Zac Efron says he would be ‘honoured’ to play Matthew Perry in biopic: ‘I looked up to him’

“I’m honored to hear he was thinking of me to play him,” Efron said. “We’ll see. I’d be honored to do it.” Noting that he is “devastated” by Perry’s loss, Efron also recounted fond memories he has of filming the 2009 comedy 17 Again alongside the Friends star.

“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 said.

In 17 Again, Zac Efron played a younger version of Matthew Perry’s Mike O’Donnell. The film centers on 37-year-old Mike, who has regrets about how his life turned out until he gets the chance for a do-over when he falls into a time vortex and becomes a teenager again.

The cast of 17 Again also included Leslie Mann, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jim Gaffigan and Thomas Lennon. Lennon, who also worked with Perry on the television series The Odd Couple that began in 2015, wrote a tribute to Perry published by Variety.

“Matty had huge feelings and was not afraid to make you a part of those feelings. A comedy sword-swallower using real swords. The swords hurt,” wrote Lennon, 53, later adding, “Matty was always trying to get better. Matty was ready to talk. Matty didn’t want to be alone. Matty wanted to make you laugh even if swallowing the swords hurt.”

Best known for playing Chandler Bing on 10 seasons of the sitcom Friends, Matthew Perry was also known for movies like 2000’s The Whole Nine Yards, 1997’s Fools Rush In and 1999’s Three to Tango.

Perry’s family said in a statement to People that they are “heartbroken” by his “tragic” death.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend. You all meant so much to him and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love,” they said.

Efron stars in The Iron Claw alongside Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons as the real-life sibling pro wrestlers that made up the Von Erich family. The Iron Claw hits theaters on December 22.

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