Remembering Matthew Perry: ‘Friends’ Cocreators Share Last Conversations, Reflecting on His Absence
‘Friends’ cocreators Marta Kauffman and David Crane share heartfelt memories of their final conversations with the late Matthew Perry, leaving them in disbelief over his absence
Friends cocreators Marta Kauffman and David Crane express their profound grief over the sudden death of Matthew Perry. Kauffman, 67, revealed her initial urge to reach out to Perry through a text message, followed by overwhelming sadness. She struggles to comprehend the reality of his passing, as Perry seemed to be living a fulfilling life, making a positive impact on the world.
The Los Angeles coroner's office has confirmed that Perry passed away at the age of 54 due to an apparent drowning on Saturday, October 28. Authorities responded to a call reporting a person in cardiac arrest at a residence in Los Angeles, where they discovered the actor unconscious in a hot tub. Although an initial autopsy has been conducted, the cause of Perry's death is currently "deferred" pending the results of a toxicology report.
Perry had been open about his struggles with addiction throughout the years, admitting in 2022 that he expected his death to come as a shock to people, though not necessarily a surprise. Crane, who is 66 years old, expressed agreement with this statement, stating on Wednesday, "I believe that's probably true. Considering the path he had been on, and we were all aware of it, there was always a part of us that was mentally preparing for something like this. However, it is still difficult to comprehend because he had such a vibrant personality that it's challenging to accept his absence."
While working on the sitcom Friends, which was on air from 1994 to 2004, Perry struggled with an addiction to Vicodin following a Jet Ski accident. This led to an eventual misuse of alcohol, negatively impacting his performance on set and resulting in hospitalization in 2000 due to pancreatitis.
Marta Kauffman and David Crane from NBC NEWS / TODAY reported that Perry made several unsuccessful efforts to achieve sobriety, attending treatment programs twice. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Perry disclosed that he had been in recovery for approximately 18 months as of late 2022. This suggests that he had recently become sober when he joined the Friends cast for the filming of a Max special in April 2021. Kauffman expressed her concern about Perry's involvement in the special, particularly because it occurred shortly after he underwent emergency dental surgery.
"I expressed my worry for him, considering the challenges he had faced and the fact that he was given opioids after each surgery, which then led to the cycle repeating," she shared during her appearance on Today. "Therefore, I was anxious about which stage of the cycle he was experiencing at that particular moment." Kauffman continued by commending Perry for his achievements in maintaining his sobriety.
“He gleaned valuable lessons from this experience, with his ultimate revelation being his unwavering desire to assist fellow addicts. Moreover, it bestowed upon him a profound sense of purpose,” she remarked, her voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. “In fact, the last time I saw him, he appeared more content than I had witnessed in quite some time. Witnessing this transformation was incredibly uplifting. He exuded emotional stability and radiated an overall sense of well-being. Additionally, he triumphantly overcame his smoking habit.”
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Their final conversation, which took place two weeks ago, made Kauffman hopeful about Perry’s future.
"He was filled with joy and enthusiasm. There was no burden on his shoulders, no heaviness in his demeanor. He appeared to be in an incredibly positive state, making it all the more unjust," she expressed. "Not only was he emotionally content, but he also had a radiant appearance."
Kauffman expressed her final thoughts: "I have experienced the loss of a dear friend, in various aspects. What is truly remarkable is the overwhelming support from the fans, who have also lost a friend of their own. Wherever he may be, I hope he can feel the profound impact he has left behind."
Heartwarming tributes have poured in following the news of Perry's passing. The Friends co-stars - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer - released a joint statement on October 30th, paying homage to Perry's enduring legacy.
"We are absolutely devastated by Matthew's loss. We were more than just colleagues, we were a close-knit family," their statement expressed. "There's so much to express, but right now we need time to mourn and come to terms with this inexplicable loss," the statement continued. "We will share more when we are ready. Until then, our thoughts and love go out to Matty's family, his friends, and all those who cherished him worldwide."
