Zac Efron admits Matthew Perry’s death is ‘affecting him a lot’

Zac Efron has opened up about how he is struggling to process the death of Matthew Perry.

The pair starred together in the 2009 movie 17 Again, with Efron playing a younger version of Perry’s character.

Efron recently paid tribute to his former co-star during the ceremony where his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled.

He said: “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.”

The High School Musical star has since shared some of his memories of the late actor, and how he had supported him at that time in his life.

“He was in a unique position for me in my career, and in my life,” Efron told Variety.

“His passing is affecting me a lot.”

Efron also spoke about how important Perry had been to him on a personal level, saying: “It can be incredibly lonely, being an actor and being in the spotlight. It definitely can be isolating.

“It’s very important to reach out to friends and foster relationships where you can talk and share stories. I wish in the past couple of years that I had an opportunity to do that with Matthew.”

He added: “I hold the time we shared together really dear.

“I’ve been thinking about him a lot, every day.”

Previously, Perry had expressed his desire that Efron should play him in a biopic, to which Efron said that he ‘would be honored’.

The Friends star was found dead in his hot tub on October 28, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans and people who had worked with him over the years.

Perry’s Friends co-stars paid tribute to the late actor in a joint statement after news of his death emerged.

They wrote: “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We ere more than just castmates. We are a family.

“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time we will say more, as and when we are able.

“For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”

Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow later shared their own individual tributes which touched the hearts of Friends fans across the globe.