Matthew Perry wrote 'big fat cheque' to support Michael J Fox's foundation

Matthew Perry wrote a "big fat cheque" to support Michael J. Fox's foundation when it first launched.

The 'Back to the Future' actor established his self-titled charity - which supports research into Parkinson's disease - in 2000 and he was blown away by the generosity of his late pal, which came in the wake of the 'Friends' cast negotiating huge $1 million-per-episode contracts.

Michael told 'Entertainment Tonight': "Matthew and I had spent some time together over the years. He was a hockey player, a good hockey player, and we played hockey together.

"I hope this isn't indiscreet... but when they first made their big sale [on their 'Friends' contracts] and were made millionaires for the rest of their lives, He wrote a big fat cheque to the foundation.

"We were really early on and trying to find our feet. And it was such a vote of confidence.

"And it wasn't accompanied by any self-aggrandising or anything, he was just like, 'Take it and do your best.' I loved that."

Matthew - who was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home last month aged 54 - previously cited Michael's career as an inspiration for his own, and the 'Spin City' actor was flattered by the compliment.

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

Matthew previously spoke of how much he had looked up to Michael and envied his success when he was a teenager.

In conversation with Tom Power in Toronto in 2022, he said: "I was young, I had done a couple of plays in school, and Michael J. Fox was it, man. When I was in 9th grade, Michael J. Fox had just done 'Back to the Future', and there was smoke coming out of my ears, I was so jealous of this guy.

"And he had, at the time, the number one TV show and the number one movie at the same time! So he was huge. And I don't know anybody else who's done that - except me."