Jennifer Aniston Cried Over ‘Losing’ Matthew Perry Years Before His Death
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They were Friends on and seemingly off the screen and as the whole world mourns her co-star, Jennifer Aniston feared Matthew Perry’s death years before he passed away at age 54. The actor was found dead in his LA home from an apparent drowning, though the details of an autopsy and toxicology reports were not immediately available.
Born in 1969, Matthew Perry was raised by John Bennett Perry, an actor, and Suzanne Marie Langford, the former press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His early life was divided between Montreal and Los Angeles, following his parents’ separation when he was just a year old.
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Perry’s journey in the entertainment world began as a child actor. When he was 15, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and try out an acting career by moving to Los Angeles. Perry landed his first sitcom role on the show Second Chance (which later became Boys Will Be Boys) and went on to secure roles in series like Charles in Charge and Beverly Hills 90210. By 1988, he had already made his big screen debut in the film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, where he starred alongside the late River Phoenix.
It was the role of Chandler Bing in the legendary sitcom Friends that really catapulted Perry to superstardom. Premiering on NBC in 1994, the show about six single New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Perry, who was only 25 years old when the series began, became a household name overnight alongside his fellow cast members Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. Now, an old video shows how Jennifer Aniston feared Matthew Perry’s death as he battled various substance addictions.
Jennifer Aniston reacts to Matthew Perry’s death
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Jennifer Aniston hasn’t said anything about Matthew Perry’s death but in a resurfaced interview with Diane Sawyer in 2004, it was quite clear she worried about him seriously while they filmed the beloved sitcom Friends, breaking down in tears when discussing his battles with addiction.
“We didn’t know. We, you know, we weren’t equipped, we weren’t – to deal with it. You know, nobody had ever dealt with that and, you know, the idea of even losing him,” she said. She had previously given him a warning when she confronted him about his alcoholism. “We know you’re drinking,” she said to him during a break in the shooting of Friends. “Yeah, imagine how scary a moment that was,” Perry reflected on the moment in his own interview with Sawyer. “I should have been the toast of the town, but I was in a dark room meeting with nothing but drug dealers and completely alone.”
Director James Burrows revealed that he texted the girls of Friends about their good friend’s death. “I had texted the girls the day we found out,” shared on the Today show on Thursday, November 2. “They were destroyed. It’s a brother dying.”
Friends co-stars react to Matthew Perry’s death
According to DailyMail, sources close to Lisa Kudrow said that she thought that his death at just 54 did not seem real to “any of the gang.” The source went further on to say, “Although no one wants to believe it was medication – prescribed or not – of course that is a thought in their minds.” They continued, “They are thinking he must have taken something that did not mix with the warm water.”
Kudrow also is reportedly considering adopting Perry’s dog. The site also said she is “baffled” by Matthew Perry’s death after he had finally found “peace with himself.”
The official Friends and Warner Brothers TV Instagram account “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”
In a statement to NBC News, Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane as well as executive producer Kevin Bright shared their reaction to Perry’s death. “We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing. It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives. He was a brilliant talent,” the statement read.
“We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment — not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart. We send all of our love to his family and friends. This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken.”
Maggie Wheeler who played Chandler Bing’s ex-girlfriend Janice on the show 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. ♥️”
Kathleen Turner played Chandler’s father on the show and gave a statement to NBC News: “I was proud to play his ‘Dad.’” Morgan Fairchild who played Chandler’s mother on the show wrote on X (formerly Twitter), I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my “son”, Matthew Perry. 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 worked with on Flamingo Road & Falcon Crest. #RIPMatthew“
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ by Matthew Perry
For more about Matthew Perry, read his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. The New York Times bestseller takes readers through Perry’s life and career, from his childhood dreams of becoming an actor to how he was cast in Friends to his struggle with addiction and his stints in rehab. “Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead,” Perry writes in the book. Told in his own words for the first time ever, the memoir is an “unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny” account of Perry’s trials and triumphs. Described as an “unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening,” Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is a must-read for Friends fans.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available. Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support.
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