Jennifer Aniston and her Friends co-stars did everything they could to support their late friend Matthew Perry before his tragic death at age 54 in October 2023. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Aniston shared heartfelt comments about Perry’s passing and his long struggle with addiction, which she described as “a really hard battle for him to fight.”
Speaking about Perry’s heartbreaking death, which was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine, Aniston said, “It almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because of his battle with that disease.” While devastated by the loss, she expressed some comfort in knowing Perry is no longer in pain, saying, “As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain.”
The Friends cast, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Aniston, shared a close bond with Perry, both on and off the set of the iconic sitcom. They stood by him through his struggles with addiction, which Perry himself was open about in interviews and his memoir. Aniston revealed that saying goodbye to her longtime friend brought on “an insane wave of emotions” she had never experienced before.
Following Perry’s death, Aniston honored her co-star with an emotional Instagram tribute, sharing throwback photos from their time on the Friends set. On the first anniversary of his passing, she continued to remember him with heartfelt posts that resonated with fans worldwide.
Matthew Perry’s death was a significant loss not only for his co-stars but for millions of fans who cherished his portrayal of Chandler Bing. His openness about his struggles left a lasting impact, shining a light on the challenges of addiction and recovery.
In the same interview, Aniston also made a rare comment about her 2005 divorce from Brad Pitt, acknowledging it was a “vulnerable time,” especially amid rumors of Pitt’s relationship with Angelina Jolie during the filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. While she keeps those details private, Aniston has continually focused on moving forward and cherishing her friendships and career accomplishments.
