or a total of $18 million for the full, 24-episode season.

"It wasn't accompanied by any self-aggrandizing or anything, he was just like, 'Take it and do your best,'" Fox recalled of the donation. "I loved that."

In addition to being acting contemporaries, Fox and Perry were also rivals on the ice.

"Matthew and I had spent some time together over the years," Fox said. "He was a hockey player, a good hockey player, and we played hockey together."

Perry was often vocal about his admiration for Fox, which is something that Fox holds dear now that he's gone.

"He was just a funny guy," Fox shared, "and if I was ever as funny as him — I mean, he was the funniest — I'm happy I had an impact on him."