Jennifer Aniston revealed that she had been in a state of "mournful anticipation" regarding the passing of her beloved 'Friends' co-star Matthew Perry, long before his tragic demise in 2023. In a recent heartfelt conversation with Vanity Fair, the actress candidly discussed the lengths she and her fellow 'Friends' castmates – Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer – went to in an attempt to support Perry through his arduous battle with addiction over the years.
"We did all we possibly could, whenever we could," she somberly shared. "Yet, it felt as though we had been grieving Matthew for an eternity, as his relentless struggle against addiction was an incredibly tough fight for him. Though it was incredibly painful for all of us, including our loyal fans, a part of me believes that his passing has brought him a semblance of peace." The star of 'The Morning Show' further added, "I'm relieved that he is no longer in that excruciating pain."
Perry, who passed away at the age of 54 due to the severe effects of the anesthetic ketamine, complicated by drowning, had previously chronicled in his memoir, 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,' how his close circle had been pivotal in his journey. He also told Diane Sawyer in 2022 that Aniston was the one who reached out most consistently throughout his prolonged battle with addiction, which began during his early years on the iconic sitcom that ran from 1994 to 2004.
In the wake of Perry's death, Aniston posted a deeply moving tribute to her late friend and co-star on Instagram. "Bidding farewell to our Matty has unleashed an overwhelming tide of emotions that I have never encountered before," she penned. "We all encounter loss at some juncture in life – whether it's the loss of a loved one or the loss of love. Sitting with this grief allows one to appreciate the fleeting moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone so deeply."
She went on, "And we loved him fiercely. He was such an intrinsic part of our being, our very essence. We were an inseparable sextet, a chosen family that forever altered the trajectory of our lives and destinies. Matty knew that his passion was to bring laughter to people's lives. As he once said, if he didn't hear the 'laugh,' he feared he might perish. His very existence depended on it. And oh, how he succeeded in doing just that. He made all of us laugh, wholeheartedly and unreservedly."
