Jennifer Aniston recently opened up in an interview about the last day of her “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry, mentioning that they had exchanged texts that day. She recalled Perry being in a positive mood and good health, having given up smoking and working on his fitness. Aniston, emotional during the interview with Variety on December 11, emphasized Perry’s happiness and absence of any struggle or pain at that time.
She expressed her desire for people to recognize that Perry was actively working on his health, describing his efforts as significant despite facing challenging circumstances. Aniston shared her deep sense of loss, underscoring the laughter Perry brought to everyone.
Matthew Perry passed away on October 28 at age 54, found unresponsive in his hot tub in Pacific Palisades, California, by his assistant. That day, he had played pickleball with a friend but returned home early due to fatigue. Aniston’s interview is the first from a “Friends” cast member since Perry’s passing, although she, along with Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, had previously posted emotional tributes on Instagram.
Aniston’s Instagram tribute, posted on November 15, garnered 17 million likes. In it, she reflected on the profound impact of Perry’s passing, emphasizing the depth of their love for him. She mentioned revisiting their text exchanges, finding comfort and humor in them, and expressed her belief that Perry was now at peace.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy the day after Perry’s death, but the cause of death remains undetermined pending further tests.
Perry had been candid about his struggles with addiction, detailed in his 2022 memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” His battle began during his early years on “Friends,” initially with alcohol and later including opioids like Vicodin. He acknowledged periods of sobriety, notably during the show’s ninth season, which coincided with an Emmy nomination, providing him with a significant realization.
In his memoir, Perry described his addiction’s physical manifestations, correlating weight fluctuations with different substances and making a poignant analogy about his co-stars’ support, comparing them to penguins who care for a wounded member of their group.
