Tyler Perry did all he could to help his friend Whitney Houston.
Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for an Oprah's Next Chapter episode on OWN, the actor-writer-director opened up about the efforts he made to help the diva rid herself of the substance abuse problem that ultimately led to her tragic death last year.
"I felt a huge responsibility for her, for Whitney, herself" Perry told the former talk-show queen. "From the first day we sat down in that restaurant and had a conversation where she was so open with me, I felt a responsibility to do all I could to help her."
He also worried that the legendary singer's days were numbered.
"I sensed, like most people who deal with people who have addiction issues, they sense that there is a 'death day' coming," he added.
Houston passed away on Feb. 11, 2012 at the age of 48 after drowning in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton Hotel room. A coroner ruled her death an accident aided by the effects of heart disease and cocaine in her system.
When Oprah noted that the film mogul tried to help his fellow Atlanta resident behind the scenes, including trying to fly Whitney to a rehab facility. Perry revealed he put whatever resources he had at her and her family's disposal.
"I'm standing with them whenever they need it. Her family whatever they needed," said the filmmaker. "They would call and say, 'Listen, this is goin' on. And that's goin' on.' Or I would talk to her sometimes and she would just be, you know, out of it but trying to be together."
Perry's sit-down on Oprah's Next Chapter airs this Sunday at 9 p.m.