Jennifer Aniston, the Hollywood star who rose to prominence while playing Rachel Green on the long-running NBC sitcom Friends, has commented on the loss of her co-star Matthew Perry, who played Chandler. It isn’t the first time a member of the Friends cast has spoken about Perry’s unexpected death; however, Aniston has revealed that they were all familiar with the actor’s experiences with addiction, and tried their best to help him whenever they could.
Aniston spoke to Vanity Fair during a career retrospective that found her looking back on her most memorable roles. She said she’d want to give her Broadway dreams a chance (“Growing up in New York City and seeing Annie, you just get swept into a fantasy world. I want to do that”), and reflected on surviving an era when tabloids butchered her love life every chance they got. Naturally, Friends was also part of the conversation.
When talking about the show that shot her to stardom, Aniston sounded more thankful than ever. She added that she wasn’t aware of the show’s legacy across cultures until the 2021 reunion happened: “What helped raise me is something I got to put into the world and help other people. If [Friends] was the only thing on my resume, I would be very happy and blessed.” The reunion allowed her to revisit her most important character and reconnect with her co-stars. The actor said the following as she recalled being in the limelight beside Matthew Perry, who passed away a couple of years later:
“We did everything we could when we could. 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. 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.”
Perry didn’t exactly hide his substance abuse. He was outspoken about his addiction, and per Entertainment Weekly, he even turned his home into a facility where others going through these issues could be treated. The Perry House worked in the actor’s Malibu mansion for some time until he relocated it.
Matthew Perry’s Death Was Linked to a Fatal Overdose
The Actor’s Doctor and People Close to Him Have Pleaded Guilty to Supplying Perry With Ketamine
NBC
After the police investigation, it was ruled that several people close to Perry bore some responsibility for the actor’s death. They were all charged with the crime of supplying Perry with the drugs that, when combined, became a lethal cocktail. Perry, who was 54 years old at the time of his passing, was found dead in his bathtub after he apparently drowned while under the effects of drugs.
During the trial, some pleaded guilty to the crime of distributing ketamine. Only Jasveen Sangha, deemed the Ketamine Queen on the Hollywood circuit, has pleaded not guilty. Her trial is set to begin in September. The rest of those involved in the crime include doctors, as well as Perry’s personal assistant.
Release Date
1994 – 2004
Network
NBC
Showrunner
Marta Kauffman
Directors
Kevin S. Bright, Gary Halvorson, Michael Lembeck, James Burrows, Gail Mancuso, Peter Bonerz, David Schwimmer, Robby Benson, Shelley Jensen, Terry Hughes, Dana De Vally Piazza, Alan Myerson, Pamela Fryman, Steve Zuckerman, Thomas Schlamme, Roger Christiansen, Sheldon Epps, Arlene Sanford, David Steinberg, Joe Regalbuto, Mary Kay Place, Paul Lazarus, Sam Simon, Todd Holland
Writers
Jeff Astrof, Mike Sikowitz, Brian Boyle, Patty Lin, Bill Lawrence, R. Lee Fleming Jr.
You can view the original article HERE.
