Gwyneth Paltrow Reflects on Enchanting Summer Romance with Matthew Perry: A Tale of Drifting Apart
Gwyneth Paltrow fondly remembers her summer romance with Matthew Perry in the early ‘90s, expressing her heartfelt tribute following his passing Their brief fling left a lasting impression on Paltrow, but as time went on, they eventually drifted apart
Gwyneth Paltrow and Matthew Perry. Getty Images (2)
Gwyneth Paltrow paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Matthew Perry, expressing her sadness upon hearing the news of his passing.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Matthew Perry in 1993 at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts. We spent the majority of that summer together, both involved in theatrical performances. His wit, kindness, and infectious spirit made him incredibly enjoyable to be around,” Paltrow, who is 51 years old, shared on Instagram on Sunday, October 29. Alongside her message, she posted a nostalgic photo of the Friends star. “We ventured out to swim in streams, enjoyed drinks at the local college bar, and shared kisses in a meadow filled with long grass. It was an enchanting summer.”
Paltrow mentioned in her post that their summer together took place shortly after Perry finished filming the pilot of Friends, which was set to premiere in 1994. She noted that during that time, Perry was nervous and hopeful that this opportunity would be his big break, and it turned out to be just that.
Although they eventually drifted apart, Paltrow mentioned that she remained friends with Perry. She always looked forward to his success, and even when they went their separate ways, the Academy Award winner remained excited for him.
"I always felt joy whenever I had the chance to see him. Today, like many others, I am overwhelmed with sadness," she expressed on Sunday. "May Matthew finally find peace. I genuinely hope for it."
On Saturday, October 28, news emerged that Perry passed away at the age of 54. According to the Los Angeles Times, authorities were alerted to an incident at his residence in L.A. Subsequently, the actor was discovered unresponsive in a hot tub. The cause of his death remains undisclosed, as the coroner confirmed on Sunday that an autopsy is being scheduled.
Perry's family expressed their deep sorrow over the tragic loss of their beloved son and brother in a statement on Sunday. They highlighted the immense joy that Matthew brought to the world through his acting and friendship, and they expressed gratitude for the overwhelming show of love from everyone.
Following his brief relationship with Paltrow, Perry began dating Julia Roberts less than a year after the premiere of Friends. Their connection was initially sparked when Roberts, who is now 56, appeared as a guest star on the show. After their whirlwind romance came to an end, Perry was later romantically linked to Yasmine Bleeth, Maeve Quinlan, Lauren Graham, Rachel Dunn, and Lizzy Caplan. In 2020, he proposed to Molly Hurwitz after four years of being together, but their relationship ended six months later.
Paltrow, on her end, found new companions after Perry in the form of Brad Pitt and Chris Martin. She has two children with the latter. Paltrow and the 46-year-old musician from Coldplay separated in 2016 before she tied the knot with Brad Falchuk two years later.
