Nearly two years after Matthew Perry’s death, Jennifer Aniston has shared heartfelt reflections on her late Friends co-star, acknowledging that the cast had been grieving him long before his passing due to his prolonged struggle with addiction.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Aniston, 56, said, “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.” She added that while the loss was deeply painful, both for his close friends and for fans, a part of her believes “this is better,” noting, “I’m glad he’s out of that pain.”
Perry died on October 28, 2023, at age 54, after being found unresponsive in the pool at his Los Angeles home. The official cause of death was listed as the acute effects of ketamine. Five individuals are now facing charges in connection to the accidental overdose.
Aniston emphasized that she and her fellow Friends cast members — Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow — had done everything they could to support Perry throughout his battles. “We did everything we could when we could,” she said.
In the immediate aftermath of Perry’s death, Aniston posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, recalling fond memories and sharing personal text messages. One message, sent by Perry alongside a photo from the Friends set, read: “Making you laugh just made my day.” Aniston responded, “Awww the first of THOUSANDS of times.”
She also spoke with Variety in December 2023, saying that Perry seemed genuinely happy and healthy in the weeks leading up to his death. “He had quit smoking. He was getting in shape. He was happy — that’s all I know,” she said.
Reflecting on the public’s response, Aniston expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love following Perry’s passing, saying, “I hope he can know that he was loved in a way he never thought he was.”
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