High school musical star honors late friends actor during star unveiling

Zac Efron took a poignant moment during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on December 11 to pay tribute to the late Matthew Perry, whom he had worked with in the film “17 Again.” The High School Musical actor expressed gratitude to Perry for his kindness and generosity during their collaboration, stating that working together propelled and motivated him in various ways, pushing him into the next chapter of his career. Perry, known for his role in Friends, was found dead in his hot tub on October 28, leading to an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans.

During the ceremony, Efron shared, “I really also want to mention someone that is not here today, and that’s Matthew Perry, who was so kind and generous with me when we worked on 17 Again. Collaborating with him and [director Burr Steers] — it was so much fun and it really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways. It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career, for that, thank you so much Matthew.”

Perry had previously expressed his desire for Efron to play him in a biopic, a sentiment that Efron welcomed, stating, “I’m honored to hear he was thinking of me to play him. We’ll see. I’d be honored to do it. He was a mentor to me, and we made a really cool film together.”

Jennifer Aniston later shared that Perry was in a positive and healthy state at the time of his passing, dispelling notions of pain or struggle. Perry’s Friends co-stars also released a joint statement expressing devastation and highlighting their deep connection, emphasizing that they are more than just castmates; they are family.