Last Updated:
Jennifer Aniston opens up about Matthew Perry’s addiction struggles, their Friends bond, and why she believes his passing may have ended his long fight with pain.
Jennifer Aniston says Matthew Perry’s passing ended his decades-long struggle with addiction.
Jennifer Aniston, best known for her role as Rachel Green on Friends, has spoken candidly about her late co-star Matthew Perry’s long battle with addiction. The two starred together on the hit NBC sitcom from 1994 to 2004, during which time Aniston witnessed Perry’s struggles first-hand.
Jennifer Aniston Reflects on Matthew Perry’s Struggles
Perry, who played Chandler Bing, died in October 2023 at the age of 54 from the “acute effects of ketamine.” His decades-long fight with substance abuse began during his time on Friends, as he later detailed in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
“We did everything we could when we could,” Aniston, 56, told Vanity Fair. “But 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.”
Aniston revealed that Perry’s passing brought a complex mix of emotions. “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,” she said.
The actress recalled the deep bond the Friends cast shared—Aniston, Perry, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer—both on and off-screen. Following his death, she wrote on Instagram about the “insane wave of emotions” she experienced, noting she had never felt anything quite like it.
In an earlier Variety interview, Aniston shared that she texted Perry on the day he died, describing him as “happy” and “healthy” at that time. She noted that he had quit smoking and was focused on getting in shape.
Initially ruled as an accidental death, the investigation into Perry’s passing was closed in January 2024 but later reopened. Authorities have since charged five people in connection with his death.
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, …Read More
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, … Read More
Stay updated with the latest news from Hollywood, upcoming english movie releases, red carpet moments, box office collections, reviews, and trailers! Download the News18 App
view comments
- Location :
Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
