Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane have shared their personal experiences and shared deep emotions about the passing of Matthew Perry. Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, died at the age of 54 on October 28.
Speaking in an interview with the Today show, Kauffman revealed that she had a conversation with Perry just a couple of weeks before his death, where the actor seemed “happy and chipper.”
“It was great. He was happy and chipper. He didn’t seem weighed down by anything. He was in a really good place, which is why this seems so unfair,” Kauffman remarked.
Continuing the interview, Kauffman shared her “utter shock” upon hearing the news of Perry’s passing.
“My first instinct was to text him, honestly. And then deep sadness. So much sadness. It’s hard to grasp. One minute he’s here and happy and then poof. And doing good in the world. Really doing good in the world.”
Kauffman fondly remembered Perry’s vibrant persona and vitality, making his absence even more surreal. Even with close friend and co-creator David Crane admitting that, despite Perry’s past struggles and journey to recovery, his death had been a shocking blow that they were still coming to terms with.
“Given the journey he’d been on, and we were all aware of it, there was always a part that was kind of bracing for something like this. It is still hard to believe because he was such an alive person, that it’s hard to believe he’s not here,” Crane shared in the interview.
‘I Lost a Friend in Multiple Ways,’ Says Marta Kauffman
During Perry’s lifetime, he became a prominent advocate for rehabilitation and a spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. He even received the Champion of Recovery Award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for his efforts.
In her conversation with Perry after the recent Friends reunion, Kauffman had a heart-to-heart about his struggles and the actor’s ongoing battle with addiction.
“[I] talked to him about it actually right after the reunion. Once he went into treatment, he was open about it. Unless he was using,” said Kauffman.
In conclusion, Kauffman paid tribute to Perry, expressing thanks to fans for their heartfelt remembrances and outpour of affection.
“I lost a friend in multiple ways, and what’s amazing is the outpouring from the fans who lost a friend of theirs, too. And I hope wherever he is, he feels it.”
In a joint statement, Perry’s Friends co-stars Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow united in saying, “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.”
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