During a recent interview, Jennifer Aniston became emotional when discussing her former Friends co-star Matthew Perry. Perry, who tragically passed away in October at the age of 54, was found deceased in his hot tub. The cause of his death was later revealed to be due to the acute effects of ketamine, a treatment for depression. Speaking with Quinta Brunson for Variety’s Actors on Actors interviews, Aniston, 55, was asked about watching Friends since Perry’s passing. Unable to hold back her emotions, she tearfully replied, “Oh God, Don’t make me cry!” Despite Brunson’s offer to change the subject, Aniston was visibly moved by the topic.
During a recent interview, Jennifer Aniston became emotional and teary-eyed when discussing her past co-star from Friends, Matthew Perry.
The actor from Friends was tragically discovered deceased in his hot tub in late October at the age of 54. In December 2023, it was confirmed that his passing was due to the immediate effects of ketamine, a drug used for treating depression.
During a recent event, a producer offered Jennifer Aniston a tissue as tears welled up in her eyes, which she described as tears of joy.
Friends, a popular TV series that aired for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, featured Jennifer, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow. The show depicted the lives of a group of friends in New York City.
Reflecting on the enduring success of the show, Jennifer shared, ‘It’s surreal to think that it’s been 30 years. The fact that it continues to resonate with people is a remarkable gift for all of us. It’s a bond that will last forever.’
In November, Jennifer attended Matthew Perry’s funeral, where she was joined by her former co-stars Courteney, Matt, David, and Lisa. Although present, she remained somewhat reserved during the service.
Witnesses mentioned that Jennifer was one of the earliest attendees and maintained a low profile throughout the funeral. An observer noted, ‘She arrived early and kept to herself. Given the notable attendees, it was a high-profile event.’
Jennifer shared that she had been in touch with Matthew on the day of his passing, describing him as content and healthy. In a recent interview with Variety alongside Reese Witherspoon, she opened up about their final conversations.
In a recent Actors on Actors interview with Variety, Jennifer, 55, chatted with Quinta Brunson, 34, about watching Friends after the tragic passing of Matthew.
As soon as the question reached Jen’s ears, tears welled up in her eyes and she exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, please don’t make me start crying!”
The TV show Friends was incredibly popular worldwide during its 10-season run from 1994 to 2004.
Aniston shared that Perry wanted to be remembered as happy, healthy, and in good spirits. She mentioned that she was texting with him that very morning and that he was not in pain or distress. Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles on October 28, with no signs of foul play. An official cause of death has not been disclosed.
She emphasized that Perry was on a journey to better health and had been working hard towards that goal. Aniston expressed how dearly she and others miss him, highlighting his ability to make people laugh. She shared an emotional Instagram post on November 15 to pay tribute to Perry, revealing a sweet message he had sent her in the past.
Aniston’s heartfelt message came after tributes from her Friends co-stars, Matt LeBlanc, and Courteney Cox. She included a touching clip from the show where Perry’s character professed love for hers. She described the deep impact of saying goodbye to Perry, expressing that experiencing grief allows for moments of joy and gratitude for having loved him deeply.
Reflecting on their time together on Friends, Aniston referred to the cast as a chosen family that played a significant role in shaping their lives. Perry was an integral part of their group, and his loss has left a profound impact on everyone.
Jennifer shared that Matthew was in good spirits and in good health when she last communicated with him through text on the morning he passed away.
Perry and Aniston were main fixtures on the hit television show Friends from 1994 to 2004, sharing the screen together for the duration of the series. They were also spotted together in 1998.
Aniston also remembered Perry’s talent for making everyone laugh around him. She shared how important it was for him to hear laughter because it kept him going. Aniston recalled a text message exchange with Perry where he sent her a photo of them on set, making her smile. She talked about how she still reads their old texts, laughing and crying at the memories they shared.
Aniston expressed her love for Perry and hopes that he is now at peace and free from pain. She mentioned how she still talks to him every day, almost hearing him tease her in his playful way. Aniston ended her post with a touching goodbye to Perry, remembering how he always brightened her day.
The devastating news of Perry’s death shocked many on October 28, when he was found in his hot tub by his assistant. Although the cause of death was ruled accidental drowning, further investigation is being done while waiting for the toxicology report. It was revealed that only prescribed medications were found in his home, but Perry had been open about his struggles with addiction in the past.
In a heartfelt farewell, Jennifer Aniston, aged 54, honored her beloved Friends castmate Matthew Perry on Wednesday morning. She shared a touching post featuring a text message he had sent to her before his passing.
Aniston shared with excitement a sudden text message from Perry, containing a nostalgic black-and-white photo of the two of them sharing a laugh on the set. In his message, Perry expressed how much joy he felt in making her laugh, brightening his day.
David Schwimmer honored Perry with a heartfelt tribute, sharing a photo from their time on Friends where they were dressed as characters from Miami Vice, coincidentally around the same time as Aniston’s tribute.
Courtney Cox previously paid tribute to Matthew Perry on November 14 as Chandler Bing and Monica Geller. Later in the month, David Schwimmer, known for his role as Ross on Friends, also shared a heartfelt statement in memory of Perry. In the statement, Schwimmer praised Perry’s talent for laughter and their enduring friendship. He recalled one of his favorite moments with Perry, sharing a humorous still from Friends where they both sported designer stubble and colorful suits inspired by Miami Vice. In his Instagram post, Schwimmer thanked Perry for their years of laughter and creativity, highlighting his impeccable comic timing and unique sense of humor. Schwimmer also mentioned the heart that Perry had and how he generously shared it with the Friends cast, helping them create a family out of six strangers.
In October, the remaining five Friends cast members released a joint statement expressing their devastation over Perry’s passing. They referred to themselves as more than just castmates, but as a family. The statement mentioned that they needed time to grieve and process the loss before sharing more about their memories of Perry. Perry was laid to rest in a private service attended by his Friends co-stars at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. The service was emotional, with Perry’s family and close friends bidding him farewell.
Courteney Cox and Matt LeBlanc also shared their fond memories of Perry, remembering him as a talented actor and a dear friend. Cox recalled a special moment between Chandler and Monica on the show and LeBlanc shared how cherished their time together was. Perry’s sudden passing left a void in the hearts of his friends and fans, but his legacy as Chandler Bing will always be remembered.
Matt LeBlanc honored Perry by sharing a heartfelt tribute. He portrayed Joey Tribbiani, Chandler’s closest pal, on the show.
LeBlanc, who portrayed Chandler’s closest companion Joey Tribbiani in the show, expressed his sadness in bidding farewell to Matthew. He reminisced about the cherished moments they shared, emphasizing that those memories were truly some of the best times of his life.
Perry was found unresponsive in his home’s hot tub on October 28, and initial reports suggest accidental drowning as the cause of death. However, the final determination is on hold until the results of a toxicology report are released. The incident took place in New York City in November 2022.
In his memoir, he described feeling like his identity was being copied by someone who followed him around, mimicking his jokes, mannerisms, and outlook on life. He even felt like he ‘was’ the character of Chandler from Friends, rather than just playing him. It was during his casting at 24 years old that his struggles with alcohol addiction became apparent. By the end of the show’s 10th season, he found himself in significant trouble, later admitting to not even remembering three seasons of filming due to his substance abuse. At one point, he was consuming a dangerous amount of painkillers daily and was at a dangerously low weight, but felt unable to stop. Following his untimely passing, tributes poured in from around the world, highlighting his impact as Chandler and his charm on screen. Even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared fond memories of their time in school together. Friends creator Marta Kauffman praised his portrayal of Chandler, emphasizing that he was the perfect fit for the role. Perry detailed his harrowing battle with addiction in his memoir, revealing that his opioid addiction led to a life-threatening colon rupture at 49. Despite facing a slim chance of survival and enduring numerous surgeries and rehab stints, Perry’s struggles with addiction ultimately took their toll._reading from his co-stars expressed their grief and honored his memory.
In the latest recounting of his life, Perry revealed that his struggles with substance abuse intensified over the decade he spent in the spotlight on Friends. Furthermore, he has openly acknowledged that there are three entire seasons of the show that he has no memory of filming.
After the tragic news of Matthew Perry’s passing, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer shared a heartfelt message with fans. They expressed their profound sadness and described themselves not just as colleagues, but as a tight-knit family. They mentioned they needed time to process the loss, but promised to share more memories of their time with Perry in the future. Their thoughts and love were with Perry’s loved ones during this difficult time.
Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom, starred alongside Aniston, Cox, LeBlanc, Kudrow, and Schwimmer. Actress Maggie Wheeler, who played his character’s on-off girlfriend Janice, was one of the first to publicly mourn Perry on social media, calling his loss tremendous.
Aside from “Friends,” Perry appeared in various movies such as “17 Again” with Zac Efron, “Fools Rush In” with Salma Hayek, and “Getting In” with Dave Chappelle. He also starred in films like “The Whole Nine Yards” and “The Kid” with Bruce Willis, who made a guest appearance in an episode of “Friends.”
Despite his fame, Perry never tied the knot and broke off his engagement to talent manager Molly Hurwitz in 2021. He was romantically linked with actresses like Julia Roberts and Lizzy Caplan during his life.