Jennifer Aniston shared her deep emotional journey regarding the loss of Matthew Perry, her beloved Friends co-star, who died at age 54 in his California home in October 2023. Speaking to Vanity Fair in August 2024, Aniston recalled how she and the other main cast members, including Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, supported Perry during his long struggle with addiction. Aniston’s reflections reveal that the mourning process for Perry began well before his death, as his battle with substance abuse weighed heavily on everyone close to him.
“We did everything we could when we could,”
Aniston said.
“But it almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight.”
—Jennifer Aniston, Actor
Matthew Perry’s Battle with Addiction and Aniston’s Support
Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the NBC hit sitcom Friends, publicly revealed his extensive struggle with drugs and alcohol in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. In the book, he specifically highlighted Jennifer Aniston as the cast member who reached out the most to help him through his sobriety journey. Perry acknowledged that Aniston confronted him about his drinking patterns, showing the deep level of care she maintained throughout his recovery efforts.
At the time his memoir was published, Perry had been sober for 18 months, yet tragically, he died from the acute effects of ketamine less than two years later. Despite the pain and grief his passing caused, Aniston shared that she has found some solace in knowing he is no longer suffering.
“As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better,”
Aniston told Vanity Fair.
“I’m glad he’s out of that pain.”
—Jennifer Aniston, Actor
Remembering Matthew Perry on the Anniversary of His Passing
On the first anniversary of Matthew Perry’s death, Jennifer Aniston honored him in a heartfelt Instagram post. She shared intimate photos of their friendship from the Friends set, symbolizing their close bond. Her tribute included a dove and healed heart emoji, signaling peace and healing. Courteney Cox also posted a moving message along with a photo of the five main cast members embracing, expressing enduring love for Matthew Perry.
Miss you today, Cox wrote. And always. —Courteney Cox, Actor
Suzanne Morrison Recalls Final Moments with Son Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, gave a rare and poignant account of her last moments with her son during an interview on Today with Savannah Guthrie. Morrison described a recent interaction that felt like a premonition of his passing.
“He went through a period, interestingly enough, just before he died when he was showing me one of his new houses,”
she recounted.
“He came up to me and he said, ‘I love you so much, and I’m so happy to be with you now. And I’m so…’ It was almost as though it was a premonition or something.”
—Suzanne Morrison, Matthew Perry’s Mother
Reflecting on that moment, Morrison admitted she did not initially realize its significance but later recognized it as a rare, meaningful conversation that had been missing for years in their relationship. She acknowledged a sense of inevitability about what was to come.
“I didn’t think about it at the time, but I thought, ‘How long has it been since we’ve had a conversation like that?’ It’s been years,”
Morrison said.
“There was an inevitability to what was going to happen next to him, and he felt it very strongly.”
—Suzanne Morrison, Matthew Perry’s Mother
Tributes from Friends and Co-Stars Reflecting on Matthew Perry’s Legacy
The entertainment community has shared numerous heartfelt tributes praising Perry’s talent, kindness, and complex personality. Fellow actors and colleagues expressed grief over the loss and admiration for his courage in battling addiction.
Molly Hurwitz, who had a deep personal connection with Perry, shared an emotional tribute highlighting his humor and the profound impact he had on her life. She reflected on the joy of watching the Friends reunion together and on his complicated nature.
“He would love that the world is talking about how talented he was. And he really was very talented. As the Friends reunion was approaching, we rewatched the show together. ‘F–k, I was so good!!!…See what I did there???’ We rewound and studied scenes. Our respect and appreciation of humor is something that connected us. Being with him as he rediscovered his brilliance was magical. But, I obviously knew that man in a very different way, too. While I loved him deeper than I could comprehend, he was complicated, and he caused pain like I’d never known. No one in my adult life has had a more profound impact on me than Matthew Langford Perry. I have tremendous gratitude for that, for everything I learned from our relationship. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Al Anon, an invaluable resource for those who love someone struggling with this destructive disease. Matty, I feel relief that you are at peace. Sincerely, Moll-o-Rama(…fication).”
—Molly Hurwitz, Personal Connection
The core Friends cast released a joint statement shortly after Perry’s death, emphasizing their deep bond beyond work and their ongoing grief.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. 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.”
—Friends Cast (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer)
Actor Bradley Whitford, who worked closely with Perry, recalled his infectious humor and complex personality while acknowledging the heroism of his lifelong fight against addiction.
“Matthew Perry made me laugh. Hard. You have not lived until you have witnessed one of his in-between-the-takes confidential riffs on the absurdity of show business and the idiocy of male confidence, wrapped up perfectly with the sudden realization that we were both grown men who wear makeup for a living. Without substances, Matt had a huge, open heart and a pyrotechnical, joyous brain. I think the most beautiful parts of Matt made him the most vulnerable to the monster that he would have to fight for the rest of his life. His battle was heroic. They don’t have award shows for that. They should. Matt was full of contradictions. He was hilariously self deprecating and insecure and wildly self confident. He was a fountain of light with a huge capacity for darkness. He was profoundly blessed and terribly cursed. I want his parents to know that Matt was kind. Not just to his costar. To everyone. To honor Matt, I hope we can continue the work that mattered most to him: to open our hearts to so many who share his vulnerabilities, to encourage them to get the help they need, and to give them the love and the support they deserve. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Matt, to spend some precious time with him, and most of all, to be his friend.”
—Bradley Whitford, Actor
Ben Winston, executive producer of the Friends reunion, also expressed gratitude for having spent time with Perry.
“I feel so unbelievably lucky to have been able to make that reunion show with six truly remarkable people, witnessing their precious unbreakable bond with each other. Spending time with Matthew was simply a dream come true. Kind, caring… and a comedic genius.”
—Ben Winston, Producer
Gwyneth Paltrow shared memories of her early friendship with Perry, recalling their summer together at the Williamstown Theater Festival long before his sitcom fame.
“I met Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. We were both there for most of the summer doing plays. He was so funny and so sweet and so much fun to be with. We drove out to swim in creeks, had beers in the local college bar, kissed in a field of long grass. It was a magical summer. He had shot the pilot of Friends but it had not aired yet. He was nervous, hoping his big break was just around the corner. It was. We stayed friends for a while until we drifted apart, but I was always happy to see him when I did. I am super sad today, as so many of us are. I hope Matthew is at peace at long last. I really do.”
—Gwyneth Paltrow, Actress
Other Stars Share Personal Stories and Heartfelt Tributes
Many more celebrities have publicly mourned Matthew Perry while recalling the unique joy he brought through his personality and work.
During her October 28 concert in Las Vegas, held the same day Perry’s death was announced, Adele took a moment to honor him, highlighting his influence on her childhood.
“One of my friends, Andrew, when I was 12 did the best Chandler impression,”
she said.
“And he would do it all the time to make us laugh. And if anyone was having a bad day or feeling low, he would just pretend to be Chandler. And I’ll remember that character for the rest of my life.”
—Adele, Singer
Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice, Chandler’s memorable love interest on Friends, posted on Instagram,
“What a loss. The world will miss you Matthew Perry. The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”
—Maggie Wheeler, Actress
Salma Hayek, Perry’s co-star in Fools Rush In, spoke on Instagram about their special connection and the sadness she felt after his passing.
“There is a special bond that happens when you share dreams with someone, and together you work towards them,”
she wrote.
“I was very moved last year when Matthew shared on his Instagram stories how much he loved ‘Fools Rush In,’ and how he thought that that film we did together was probably his best movie. Throughout the years, he and I found ourselves reminiscing about that meaningful time in our lives with a deep sense of nostalgia and gratitude. My friend, you are gone much too soon, but I will continue to cherish your silliness, your perseverance, and your lovely heart. Farewell, sweet Matthew, we will never forget you.”
—Salma Hayek, Actress
Ione Skye, Perry’s former co-star, shared a poignant last text exchange with him on Instagram, expressing sorrow and affection.
“My last exchange a week ago. I’m very very sad. Loved this guy.”
—Ione Skye, Actress
Kathleen Turner, who played Chandler Bing’s parent on Friends, told People magazine,
“He had a good sense of humor and a good heart. He liked other people, which, to me, is terribly important, especially for an actor.”
—Kathleen Turner, Actress
Shannen Doherty, longtime friend of Perry, reminisced on Instagram about a Valentine’s Day date with him and their enduring friendship.
“Matt always had THAT sense of humor. Matt and I had a date and it was on Valentine’s Day. He wanted to get a reservation at a restaurant in Malibu but couldn’t so my dad got the reservation for him. We went and he talked about my dad’s Irish persuasiveness the majority of the night. Our friendship spanned a long time. A lifetime really. I know many are hurting, especially our little gang. He will be missed by many and definitely by us. Yes. I could be more poetic or say things better but right now, shock and sadness prevail.”
—Shannen Doherty, Actress
Morgan Fairchild, who portrayed Chandler Bing’s mother, expressed heartbreak over Perry’s early death and extended condolences to his family.
“I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son’. The loss of such a brilliant young actor is a shock. I’m sending love & condolences to his friends & family, especially his dad, John Bennett Perry, who I
